Daijiworld Media Network-Mangaluru (MD)
Mangaluru, Jan 8: Blessed Joseph Vaz who performed miracles on the hill of Mudipu will be raised to the altar of sainthood on January 14 by Pope Francis in Srilanka informed a press meet, organised to brief about the events here on Thursday January 8 at Milagres parish hall.
Bishop, Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza presided over the press meet.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will inaugurate the formal function at 4 pm on January 14. A solemn festal mass will be celebrated by Bishop Aloysius Paul at 10.30 am on January 14. On the following day, Msgr Dennis Moras Prabhu (vicar general of Mangalore diocese) will celebrate the solemn festal mass on January 15. Dr Bernard Moras (Archbishop of Bangalore diocese) will celebrate the solemn festal mass at 10.30 am on January 16.
Fr Joseph Vaz, a priest from coastal region will be raised to the altar of sainthood for the first time in the book of history.
This occasion will be celebrated on the miracle hill of Mudipu on a three day solemn celebration.
The stage programme will be held on all the three days of celebration.
On January 9, the statue of Blessed Joseph Vaz will be brought to the shrine in a procession from Panir to Mudipu in a decorated vehicle. Votive offering procession will be conducted on January 11 at 3.30 pm from Mudipu Church to Blessed Joseph Vaz Shrine at the miracle hill.
During the year, on every Friday there will be adoration, confession and novena prayers held from 10.00 am to 12.30 pm followed by lunch for all the pilgrims.
Fr Denis Moras Prabhu, Fr William Menezes, Fr Gregory D'Souza, M P Noronha, Roshan D'Souza, Leo D'Souza, Michael D'Souza, Felix D'Souza, E Fernandes, Stanley Bantwal, Fr Valerian D'Souza, Br Salvador D'Cunha and others were also present during the press meet.
Life of blessed Joseph Vaz:
Joseph Vaz was born on April 21, 1651 in Benovlim, Goa. He was the third son of Christopher Vaz and Miranda of Goa. He became a priest in 1676 and served in different parishes of Goa till 1681. Later, he was sent to Canara. Fr Joseph Vaz travelled from Goa barefoot. He had served in Honnavar, Basrur, Kundapura, Gangoli, Mulky, Mangaluru and Ullal Panir. He was miraculously saved from an attempt on his life in 1684, when he was serving as the parish priest of Panir Church. His ambition was to work as a missionary in Sri Lanka. He entered Sri Lanka in 1687 as a labourer, defying a ban on Catholic priests. He served in various places in Sri Lanka braving all odds, thus rekindling the Christian faith in Sri Lanka. He died on January 16, 1711.
Fr Joseph Vaz was a courageous soldier of Christ, a dedicated Indian missionary and a humble servant of God. Recognizing his missionary work, Pope John Paul II proclaimed him as blessed Joseph Vaz in Colombo on January 21, 1995. He is venerated as the ‘Apostle of Sri Lanka’ and ‘Patron of Goa’.
Miracle hill at Mudipu, Mangaluru:
A confluence of magnificence, meditation and miracles, an abode of peace and tranquillity, Mudipu is a tiny village situated at the Mangaluru -Vittal road. Even though about 25km away from Mangaluru city, it attracts thousands of pilgrims from far and near. It is the first church in India which is dedicated to blessed Joseph Vaz. The afflicted people who flock here are richly blessed and receive many spiritual and material boons. The scenic beauty, serene atmosphere and clean caressing breeze of the miracle mountain have not only heightened the devotion and piety among people but also has soothed their hearts and made it an attractive pilgrimage centre.
The Patron of Mudipu Church Blessed Joseph Vaz is an Indian. He was born in Goa in 1651. Having been ordained a priest, he came to this land, the then called Canara. His sole objective was to show salvific way to the people. He was appointed as the parish priest of Ullal-Panir.
Some deviant Catholics plotted against him. One day, they came and requested him to anoint a sick person. The benevolent priest readily agreed and began with them. As soon as they reached Mudipu hill, a deserted place, they attempted to kill him. The priest immediately struck his stick to the ground, knelt down and began to pray. And suddenly! A miracle happened: water sprang from the three different directions. People who came to kill the priest ran for their lives. God saved Fr Joseph Vaz in a miraculous way and those three springs still bear witness to the bygone graced event. It is special because the adjacent 60 feet well does not have water. The faithful believe that the water from these miraculous ponds has healing power. It soothes pain, heals infirmities and if one prays with devotion fulfils the desires.
Therefore, the people of the vicinity call him the blessed Joseph Vaz.