Margao/Vasco: The clergy urged the thousands of devotees gathered on Thursday to celebrate the feast of St Joseph Vaz to be a beacon of hope in their families and societies and to be protectors of the environment.
The theme of the celebration was ‘St. Joseph Vaz, a model to be zealous evangelizers of the Gospel of Hope’, and people were called on to be inspired by the saint’s exemplary life as a guide for modern living.
The Feast Mass was celebrated by Archbishop of Goa and Daman Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Simiao Fernandes, Joseph Cardinal Coutts, Archbishop Emeritus of Karachi, and Emeritus Bishop Alex Dias of Port Blair. In his sermon, Auxiliary Bishop Fernandes said there are three key areas where individuals can bring hope: family, society, and the environment.
“Charity begins at home,” the Auxiliary Bishop said, encouraging families to adopt practices that reflect the teachings of the Gospel. He spoke about Pope Francis’ call to use expressions like “thank you,” “sorry,” and “please” to strengthen familial bonds.
“St Joseph Vaz set an example by helping others, even beggars, and strengthening families during his mission in Sri Lanka,” he added. The Auxiliary Bishop also spoke about the society’s role, urging support for marginalised groups, including prisoners, migrants, people with disabilities, the sick, and the youth. “St Joseph Vaz brought hope to those abandoned during the smallpox epidemic in Sri Lanka by caring for them without discrimination. We must emulate his actions,” he said.
On environmental stewardship, Fernandes reminded devotees of their responsibility to protect nature. “Creation is God’s gift, and we are its stewards. St Joseph Vaz prayed for rain during a drought and rejuvenated the land. Today, with widespread destruction in the name of development, we must act to safeguard our environment for future generations,” he said, citing the cutting of hills and trees as growing concerns.
The clergy extended gratitude to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, ministers Subhash Phal Dessai and Aleixo Sequeira, Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao, MLAs Anton Vaz and Reginaldo Lourenco, and various state departments, including police, PWD, health, and fire services, for their support in organising the religious event.
