Blessed Vaz’s canonization reaches crucial stage: Indian Archbishop
Panaji, India, 20 Nov 2013: Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao of Goa, Daman and Diu has
said that the process for canonization of Blessed Joseph Vaz has reached a crucial
stage as one of the miracles submitted for his cause has been accepted as worthy of
study by the Vatican.
The Indian archbishop conveyed the good news to the small
gathering during the Eucharistic service celebrated outside the Archbishop's House
at Altinho on Monday evening.
Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio
was present on the occasion and blessed the statues of Blessed Vaz and Blessed John
Paul II that were installed in the compound.
The church in Goa has a reason
to believe that the canonization of Blezzed Vaz may not be far and Archbishop Ferrao
expressed the hope that it may happen shortly.
Bishop Vianney Fernando of Kandy
(Sri Lanka) has communicated to the Goa church regarding the recent development in
the canonization process.
Blessed Vaz, a saintly Goan priest who lived over
300 years ago traveled to Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) ministering to the Catholics in
that country.
A group has petitioned for the expedition of his canonization
as a native saint of India and Sri Lanka.
Archbishop Ferrao urged the faithful
to pray for the canonization of Blessed Vaz, referring to him as a stalwart of the
Catholic faith.Source: UCAN