Mangalore: Annual Feast of Blessed Joseph Vaz Shrine Celebrated at Mudipu
By Stanly Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore
Mangalore, Dec 8: The annual feast of Blessed Joseph Vaz Shrine at Mudipu was held at the Miracle Hill on December 5, 6 and 7.
In preparation for the feast of Blessed Joseph Vaz, five days Novena was held from November 30 to December 4.
Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, bishop of Mangalore, Fr Antony Serrao, parish priest of Bendore, Fr Vinod Lobo, assistant parish priest of Immaculate Conception Church, Kinnigoli were the main celebrants for the three-day grand celebration.
The theme for the feast was ‘Faith is the foundation if the family’.
Prior to the mass, adoration to the Blessed Sacrament was held every day.
During all the masses, special prayers were offered for the sick, the poor and for the special intensions of the devotees.
Bishop Aloysius D’Souza in his sermon called the gathering to be faithful and asked them to live in faith especially during trouble and difficulties.
He also stressed on the recitation of rosary, offering mass and reading of scriptures and meditation.
Bishop asked the devotees to stick to the faith and appealed to be patient for the fulfillment of gods will in day to day life.
After the festal mass on December 7, ‘Anna Santharpane’ was organized to all devotees which was witnessed by more than 5000 people.
Leo D’Souza, Lancy D’Souza, Santhosh Omjoor compered the programme.
Fr Gregory D’Souza, parish priest, Fr Rajesh Madtha, assistant parish priest, Fr Reginal Pinto, Fr Cyprian Correa, Fr Stany Pereira, Fr Roman Pinto, Fr John Sequeira, Fr Nelson Pinto, Felix D’Souza, vice president, Felix Cutinha, secretary, Michael D’Souza, Arun D’Souza, parish council members among others were present.
Miracle Hill at Mudipu
The patron of Mudipu church, Blessed Joseph Vaz, an Indian was born in Goa in 1651. Having been ordained a priest he came to our land, which was then called Canara. His sole objective was to show salvific way to the people. He was appointed 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 father readily agreed and started with them. However, 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 three different directions.
People who came to kill the priest ran for their own lives. God saved Father 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 deep 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 fulfills the desires. Therefore the people of the vicinity call Blessed Joseph Vaz.