Media Release

Mangaluru, Dec 7: The fourth/final day of the annual feast of St Joseph Vaz Shrine was celebrated with great devotion on December 6.

At 10.30 am the solemn eucharistic celebration was presided over by Fr Dr Archibald Gonsalves, OCD director of Ryshivana, Ranipura. He reflected on the life of St Joseph Vaz and urged everyone to be a zealous missionary like St Joseph Vaz who was a missionary disciple and lived the Gospel concretely.

Fr Benjamin Pinto, the rector of St Joseph Vaz Shrine thanked the priests expressing his gratitude to all those who worked for the smooth functioning of the annual feast. Naveen D’Souza, the vice-president of Parish Pastoral Parishad, Irene Veigas, secretary honoured Fr Dr Archibald Gonsalves.

The pilgrims experienced a spiritual atmosphere through prayer and adoration. Fr Lawrence D'Souza, Olvinahalli and guest priests were present. Fr Vijay Machado, director of Mangala Jyothi animated the liturgy of the annual feast.

At 5.00 pm the concluding mass of the annual feast was celebrated by Fr Dr Antony Prakash Monteiro, the campus director of St Philomena College Puttur. After the Eucharistic celebration, the shrine flag was lowered and handed over to the rector. About 5000 faithful participated in the four-day annual feast celebration.