Bantwal: Thousands Attend Annual Feast of Blessed Joseph Vaz Parish
By Stanley Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (RD/CN)
Bantwal, Dec 2: The annual feast of Blessed Joseph Vaz parish, Mudipu, and the tri-centenary death anniversary of Blessed Joseph Vaz were marked with religious fervour here from Tuesday November 30 to Thursday December 2.
Special prayers for the sick and the elderly were offered by Fr Franklyn D’Souza, youth director, Bangalore, on Tuesday morning during the Holy Mass.
Adoration of the Eucharist and Holy Masses were celebrated throughout Tuesday for the benefit of innumerable pilgrims.
Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza of Mangalore diocese celebrated the Holy Mass and delivered a meaningful homily during the observance of the tri-centenary death anniversary of Blessed Joseph Vaz on Wednesday December 1.
Bishop D’Souza also released the novena book of St Alphonsa authored by Fr Andrew D’Souza, parish priest and director of Blessed Joseph Vaz, Mudipu.
Bishop Dr Peter Machado of Belgaum diocese celebrated the festal Holy Mass on Thursday.
Infant Jesus Shrine superior Fr George Santhumayor, Elyarpadav parish priest Fr Reginald Pinto, Fr Basil Vaz, Fr Muller Homeopathic Medical College administrator Fr Wilfred Prakash D’Souza, Fr Rudolph D’Sa of Fr Muller, Fr Pradeep Correa from Belgaum, Alex D’Souza from Kallianpur, Fr Gilbert D’Souza of small Christian community, Permannur assistant parish priest Fr Ajit Menezes, Olavinahalli chaplain Fr Stany Monteiro, Bantwal assistant parish priest Fr Ivan D’Souza, Bambil parish priest Fr Vincent Coelho, Amembal parish priest Fr Valerian Frank, and clergies from neighbouring parishes concelebrated the Holy Mass along with Bishop Machado.
The arrangements for confessions by the faithful as well as stalls of religious items including candles and blessed oil were set up in the church and hill shrine.
Mudipu assistant parish priest Fr Vinod Lobo prepared the liturgical service.
Mudipu parish priest Fr Andrew D’Souza welcomed the gathering and thanked the pilgrims for gracing the occasion. He also announced that the novena in honour of Blessed Joseph Vaz will be held on every Friday beginning from February 2011.
Mudipu parish council vice-president Felix D’Souza, secretary Lilly, Michael D’Souza, and parishioners contributed to the success of the annual feast and observance of tri-centenary death anniversary of Blessed Joseph Vaz.
Free food was offered to a large gathering of pilgrims at the pilgrimage shrine on Thursday afternoon.
An exhibition about the missionary work of Blessed Joseph Vaz in south Canara, Goa, and Sri Lanka, is in progress at the shrine.