Media Release

Canada, March 13: On March 1 at 2.30 pm Calgary welcomed and celebrated a new saint, St Joseph Vaz at St Antony’s church, 5340, 4 St SW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

A solemn holy mass was presided by bishop Frederick Henry and celebrants were : Fr John Schuster V G, Fr Jack Pereira, VG, Fr, Brain Hubka, Fr. Roy Jayamaha, Godwin Pinto, Fr Paul Raj, Fr. John Petravicius, Fr. Bill Stephenson and Ron Fortier.

St Joseph was beatified in 1995 by St Joh Paul II and canonized by Pope Francis on January 14, 2015 in Sri Lanka.

St Joseph Vaz was born in Benaulim, Goa and joined the Oratorians, the order of St Philip Neri and served as a missionary in Mangaluru and Sri Lanka.

Over two thousand faithful welcomed and celebrated a new saint, St Joseph Vaz from various communities and associations namely : Canorient Association, Calgary Konkons, Goan Association and Sri Lankan Associations and many others from several countries including India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.