Dear Sisters and Brothers,

The grace and peace of God our Father and of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!

 

1.  INTRODUCTION 

     We celebrate important days and events in different spheres of our life; their memories are etched in our mind and, as they come, they become for us opportunities to reflect more deeply upon them and to discover in them new perspectives. This year, the Church in Goa remembers some historical events and days of her life:

 

• The Holy Eucharist is the source and the summit of Christian life! On November 25, this year, it will be 500 years since the First Mass was celebrated on Goan soil.  

 

• The Seminary of Rachol is the cradle and nursery of priestly vocations! On November 1, this year, is the fourth centenary of the dedication of its Church.

 

• Joseph Vaz was a Man of God, a Servant of the Church and is the Patron of our Archdiocese! In this Pastoral Year itself, on the 16th of January, 2011, we shall celebrate the 300th year of his death.

 

     With these three celebrations in mind and with a special focus on the life and ministry of Joseph Vaz, we have formulated the following theme for this Pastoral Year in our Archdiocese: ‘Witness to Christian Values in the Footsteps of Joseph Vaz.’

 

     We need role models on our earthly journey. Their life influences us immensely and we try to hold on to the path they have blazed and the vision they have received.  Aware of their importance, Jesus too provided a number of them to his disciples: placing children among them, he set an example of humility (Mt 18:1-5); he set the faith commitment of a few as an example for many to let the light of their faith shine out (Lk 7:9; Mt 15:28);  the little that the poor widow put in the treasury became a great model of generosity (Mk 12:43-44).

 

     In the religious field, many women and men left behind the mark of their exemplary lives; their life and work became a source of inspiration; their voices still ring out to the ends of the world (Ps 19:4). Blessed Joseph Vaz is one such great man! A man with a vision, one who worked selflessly to make his priestly ministry fruitful in the service of God and of neighbour, a follower of Christ who witnessed to Christian values in word and in life! 

 

     ‘Yesu Maha-Utsov’, a celebration proclaiming and awakening the faith, was held in October 2009, in Mumbai. Reflecting on the theme ‘Let your light shine: be the Message and the Messenger,’  it challenged the faithful to let the rays of Christian values shine around. Joseph Vaz called upon his nephew to spread the radiance of Jesus by giving him the command: Jesus is the Sun,  you be the Moon! -  This call was first lived by him, as he let his life in the family, in the Church and in the society radiate with that of Jesus, the Sun. In his homily during the beatification liturgy of Joseph Vaz, Pope John Paul II said: Joseph Vaz is an inspiration to you to work ever more zealously and to witness to the Gospel in the family as well as in the communities’.1  For us too, in this diocese, the life of Joseph Vaz is a ray of Jesus, the Sun! He is an example and inspiration to witness to Christian values. Therefore, reflecting on some facets of his life so as to inspire us to witness to Christian values, we joyfully address to you this Pastoral Letter in this year of historical jubilee celebrations. 

  

     A good tree bears good fruits. We know the tree from its fruit (Lk 6:43-44). Joseph Vaz is a fruit from an exemplary family. His parents were a beacon of a life of holiness. They built their home on the foundation of the love of God and of neighbour, thus making their family into a model for the families in the neighbourhood. Christian virtues like integrity, justice, courage, concern for the lowly, love, forgiveness, patience and prayer were never found wanting in their home.2  Joseph Vaz got enriched a lot in such a home and, in turn, contributed to its enrichment; and, at every stage of his life, as he carried out his priestly ministry — particularly at the service of the family — he let many taste the value of these virtues and principles . 

  

     The family of Joseph Vaz was a family of daily prayer. They prayed together after rising in the morning and went about their daily chores after a short meditation. Of equal importance in that family was the regular reception of the Sacraments and the reading of the Krista Purana and of lives of saints. This atmosphere

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nurtured in Joseph Vaz the love for prayer, right from his childhood. Reading the life of saints, spending time in personal prayer, encouraging others to pray, relating himself to God through prayer in his daily goings-on was his lifestyle.3

 

     Jesus held to God through prayer (Lk 11:1); He taught His disciples to pray (Lk 11:2-4); by teaching that prayer was the worship of the heart, rather than the heaping of empty words (Mt 6:7), He unfolded the real meaning of prayer. The Church teaches that every Christian family revitalizes itself through the meaningful celebration of Sacraments and through prayer.4  Family prayer has the special power to make Christ present in our homes (Mt 18:19-20). Our family prayer is an occasion to surrender our joys and sorrows, births and deaths, thanksgivings and petitions into the hands of God. Parents then have a special responsibility to make their children aware of the importance of prayer.5 We find Pope Paul VI appealing to parents to build the Church with prayer.6

 

     The family prayer establishes a covenant relationship between God and men.7  An atmosphere of prayer is the strength of family life. Prayer makes unity grow;8  it nurses and nurtures vocations. Without prayer, the members of a family can easily fall prey to the worldly seductions; where there is no prayer, hopelessness and various other evils creep in. Let us, therefore, create time for family prayer and add meaning to it by the light of God’s Word; let us fill our children’s hearts with the love of God, by teaching them to pray.

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     The childhood of Joseph Vaz was irreproachable. He abhorred the things of this world right from his childhood. He was frugal in his eating habits. He loved to deprive himself from food in order to share it with others, especially beggars. And this was his greatness. He was exceptionally intelligent. He used this gift of the mind in the service of others and taught them selflessly. He displayed special enthusiasm in catechizing children. Very early in life he was known as the “little saint”.9 Moved by his exemplary life, parents constantly encouraged their own children to emulate him.

 

     Jesus loved children tenderly; He blessed them with divine gifts (Mk 10: 13-16). Those exchanging marital vows express their intention to ‘accept children lovingly from God and to bring them up according to the will of Christ and His Church’.10  On the day of the children’s Baptism, the minister advises parents and godparents to bring up their children according to Christian principles and to form them into Christ Jesus.11  Exhorting parents, St. Paul writes: “parents, …. bring them up (your children) in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph 6:4).

 

      Nowadays, children are showered with plenty, with focus on worldly wisdom and passing things, while there is tepidity regarding the imparting of catechesis and of divine principles; let us instill in our children’s hearts the divine wisdom that is found in the Bible. There is growing selfishness and less sharing among our children; they learn the acts of mercy by rote: let us teach them to practise them. Our children waste so much, especially food: let us lovingly admonish them against this evil. They are tempted to disdain

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others, especially the marginalized: let us create in them an attitude of respect for others’ human dignity and of equal treatment to all.

  

     In his youth, Joseph Vaz did his studies in the College of St Paul, at Old Goa. Both the good and the evil thrived in that great city, in those times. Many youngsters, companions of Joseph Vaz, were seen opting for the evil, rather than holding on to the good;  rather than walking in the light, they were mired in the confusion of the darkness.  In such a situation, Joseph Vaz became a mirror of virtue; He loathed the seductions which consumed the youth and thus became a model of purity.12  At his young age, he listened to God’s voice and, having said ‘yes’ to Him with all generosity, he enthusiastically shouldered His task. Offering guidance to his young nephew who had become a deacon, he exhorted him, as he went on growing, to be simple and pure as a child.13

 

     Jesus loved the youngster who wanted to inherit life eternal by showing the way to get rid of worldly possessions (Mk 10:17-21). St. Paul advised Timothy not to let anyone despise his youth (1 Tim 4:12) and appealed to him to shun the passions of his youth (2 Tim 2:22). In the Pastoral Letter we wrote last year, we focused on the youngsters and acknowledged their power and responsibility. Young people are the hope of the Church14  and, for this very reason, Pope John Paul II, of happy memory, addressed to them an Apostolic Letter, in which he asked them to overcome evil by letting the Word of God abide in them.15 

 

     Today’s communication technology has unfolded a lot of good, leading to genuine progress; but, at the same time, there has

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been a considerable increase of evil; many young people have fallen victims to it. Peer pressure has made many of them unwitting slaves to pornography, drugs, alcohol and other vices. Not a few young people have laid a heavy burden on their parents by their craze for the latest fashion and gadgetry as well as by falling prey to earning quick money through anti-Christian conduct.16  If we are young, let us try, while living in this world, to kindle in our hearts longings for heavenly treasures; if adults, let us help the young to walk through the path of Christian values.

            

     The parents of Joseph Vaz had a sound mutual relationship; they kept the holiness of the Sacrament of Marriage by their mutual love, respect and faithfulness.17  Joseph Vaz was inspired in this exemplary family of his parents to offer his priestly services to other families. To the families being ruined by alcoholism he showed the right path of life; he worked hard to reawaken families living a bad life to sound Christian values. Knocking incessantly at the doors of the families who had turned their back on Christian values and were living in immorality, he won them over to Christ. Couples generating offspring out of wedlock were joined by him in the Sacrament of Marriage. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, he led them to obtain the forgiveness of their sins. He released children who had been sold as slaves by poor parents and thus, through his life and ministry, he healed countless wounded families.18

 

     The New Testament reveals how important the union between the husband and wife is (Mt 5:31-32; Eph 5:21). The Church teaches that this relationship is a sign of the true relationship existing between Christ and His Church. Christian Marriage and

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Christian Family build the Church – so teach the Fathers of the Church.19 We are witnessing, in present-day Goa, an escalation of disrespect for life, of infidelity, alcoholism, domestic violence, waste of money and of the lure of the world.20  In the Year dedicated to the Families, our Pastoral Letter had reflected upon family life, enabling us to enrich it and ourselves with grace.21

 

     Fidelity, love, respect and sacrifice in a family are much needed to deepen married life. But today, Christian values are fading away in many of the families, opening the way to worldly storms which lead to destruction. Families are being ruined by the decline of patience and forgiveness among couples. Mutual misgivings and suspicions have increased, as couples fail to spend time together. Carnal passions lead towards an increased unfaithfulness. Parents are being overly discouraged as their children fail to respect them and to be grateful for their deprivations and sufferings.22  The problem of addiction of any of the family members has led to the destruction of peace and wellbeing in the family. Let us preserve what works for the unity of the family and shun whatever destroys it. Let us build our families on lasting, and not on transient values.

 

     Joseph Vaz tried to live his priesthood to the hilt. There was an antagonism then between the Padroado and the Propaganda. This had cast a shadow on the Christian religion. In this situation, Joseph Vaz was sent by his superiors in Goa as Vicar Forane to Kanara. There, out of love for the suffering members of the Church,

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Joseph Vaz worked out a reconciliation between the Padroado and the Propaganda. 23  He was determined to strengthen the faith of the Catholics who were undergoing persecution in Sri Lanka. So he overcame all barriers to reach those shores. He longed to share with others the faith he had received and to realize this dream he went barefoot from place to place. He overcame all types of opposition. It is the mission of every member of the Church to help bring reconciliation among contending parties in the Church.24  Joseph Vaz is an excellent example to the Christian faithful in this mission! 

  

     Joseph Vaz is an exceptional guardian of the faith. People in Sri Lanka and Mangalore, leaving their faith, had begun frequenting worship places of other religions. Many young people were growing without faith. Joseph Vaz spent his whole life serving such lost sheep. Since he could not move freely as a priest, he disguised himself as a coolie and went to Jaffna. With the help of local Catholic leaders, he gathered the people during the night to offer them his spiritual services. He moved from place to place in different disguises and served the people. He was even jailed for the faith. Inside the jail, he learnt Sinhalese25 and continued his work after his release. Working all alone throughout Sri Lanka for ten years, he served the people there and strengthened the Catholic faith of the lost sheep. Through prayer and by working miracles, particularly by praying for rain during the time of drought, he caused the Buddhist King of Kandy to change his attitude and allow him to get more Oratorian priests from Goa, with whose help he confirmed the faith of the Catholics in the region.

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The Church is a community of believers. St. Paul is one of the greatest examples of a strong and unshakeable faith. He dedicated his whole life to strengthen the faith of others. He wrote to the Galatians about the true foundations of faith (Gal 3:1-11) and advised Timothy on how to hold on to it (1 Tim 1:18-19).  Faith is founded on the Word of God26 and God’s Word gives us the strength to live our faith and to grow and persevere in it.27  Every Christian disciple is called to let the lamp of faith burn with the light of the Word, by living and keeping the faith in the Church.28  Only when  the human person surrenders to God totally in faith can God give him a perfect answer.29

 

     We become disheartened when we have to face difficulties or disgrace. But a strong faith can help overcome discouragement. Worldly enticements cannot overcome faith. A person of faith is a beacon of light. He is not intimidated by adversity or by a dark cloud; and nothing deters him from witnessing to his faith, either through words or through his conduct. A person who is sturdy in faith witnesses through his life style. Such a person is not a hypocrite, but lives his whole life like Jesus and for Jesus, thus becoming a guardian of the faith.  

  

     The spring of God’s grace flows through the Sacraments. Joseph Vaz would not rest until he would bring people to this spring. He would, therefore, gather the people and give them deep knowledge of the Catholic religion and of the Sacraments. Only then would he baptize those who had not received the Baptism,

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after duly instructing them in the Christian faith. He would impart them God’s forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, after he prepared them for it. He administered Communion, celebrating the Sacrifice of the Mass.30  Besides, in Calvinist territory, where there was no opportunity to celebrate the Mass, he would disguise himself, carry the consecrated Host secretly and, gathering  the people either in secret places or in Christian houses, administer Holy Communion to them. He also joined in the Sacrament of Marriage those living together without getting married. 

 

     The Sacraments are special means for the human being to grow in holiness, to build up the Body of Christ and to give glory to God. Through them one receives grace to live the Christian life.31  Through them we enter into the life of the Church, we are healed and are sent for a particular ministry. Each step of Christian life is enriched and made meaningful by the sacraments.32  The Holy Eucharist, the source and summit of Christian life, has a special place among the Sacraments.33 In it, God kindles our hearts through His Word (Lk 24:32), enlightens our path (Ps 119:105) and gives us new life in the Flesh and Blood of His Son (Jn 6:51). To perpetuate this gift, He commands his disciples at the Last Supper: ‘Do this in memory of Me” (Lk 22:19; 1 Cor 11:24. 25).

 

     Divine life reaches the human heart through the Sacraments. For Christians to share in the Life of the Spirit, Jesus Christ, in His wisdom and generosity, institutes the seven Sacraments. In order to experience the riches of the Sacraments, we simply need

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to celebrate them after due preparation and live their fruit in our lives. The Sacrifice of the Mass is the centre of the Parish life! In order to make it more meaningful, it is imperative that each member surrenders generously his or her talents. And, through a prayerful celebration of the Sacraments, our priests should strive towards making them — particularly the Holy Eucharist — occasions to renew and stimulate their own faith and that of the people.34 Our times are witnessing the gradual dilution of the understanding of the malice of sin. Let us stimulate our Christian living by understanding more deeply the value of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and by drinking from the fountain of grace flowing from it.

  

      There was a serious dearth of priests in Mangalore, during the times of Joseph Vaz. He was the only priest there for at least three years. So also, when he went to Sri Lanka, there was no other priest besides him for ten years. It was obviously with the help of the locals that he carried forward his priestly ministry. This was his working style: he would remain for about two weeks in a locality where there were Catholics and visit them according to his possibilities. Knowing that this work was beyond his capacity, he would establish there a community and choose its leader – a Muppu — from among them. He would also form some catechists or Annavi from their midst. On Sundays, in the absence of priests, these leaders and catechists would gather the people, lead them in prayer, proclaim the Word of God and catechize adults and children.35 

 

     Members of a community work all in solidarity. Jesus had formed a community at the beginning of his public life; he had

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chosen them to be with Him (Mk 3:14). He had sent them on ahead of him in pairs to proclaim the Good News to every town and place where he himself intended to go (Lk 10:1). His work was to form humanity into one community (Jn 10:16). St. Paul established Christian communities in different places with the cooperation of other people. He warned against forces that destroy community spirit and encouraged the Church in Corinth to live as a community (1 Cor 1:10-13; 12:12-27). It is necessary that we work together as a community so as to witness to Jesus in the Church.36 Small Christian Communities are true expressions of ecclesial communion and centres of evangelization, in communion with their pastors.37  These communities are a leaven of Christian life, of care for the poor and the marginalized as well as of the work for the transformation of society.38 

 

     In large parishes like ours, these Communities are excellent means to express our close bonds of unity and pastoral concern and an appropriate place for every Christian to let human values shine out.  The leadership in our Small Christian Communities, rather than being oppressive, revitalizes, stimulates and acknowledges mutual gifts and charisms.39  Let us make our Small Christian Communities places where, like the communities in the Early Church, we joyfully reflect on the Word of God, share our experiences  with one another and walk in the light of the Gospel.

 

     Sri Lankans at the time of Joseph Vaz professed many religions, such as Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Calvinism and Catholicism. Fr. Joseph Vaz took the initiative to begin a dialogue with them.

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He respected their indigenous customs and cultures and adapted the best of them to the practice of Catholicism. Nor did he impose his own language and customs – that is, from Goa — on the Sri Lankans. He learnt, instead, the Tamil and the Sinhalese languages and proclaimed the Catholic faith through their own cultural language. And he gathered a fruitful harvest. He set liturgical hymns to their local music and  taught them to pray, making use of their traditional musical instruments, thus giving birth to a truly indigenous Church. He would engage in open and fruitful dialogue with the leaders and people of various religions.40  He treated everyone with tenderness. When smallpox raged in Kandy, killing thousands, Joseph Vaz assisted all, without any religious discrimination and with love and tenderness. And he buried the dead in graves he himself would dig.41

 

     We are all members of the human family! This very dream of unity Jesus had raised in prayer to His Father (Jn 17:21). In his mission, He showed concern for all, indiscriminately. The Samaritan woman (Jn 4:1-42), the Sirophoenician woman (Mk 7:24-30), the Roman Centurion (Mt 8:5-13), all these non-Jewish brothers and sisters  experienced His love through a dialogue filled with concern. Every Christian faithful has a mission to recognize, preserve and promote the religious and human values present in other religions,42 since the goodness of the Spirit of God can be offered to everyone.43  Pope Benedict XVI appeals to all the faithful to build bridges of friendship with people of various religions.44  

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In our Diocesan Pastoral Plan, this task has been set as a priority so that, while building a new  society, it has a place of special importance.45 

 

     Before we look for the religion of the other person, let us see him as a human person and respect him as one. Let us acknowledge that each religion has its uniqueness and, therefore, shun the temptation of despising other faiths. When such brothers and sisters of ours need our help and cooperation, let us bridge our differences by attending to them in deed and thus maintaining with them a dialogue of life. Let us beware of those trying to destroy the tree of unity with the hydra of communalism and let us take resolute steps to strengthen the harmony among religions. 

 

     The life of the first Christians was marked by genuine concern for the other. There was not a needy person in their community, since everything they owned was held in common (Acts 4:32-35). Joseph Vaz was full of social concern! Involving himself in social activity, Joseph Vaz served those who were suffering and the abandoned. In Mangalore, besides seeing to his pastoral duties, he became a social leader. Going from place to place, he opened small schools, taught the growing children to read and write and thereafter entrusted these schools to teachers he had prepared from among the leaders.  In Sri Lanka too, he opened many schools adjacent to the chapels and churches which he had built with the help of the local population. Joseph Vaz was particularly concerned that the future generation should be given good education and formation. With the help of others, he would daily distribute rice to the poor and the deprived. Through Baptism, every Christian shares in the triple mission of Jesus. So, like Jesus, he embraces

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the service of the society, particularly of the most needy.46 And in face of social problems, he courageously witnesses to his calling by raising his prophetic voice. The eminent son of Goa, Joseph Vaz, has shown us how we can promote social work. 

  

4.1 Joseph Vaz, Teacher of the Value of Work through Various Work  Experiences 

     The father of Joseph Vaz was a farmer. He supported his family by tilling his fields and properties.47  Joseph Vaz thus learnt to give equal respect to all kinds of work. He disguised himself as a coolie in order to enter Sri Lanka.48  In Colombo, he went in and out of the city, carrying on his shoulders the chest of a well-known doctor.49 He used to wash people’s clothes near a well close to the Catholic Church destroyed by the Calvinists. He travelled like a fisherman in a fishing canoe. He administered the Sacraments to the Catholics who had gone into hiding by going around, every now and then, with baskets of fish or bread, disguised as a seller of bread or fish.50 

 

     Jesus helped His father doing carpentry work (Mk 6:2-3; Mt 13:55). Being the Son of God did not prevent him from doing this work, by which he upheld the dignity and the holiness of work. St. Paul, in spite of being a learned man, supported himself by the work of his hands and, warning about idleness, called upon people to do some kind of work. (Acts 18:3;  2 Thes  3:7-8. 11). Everyone supports himself and his family and, in the process, serves the society through some kind of work.51  In doing so, he continues on this earth the work of God’s creation according to

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His plan.52  The one who does not work has no right to eat (2 Thes 3:10; 1 Thes 4:11). The Church, also dwelling on  the dignity of agricultural work, teaches how to make use of it to support the human person.53  It is more important to focus on how one works rather than on what kind of work one does.

 

     Nowadays many of our Goans, chiefly young people, look down on some particular kinds of work. For example, they even feel ashamed to work in their own fields and properties, resulting in many lands going waste. Many young people idle away their precious time and refuse to lay their hands on work that is to be done. The life of Joseph Vaz teaches us all the dignity of work and inspires us to work with enthusiasm and in a spirit of service. Let us take up any kind of work and give glory to God through it. Leaving aside discrimination regarding work, let us be convinced that all work done with honesty and selflessness has the same value before God. 

 

     While going from village to village to render service to his people in Mangalore,  Joseph Vaz would visit the houses of the suffering in the evenings, washing and dressing wounds and comforting the sick.54  In Old Goa, on the Mount of Boa Vista, he built a house to care for the abandoned and, together with his priest-companions, offered them humble service. When smallpox raged in Sri Lanka, his concern for the victims knew no bounds. In those times, anyone attacked by the plague was abandoned in the forest, all blood relationships forgotten. Joseph Vaz would go

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54 Cf. Rego, Vida, pp. 33-34.

 

searching for them through the forest and, caring for them tenderly, gave them back their human dignity. He would himself prepare kanji and, carrying it on his head, would feed the sick in the forests and in their homes. All the doctors and even the King had run away, but Joseph Vaz stayed behind with the plague-stricken and, for more than a year, served them as a father, as a doctor, as a teacher, as a cook and even as a grave-digger; he thus became the comforter and the living hope of those who suffered and sorrowed under such tragic conditions. 55

 

     Jesus made the blind see, the deaf hear, the dumb speak and the lame walk; he also cured the paralytics and made lepers clean (Mk 1:29-34; Mt. 9:1-8; Lk 5:12-16).  To assist the sick, the suffering and the hungry was an important part of the mission of Jesus. He called upon those in sorrow to take His ‘easy yoke’ and ‘light burden’ (Mt 11: 28-30). He stated clearly that suffering and sickness are powerful means to proclaim God’s works (Jn 9:3). Saint Paul too appealed to the Church in Corinth to share in the sorrows of the brothers and sisters, by comparing it to the function of the organs of the body (1 Cor 12:26) and urged the Galatians to bear one another’s burdens (Gal 6:2). The countless hospitals, homes for the aged and for the orphans, the Society of St. Vincent of Paul, Caritas and other charitable institutions and Religious Institutes in the history of the Church are an open book of her social concern. The Church exhorts us to carry on this work with great enthusiasm.56  It is the mission of the members of the Church to share in the sorrows of those suffering in the society and to console them.57

 

     On the one hand, we see a lot of concern shown by the Church towards the sick and the suffering. On the other hand, however,

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we see sons and daughters and other family members forsaking their parents, their elderly and the infirm. It is distressing to listen to the sighs of their hearts. As the elderly languish in their ‘homes,’ many of those whom they loved and nurtured in life live in splendid dwellings, own expensive cars and eat of the best. Some of our brothers and sisters have fallen victims to HIV-AIDS, others are behind bars, and still others are undergoing pain and agony in hospitals and at home. Let us be merciful towards them; let us take steps to ease their burden; let our comforting solidarity cause new shoots of hope burst forth in their lives.

 

     As we mentioned earlier in this Letter, while in Mangalore, Joseph Vaz resolved brilliantly the conflict between the Padroado and the Propaganda, thus creating between them an atmosphere of peace. There he also ensured the freedom of enslaved children, women and men.58  In Sri Lanka, he was being harassed by a Buddhist leader, while exercising his ministry. When this man was struck by the plague, all his family members abandoned him. As soon as Joseph Vaz came to know of this, he took care of him with great solicitude. This kind act of Joseph Vaz moved him to ask for forgiveness and, after becoming well, to embrace the Catholic faith.59  We know about the bloodshed caused by the conflicts between the Tamils and the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka. Both these ethnic groups existed also in the times of Joseph Vaz, but he brought them together and gathered them into a community of justice and peace. He served both the groups lovingly, without any discrimination.

 

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness … for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:6. 9-10). The Bible

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shows how important it is for those who love God to live in peace and reconciliation with the neighbour and to uphold justice (Mt 5:23-24; Is 1:15-17). God made us one people through His Son. And He established on the Cross an unbreakable covenant between heaven and earth. The peace that brings the divided world together is God Himself (Eph 2:14). In the Old Testament we find very often the Hebrew word Shalom. This word is very meaningful; it expresses the well-being of a human person in all its angles. Living in peace and reconciliation is not only maintaining good relationships, but also working enthusiastically for the common well-being. When Jesus sent out his disciples, He instructed them that their first salutation should be of such Peace (Lk 10:5). Peace and reconciliation are fruits of justice and of perfect love. The vineyard of peace flourishes in an atmosphere of justice and love.60  The violation of human dignity is an offence against God the Creator.61 Peace reigns when human rights are respected.62 True peace can happen in an atmosphere of genuine forgiveness and justice. 

 

     When we make justice and peace happen, we witness to our identity as children of God and hold Christian values high. When we cause division and injustice, we spread the kingdom of the devil. How many divisions in our families! So much hostility and violence on account of landed property or livestock! So much contention and discrimination because of the class or caste divide! The worker has a right to his wages. When, respecting their human dignity, we pay the right wages to those working in our homes and other places, we become messengers of justice. 63 We witness to justice when we perform our tasks with honesty  and teach others to do

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likewise. The teachings of Jesus and the life of Joseph Vaz call us to be messengers of unity, of justice and peace. Let us take resolute steps to live as builders of bridges of justice and peace, by pulling down the walls of hatred.

  

     The Calvinist administration in Sri Lanka had issued strict orders to persecute the Catholics. These were to report to the Calvinist officers and renounce their religion, failing which they could not get married or enjoy other facilities. They also had to participate in the religious rites taking place in Calvinist churches. Catholic schools too were closed and Catholics were forced, under a strict rule, to send their children to Protestant schools.64  In 1707, Joseph Vaz sent a circular to the Catholic leaders, urging them and the people to courageously express their strong protest against this measure. Three hundred Catholic fisherfolk from Colombo, through an open letter to the Calvinist administration, claimed their right to the freedom of conscience to follow any religion.65  Inspired by them, the Catholics in other regions too began a movement of protests so that the Calvinist government began to dither and retracted the law.66  This satyagraha  of Joseph Vaz against the Calvinist Government to protect the rights of Catholics would be replicated two hundred years later, in the satyagraha of Mahatma Gandhi against the British Government. The life of Joseph Vaz was an ocean of challenges: opposition from superiors, learning the difficult languages in Sri Lanka, adopting their customs, being thrown behind bars, spending nights in forests, among others.

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     We have teachings of prophets in the Old Testament. Speaking for God, the prophets courageously protested against evil and faced various challenges in the presence of kings and of the people (Amos 7:10-13). Those who, hearing the cries of the poor, try courageously to come to their aid are promoters of human dignity and contribute towards the true development of the society.67 Jesus is a genuine and true prophet. He raised his prophetic voice and dispelled a lot of evil: He drove out, with a whip of cords, the people selling cattle, sheep and doves at the temple (Jn 2:13-17);  He voiced out strong protests against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees (Mt 23:1ff); He proclaimed the truth boldly, by holding discussions with the Jews (Jn 8:48-59).  The sons and the daughters of Goa have to face many challenges today. An unstable political situation, joblessness among the youth, harmful influence of the media on human life and destruction of ecology are some of the challenges we have to face today.68

 

     Yes, there are many challenges before us today, but very few to respond to them. We prefer to keep our eyes and ears shut, rather than register our protest against wrong government rules, or when ecology is raped, when corruption swells, along with drugs, sexual abuse of children, pornographic films, etc. In order to safeguard clean water for our Goan people we need to fight against the polluting industries and mines; we need to show the path of truth to those who on the occasion of elections barter votes and consciences with money and alcohol.  Let the priests acknowledge that it is their mission to raise their prophetic voice and to alert the people and to show them the way of truth in social issues.69  Let us all face courageously the challenge of building a society marked by truth and genuine progress. 

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     The Mother of Jesus became, in a special way at the foot of the Cross, the mother of those who believed in her Son and who wished to follow Him.70 Joseph Vaz had a special love for this very same Mother, and surrendered his life to her. He adopted for his life the lofty Christian values that he saw in her life. And, in imitating Mary, who became the model disciple of Jesus and the twinkling star of the proclamation of the Good News,71 he became to all a shining witness to Jesus.

  

     Joseph Vaz had, from early childhood, a predilection for Mary. After he was ordained priest, on August 5, 1677, kneeling in front of the main altar in the old Church of Sancoale, dedicated to Our Lady of Health, Joseph Vaz wrote his well-known  Letter of Bondage  and surrendered to Mary his whole life as a willing slave. While ending this letter, he expressed his wish that, if he could, he would sign with the blood from his heart: so deep was his love for the Blessed Virgin.72

 

     A true disciple of Christ is His servant (2 Cor 11:23; Rom 1:1). The disciples of Jesus are challenged to proclaim the Kingdom of God, not arrogantly or with might, but as humble servants (Lk 17:10).  By acknowledging the lordship of God in her whole life, Mary became His humble ‘handmaid’ (Lk 1:38. 48). So, in her pilgrimage of faith, she surrendered her whole life to God alone by always being obedient to Him.73  Mary is the model of the Church. In the likeness of Mary, it is

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important that the Church, in her mission, be obedient to God’s Word, so that she may learn to look at all the events from His perspective.74

 

All of us, in the Church, are called for a task. Our life needs to be worthy of this call. Whatever our task may be, let us accomplish it in humility and with responsibility, after the example of Mary and of Joseph Vaz. Adopting the culture of appreciating the value of the work done by others, let us keep encouraging others to work with ever increasing enthusiasm.  

 

     A loyal servant fulfills not his but his master’s will. While doing this, he has to face lots of difficulties. Keeping Mary as his model, Joseph Vaz recognized the will of God as he went on to proclaim the Good News, following the mandate of Jesus. He longed to go to Sri Lanka.   When he revealed his intentions to his superiors, they asked him to go, not to Sri Lanka, but to Kanara. Convinced that God reveals His will through superiors, he went to Kanara.75 As he was getting ready to carry forward God’s work in Kandy, he was accused of being a spy of the Portuguese Government and imprisoned. He saw God’s will in this. And this indeed became for him an opportunity to learn Sinhalese and to be God’s instrument in the miracle of rain. In this way, he got more facilities to proclaim Jesus more effectively.76

 

     Each step of Mary’s life witnesses fully to the will and the plan of God (Lk 1: 38).77  In her faithfulness to God’s will, she

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faces many challenges with a great spirit of faith (Lk 2:41-52; Mt 2:13-15). Her humble life is a way for every Christian to accept the Father’s will and to grow in holiness.78  Mary always accompanied Jesus with love and very closely as he worked to fulfill his Father’s will. If Jesus experienced her praises and loyalty in good times (Jn 2:1-11), he had her courage and consoling presence in times of sorrow (Jn 19:25-27).

 

     Our intelligence always falls short of perceiving and reflecting on the infinite thoughts and works of God. Joseph Vaz is an inspiration for every moment of our life, particularly in moments of sorrow and difficulty, when we become confused and our faith becomes shaky!

  

     When preaching in Tamil or Sinhalese, Joseph Vaz would be filled with emotion and, in tears, propose, again and again, to his audience, the meditation on the passion of Jesus and on the sorrows of Our Lady.79  The rosary beads were his unfailing companions, always and everywhere. 

 

     He propagated the devotion to Mary so that everyone, but especially the Sri Lankan brothers and sisters, might avail themselves of the loving protection and company of Mary. He built in that country churches, chapels and prayer houses dedicated to Our Lady. Catholics would gather in those places to pray the rosary, sing litanies as well as celebrate feasts in honour of our Blessed Mother. 80

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     Human progress cannot be fruitful without God’s grace and a relationship with Him (Jn 15:4). Our Blessed Mother intercedes continuously for us so that we may merit this heavenly grace and remain under her protection during our earthly journey.81  Jesus founded the Church as His own body. Mary, being the Mother of Jesus, develops special ties with the Church.82 If she has kept company to the early Church by praying together with the Apostles (Acts 1:14), now, in her heavenly glory, she offers us her protection through her unceasing intercessory prayer. 83  

 

     The Rosary is a simple, but a special and important prayer, through which we receive fruits of holiness.84 Let us say it with more devotion and faithfulness in our homes and thus experience her special presence. Let the domiciliary visit of her statue be an occasion to strengthen unity in our homes and in our neighbourhoods. By offering, in season and out of season, our loving service to all, but specially to the sick, the weak and the sorrowing, let us spread the perfume of her virtues around us. By placing the life of Joseph Vaz before our eyes, let the devotion to Our Lady grow in our hearts and spread in the Church. 

  

     Under the theme, Witness to Christian Values in the Footsteps of Joseph Vaz, we reflected in parts upon the life and the missionary work of this Son of Goa and Patron of our Archdiocese. Let us sing thanks to our Triune God  for his design in bringing to birth such a brilliant star on our Goan soil and for the gift of his life filled with the love of Jesus and with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

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     Invalidating the claims that ‘a prophet is not accepted among his own,’ let us work to give Joseph Vaz a very special place of  respect and love in our hearts. It is indeed important that we are acquainted more deeply with his life  and work. The more we read and reflect upon his life, the more our ties with him will grow, our devotion for him will increase  and our experience of Jesus — whom he had made the centre of his life – will deepen. The uniqueness of the Good News is that we do not hide it within ourselves, but share it immediately with others and make others’  life happy and rich. While celebrating this Son of Goa who left us such an outstanding example, let us take up the special task of sharing with one another the light of his brilliant life in this Pastoral Year lined up with special jubilees.

 

     ‘Go into the whole the world and preach the Good News.’ Carving this command of Jesus in his heart, St. Paul had sighed ‘woe to me if I do not proclaim the Gospel !’ (1 Cor 9:16);  Blessed Joseph Vaz made Paul’s sentiments his own and worked diligently to become the worthy missionary that he was. Let us all, the disciples of Jesus, but specially the priests and the religious sisters and brothers,  pay due homage to him by following in his footsteps.

 

     The Goa Diocesan Synod, celebrated in the year 2002, challenged every Christian faithful to be the leaven of a new society. Three hundred years ago, Blessed Joseph Vaz embraced this challenge courageously.  If we are to give today a meaningful and fruitful response to this challenge, following his example, we need to renew our personal, family, social as well as parish life. Let us then take up the values he witnessed to and adopt a new vision in our life.

 

     While thanking God for this year of jubilees, let our humble prayer be: Loving Father, in Your generosity, grant that Joseph Vaz, Your humble servant and son of Goa, be officially proclaimed as a Saint. And may we, zealously following his example, witness to Christian values in every life situation. 

 

     May our Diocesan Patron watch over us and help us to be enthusiastic witnesses of Jesus. And may our Triune God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – bless you and give us all a grace-filled new Pastoral Year.

 

     Archbishop’s House, Panjim, Goa, Solemnity of the Pentecost, 23rd May, 2010. 

 

                                                                                    Sd/-

                                                                          (+ Filipe Neri Ferrão)

                                                                     Archbishop of Goa and Daman