Blessed Vaz canonization early next year: Kandy bishop

Pope John Paul II beatified him on January 21, 1995, during his visit to Sri Lanka.

Vatican City:  Blessed Joseph Vaz, the Goan missionary who preached in Sri Lanka, is expected to be canonized during the papal visit of the island nation early next year, says Bishop Vianney Fernando of Kandy.

"What would you say if a wish comes true after 300 years? The whole Church in Sri Lanka rejoices today," Bishop Fernando told Vatican's Fides Agency yesterday.

"We have worked hard and overcome so many obstacles," he said. "Now we are simply happy. We hope and pray that the celebration will take place during the Pope's visit to Sri Lanka. Our joy would be even doubled," he added.

Pope Francis on Wednesday advanced the move to canonize Blessed Joseph Vaz, by approving a vote in favor of the canonization. This effectively waves off the requirement for a second miracle. Normally, two miracles attributed to a Blessed are considered a precondition for canonization.

Blessed Joseph Vaz (1651-1711), a native of Goa, worked for the evangelization of people in Sri Lanka when Catholics faced persecution during the Dutch occupation.

He founded more than 15 churches and 400 chapels in Sri Lanka and translated of the Gospel in the two languages of the country: Tamils and Sinhalese.

He was ordained a priest in the Congregation of St. Filippo Neri. His 23 years of work made his later known as the "Apostle of Sri Lanka".

The saintly priest died in Kandy in 1711, on January 16, the day on which his feast is celebrated in the liturgical calendar.

Pope John Paul II beatified him on January 21, 1995, during his visit to Sri Lanka.

Source: Fides