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Novena to St Joseph Vaz Together at a Global Level. Please find the links here January 18-26th, 2024 Day 09, 08, 07, 06, 05, 04, 03, 02, 01
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Should St. Joseph (Naik) Vaz be Called “Apostle Of Ceylon” or “Apostle of Sri Lanka and Kanara (India)?” Please read the entire article published in Vidyajyothi Journal of Theological Reflection, Vol. 88/1 January 2024 by Dr Filomena Saraswati Giese
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St. Joseph (Naik) Vaz is an Indian missionary born in Goa, who successfully re-built the Church under persecution in Kanara (Mangalore), India, and in Sri Lanka.
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Let’s Make St Joseph Vaz a Patron Saint and We Need your Help to Get Signatures! Please…
Joseph Naik Vaz Institute – California is spearheading the campaign petition to make St Joseph Vaz a Patron Saint of his contributions. This includes patron of medical first responders, freedom of religion, the laity, education and priesthood of tribal peoples, inter-religious relations, native para-liturgy and catholic literature, native clergy and religious congregations.
We have already petitioned the Holy See to make St Joseph Vaz as the Patron Saint of the First Responders. But this is not enough. We need signatures from you symbolizing that it is everyone’s, every St Joseph Vaz devotee’s wish.
On this website, you find a number of articles written by Dr Filomena Giese the founder and president of Joseph Naik Vaz Institute – California. This institute made a significant effort to make Joseph Vaz first as “Blessed” and then “a canonized Saint.”
Please find attached two files: One gives a brief idea about our efforts and why St Joseph Vaz should get the status of Patron Saint. Second, a PDF file, which you could print and invite people to sign with details. Then please scan and send it to our address: [email protected] We will forward it to the Vatican.
Here are the files to download: 1. joseph_vaz_patron_signature_flyer_lines (PDF format)
2. joseph_vaz_patron_signature_flyer_appeal (pdf format)
May St Joseph Vaz intercede for you and your family. We are counting on your kind help.
* A Movement to Make St Joseph Vz ‘Patron Saint of Inter-Religious Relations’ Gathers Stream by Filomena Saraswati Giese published in Indian Catholic Matters (Aug. 25, 2023)
* Why Syrian Rite Keralites have a “Patron Saint” and why Latin Rite Goans, Mangaloreans, and Sri Lankans Don’t! By Filomena Saraswati Giese published in Indian Catholic Matters (Aug. 8, 2023)
Welcome to the Community of Saint Joseph (Naik) Vaz! Saint Joseph Vaz, a 17th-century native of India (hence South Asia), who was canonized by Pope Francis last year. Vaz worked for religious freedom in Sri Lanka at the risk of his life and gained the protection of the Buddhist King of Kandy because of his deep dedication to people in need. He nursed and aided the abandoned victims of smallpox in Kandy, established a network of underground schools, chapels, and health clinics throughout the large island, and also left an inculturated para-liturgy and literature in the two principal languages of Sri Lanka, Sinhala and Tamil, thereby equipping them to withstand 150 years of persecution by Dutch colonial rulers.
We are admirers of an Indian, hence South Asian, 17th century Catholic Saint, Joseph Vaz, who totally engaged himself in deep meditation and prayer while also working to solve the real-life problems and difficult circumstances of the people. He is a saint who communed with Nature and wild elephants.
Our inter-faith commitment is taken from the way in which inter-faith trust and respect played out in his life. Saint Joseph Vaz served all the people, not just Catholics. His ancestors were Hindu and he kept his Indian heritage, language and culture. His lifestyle was that of a true Indian Sannyasi. He studied with the Buddhist monks of Sri Lanka and taught Meditation to children. He won the lifelong love and protection of the Buddhist King of Kandy from Dutch colonial forces who persecuted Sri Lankan Catholics for political reasons. At one point of his life, he was rescued by the Muslim physician of the King.
We are all struggling with our religious identities and he is a model of mutual love and respect. We at the St Joseph Vaz Institute hope to bring this spiritual energy and effort to our modern problems. The principal one is climate change and environmental and ecological damage to our planet.
You are most welcome to be part of our mission, which is set on the ideals and actions of Saint Joseph Vaz. Let us share in the same vision of the great saint and figure who is very much needed for our times.
About Joseph Naik Vaz Institute in California, US
Registered 501(c)(3) in 1978
website: www.josephnaikvaz.org
Board and Committee
President: Filomena Saraswati Giese
V.P: George Pinto
Secretary & website manager: Rev. Olvin Veigas S.J
Treasurer: Ligia Britto
Since 1978 our goals have been ….
1. To get Beatification and Canonization of St Joseph Vaz, Son of Goa, India and Apostle of Kanara and Sri Lanka
2. Preserve his spirituality and heritage
3. Work for his humanitarian ideals of service to the poor and marginalized thru schools, health care clinics, freedom of religion, and building inter-religious peace and understanding.
4. Currently, we are pursuing to make St Joseph Vaz as the Patron Saint of the First Responders with a petition sent to the Holy See.
Please email us at [email protected] to know more about Joseph Naik Vaz Institute in Cal, US. or text us @: Filomena Saraswati Giese at +1-510-325-1803 or Noella Fernandes at +1- 415-370-3591