For a canonization, there is the matter of jurisdiction. The Cause has to be started by the Bishop of the diocese where the Saint had died. For St. Joseph Vaz it would have been Kandy in Sri Lanka. The first Cause was started by the Bishop of Cochin who had jurisdiction over Kandy. But because of persecution, it was transferred to the Archdiocese of Goa. The jurisdiction of the final Cause which was started at the turn of the 20th century was under the Archdiocese of Goa. It was transferred from Goa back to Kandy in 1976.

The rules for Patron Saint sent to us by the Dicastery of Divine Cult in 2024 do not mention jurisdiction. A religious Institute or lay group can choose a Patron Saint from any part of the world.

There are no documents to be assembled on the life, devotion, and miracles of the Patron Saint chosen by the Bishop of the diocese in which he died. Thus neither the Bishop of Kandy or the Bishops of Sri Lanka have jurisdiction over the choice or approval of St. Joseph Vaz as Patron Saint. Neither does the Bishop (Cardinal) of the Archdiocese of Goa.

A religious institute requires episcopal approval of the bishops they’re under, not of where the Saint was born or died. A lay group, non-religious or international does not require episcopal approval because they are not under any episcopal jurisdiction. Such groups can go through the Holy See for approval.