“Our call is to proclaim the Gospel to all and become the apostles of hope,” said Simião Fernandes, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, Goa, western India.
Delivering a homily on the theme, ‘St. Joseph Vaz, a model to be a zealous evangelizer of the Gospel of Hope,’ Bishop Fernandes called the faithful to become true apostles of hope by proclaiming the Gospel in every aspect of their lives: within families, in society, and toward nature.
He emphasizes that living out the values of the Gospel can bring hope to others and inspire change.
Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa and Daman, presided over the Mass on the feast day of St. Joseph Vaz, patron of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, at the Church of Our Lady of Health, Rua Escravo de Maria, Sancoale.
St. Joseph Vaz wrote a letter of Bondage to Mother Mary at this church on August 5, 1677. St. Joseph Vaz is a Goan saint, canonized by Pope Francis on January 14, 2015.
Bishop Fernandes highlights the importance of cultivating gratitude, humility, and respect in one’s home.
He reminded the faithful of Pope Francis, who said that simple words like "Thank you,” "Sorry," and "Please" have the power to transform relationships. By praying together and reading the Word of God, families can grow stronger in faith and more united in love.
He points to the example of St. Joseph Vaz, who instilled the values of the Gospel within families, fostering a deep sense of love and care.
As social beings, Catholics are called to bring hope to our communities. The bishop echoes Pope Francis’ call to be tangible signs of hope, especially to those who are most vulnerable—migrants, people with disabilities, prisoners, the elderly, and youth suffering from various forms of abuse.
"When we show concern for others, do good to those in need, and proclaim the Gospel, we become apostles of hope," said Bishop Fernandes.
He also emphasizes that St. Joseph Vaz exemplified this by proclaiming the Gospel to all, regardless of caste, creed, or religion.
Creation care is another essential part of one’s calling. Bishop Fernandes reminds us that ecology is not just a modern concern but a divine responsibility.
As Pope Francis teaches, "Creation is God’s gift to us, and we are its stewards. Do not prey upon it." We must preserve and protect the environment for future generations. The bishop expressed his concern about the ongoing destruction of nature in the name of development—polluted rivers, deforestation, and environmental degradation.
"If we do not become the proclaimers of the Gospel to nature, we may not save it for our future generations," he said.
To fulfill this mission, Bishop Fernandes reminded all Catholics to proclaim the Gospel with courage amid challenges and a deep trust in God’s providence.
“Only then can we truly become apostles of hope and spread the message of Christ in society,” he added.
“This year, as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the canonization of St. Joseph Vaz, we are filled with gratitude and joy, especially as this celebration coincides with the Jubilee Year," said Cardinal Ferrão after the Eucharistic celebration.
"Over the past decade, we have witnessed a growing devotion to St. Joseph Vaz among our faithful, and we thank God for this grace,” he added.
Reflecting on the challenges faced in organizing this feast, Cardinal Ferrão noted, "Though difficulties arose, we overcame them through our trust in God and the support of people of goodwill. We are profoundly grateful to God and to all who extended their help during this time."
He continued, "St. Joseph Vaz himself endured many challenges and hardships. With unwavering trust in God and deep faith, he confronted them courageously. His life inspires us to approach these difficulties with the same faith and trust, knowing that God will guide us to resolve them peacefully."
"St. Joseph Vaz worked with people of different faiths and cultures. We need to emulate his example by becoming instruments of peace and unity, spreading the light of hope in society," concluded Cardinal Ferrão.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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