Blessed Joseph Vaz Exhibition Draws Thousands

Old Goa – To coincide with the decennial Exposition of the sacred relics of Saint Francis Xavier that just got over, an exhibition on the life of Blessed Joseph Vaz is being conducted in the ancient residence of Se Cathedral and has already attracted thousands of visitors.

Vaz, a Goan missioner, ordained in 1676, traveled extensively on foot along the western Indian coast and Sri Lanka. He died in Kandy, Sri Lanka on January 7, 1711.Vaz was declared Blessed by Pope John Paul II on July 6, 1997 and went on to become the patron of this West Indian coastal state of Goa on 16 January 2000.

The exhibition comprising 21 images painted by staff and students of Milu's Art Centre, south of here, encompasses the missioner's birth, his life and death.

The first picture in the exhibition depicts the maternal house of Vaz at Benaulim, 30 kilometers south of here, followed by another picture showing his baptism at St John the Baptist church in the same village.

The paternal house in Sancoale, where the missionary grew up and today boasts of a residence for nuns near the Blessed Jose Vaz Sanctuary also finds a place in the exhibition.

Other pictures depict young Vaz going to Cortalim church to pray, the door of the church opening by itself when he went to pray in the dead of night, Vaz writing a letter of bondage on his knees to Our Lady and panic–stricken people praying to Vaz when their country craft began capsizing in a storm in the river Zuari, outskirts of Sancoale.

The paintings with subtitles also depict a storm subsiding and the miracle of rain when Ceylon was parched.

“It is a concise exhibition on the life of Blessed Vaz. People who don't have time to read books ought to visit the exhibition because it has a telling effect,” said Rosarino da Costa, a Portuguese national who was amongst the 6000 visitors at the exhibition on Thursday.

He said the picture of Blessed Vaz entering Sri Lanka disguised as a coolie shows his commitment towards spreading the Good News against all odds.

Other pictures include the depiction of Sri Lanka being ruled by the Portuguese for 150 years, the arrest of Vaz while entering Kandy and Vaz caring for the small pox victims during a two–year epidemic.

“Its good that there are guides who explain every notable phase of blessed Vaz' life. The climax is at the end, when the visitor is confronted with a full–length mirror,” said Milagrina Braganca.

A caption by the side of the mirror asks: Now, that you have walked through the life of Blessed Vaz, are you treading the life of Jesus? Take a good look at yourself and see what you can do for God and his people.

Says Father Eremito M Rebello, rector and vice–postulator for the Cause of the canonization of Blessed Joseph Vaz, who initiated the exhibition: “Some people look at the mirror and smile, others go away pensive with a very serious expression on their faces.”