CATHEDRAL CHAPTER DEFLECTS THE PLANS
Blessed Joseph Vaz presented his request to go to Sri Lanka to the Cathedral Chapter which was administering the Archdiocese on the vacancy created by the death of D. Antonio Brandao. The chapter instead proposed to him to go and salvage the abandoned Christianity of Kanara. Before accepting the mission he prudently consulted spiritual minded and learned persons, although, he ardently desired to go to the aid of the Catholics of Sri Lanka. He was advised by his consultor to accept the post as Kanara was then under Dutch sway and actually administered from Colombo; there he would be in a better position to ascertain the best and the safest means of carrying out his desire to go to Sri Lanka.
The Chapter however had another purpose in deflecting him from Sri Lanka to Kanara. He was sent in order to assert the Padroado jurisdiction against Thomas de Castro, the Goan Vicar Apostolic sent by Propaganda in 1677. The Portuguese authorities had branded de Castro as an usurper and schismatic; Archbishop Antonio Brandao had published pastorals against him. The Chapter, therefore, gave Bl. Joseph Vaz a high title of "Vicar Forane of Kanara" and wanted to use him as a pawn in the game.
Contact: Rector (Vice Postulator - Goa)
Sanctuary of Blessed Joseph Vaz, 413 Blessed Joseph Vaz Road, P. O. Cortalim, SANCOALE - Goa - 403710-INDIA
Contact Office Tel: 00 91 832 2550263 / 2550517 e-mail: sanjovaz@blessedjosephvaz.org [www.blessedjosephvaz.org]
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