While treading the path of Blessed Joseph Vaz in and around Sancoale, the devotees - accompanied by Fr Eremita Rebello, rector of the Sanctuary of Blessed Joseph Vaz - took some time off to visit this suburb of Old Goa on Monday. The statue was specially brought out from its safe place and kept before the altar for veneration.

Tracing the history of the statue, parish priest, Fr V B Monteiro said, "It was transported from Jaffna, in southern Sri Lanka, in the 17th century because the Catholics were being persecuted by the Dutch."

The pilgrims' leader, Fr Jayalat Balagalla, subsequently explained - in Sinhalese - a few facts about the statue. Following this, the group spent some time in prayer and veneration.

"It is an emotional moment for us because the statue was made in our country and brought here more than 350 years ago," Fr Balagalla said, while adding that interesting legends have been associated with the image right from the time it had been created in Sri Lanka.

Protected by the Portuguese, the statue was first taken to the convent of St Francis of Assisi in Old Goa on November 16, 1661. It was then shifted to the nearby church of Chagas (wounds of Christ) at the arsenal, and later to the chapel of Our Lady of Piety, Panelim.

"During novenas, the statue is taken to the chapel and brought back to the church daily for security reasons," Fr Monteiro said.

The image is also referred to as Our Lady of Jaffna, and the feast in the chapel - located on the southern side of NH 4A, barely 300m west of the church - is celebrated annually during the first week of May.

"The hour-long visit helped us deepen our faith, while also shedding some light on Goan Catholics and their culture," a pilgrim said. Hailing from Colombo, Chilaw, and Kandy, most of the devotees are first-time visitors to Goa.

The pilgrims spent a day in Mangalore and four days in Goa and are on their way back home.

Fr Rebello said that the pilgrimages from Sri Lanka to Goa are being promoted to acquaint Sri Lankan Catholics about the holy places associated with Blessed Joseph Vaz.

"Many of them told me that after visiting these sites, their faith has grown deeper and stronger," he said.

(TOI)