Saint Joseph Vaz | |
|---|---|
 Apostle of Sri Lanka, Apostle of Canara & Patron of Goa | |
| Priest and Missionary, Apostle of Sri Lanka | |
| Born | 21 April 1651 Benaulim, Salcete, Portuguese India, Portuguese Empire |
| Died | 16 January 1711 (aged 59) Kandy, Kingdom of Kandy |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 21 January 1995, Galle Face Green, Colombo, Sri Lanka by Pope John Paul II |
| Canonized | 14 January 2015, Galle Face Green, Colombo, Sri Lanka by Pope Francis |
| Feast | 16 January |
| Attributes | Mitre placed to side, holding crucifix, sun icon, Oratorian habit |
| Patronage |
|
Joseph Vaz, CO[a] (21 April 1651 – 16 January 1711) was an Oratorian priest and missionary in Sri Lanka (Ceylon). Originally from Sancoale in Portuguese India, Vaz arrived in Ceylon during the Dutch occupation, a time when the Dutch had banned Catholicism in Ceylon and imposed Calvinism as the official religion after taking control from the Portuguese Empire.
He travelled throughout the island bringing the Eucharist and the Sacraments to clandestine groups of crypto-Catholics. Later in his mission, he found shelter in the Kingdom of Kandy where he was able to work freely. By the time of his death, Vaz had managed to rebuild the Catholic Church on the island.
As a result of his labors, Vaz is known as the Apostle of Ceylon. On 21 January 1995, he was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Colombo. He was canonized on 14 January 2015 by Pope Francis in an open-air Mass ceremony at the Galle Face Green in Colombo.[1]
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
- ^ "Goan-born Joseph Vaz granted sainthood by Pope Francis in Sri Lanka". First Post. 14 January 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.