Joseph Vaz facts for kids

Joseph Vaz (born April 21, 1651 – died January 16, 1711) was a Catholic priest and missionary. He was born in Portuguese India and became a member of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri. He is famous for his work in Sri Lanka (then called Ceylon).

Vaz arrived in Ceylon when the Dutch ruled parts of the island. The Dutch were making Calvinism the main religion. Joseph Vaz traveled secretly across the island. He brought the Eucharist and other sacraments to hidden groups of Catholics.

Later, he found safety in the Kingdom of Kandy. There, he could work freely. By the time he died, Joseph Vaz had helped rebuild the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. Because of his hard work, he is known as the Apostle of Ceylon.

He was made a saint (canonized) by Pope Francis on January 14, 2015. This special event happened in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Early Life and Education

Growing Up in Goa

Joseph Vaz was born in 1651 in Benaulim, a village in Goa, which was then part of the Portuguese Empire. He was the third of six children. His parents, Cristóvão Vaz and Maria de Miranda, were very religious Catholics.

Joseph went to elementary school in Sancoale. He learned Portuguese and Latin. He was a very smart student. His teachers and classmates respected him. He learned so quickly that his father sent him to the city of Velha Goa for more studies.

Becoming a Priest

In Goa, Joseph studied rhetoric and humanities at the Jesuit college of St. Paul. He then studied philosophy and theology with the Dominicans.

In 1675, Joseph Vaz became a deacon. In 1676, he was ordained a priest. Soon after, he started walking barefoot to live like poor people. He became known as a good preacher and confessor. He also opened a Latin school in Sancoale for young men who wanted to become priests. In 1677, he dedicated himself to Mary.

Mission in Canara (1681–1684)

Challenges in Canara

Joseph Vaz wanted to go to Ceylon as a missionary. But church leaders asked him to go to Kanara instead. There was a big disagreement there between two Catholic groups. One group followed the church leaders in Goa (called the Padroado). The other group followed the Vatican (called Propaganda Fide).

This conflict split the Catholics in Canara. Each group said the other was wrong. Joseph Vaz saw how much this hurt the Church. He wrote, "Many in fact believe that the Catholic Church is divided... and what the ones do, the others destroy."

Bringing Peace and Help

Vaz met with Bishop Thomas de Castro, the leader of the Propaganda Fide group. Vaz was humble and diplomatic. He helped bring a truce until the Pope could decide. He worked hard to help the people's faith. He asked the bishop to stop excommunicating people. He explained that Hindus were confused and Christians were worried by these arguments.

During his time in Canara, from 1681 to 1684, Vaz did a lot of missionary work. He helped Catholics in many towns like Mangalore and Kundapur. He rebuilt the Rosario Cathedral and built new churches. He also started small schools.

Helping Communities Stay Strong

Vaz's most important work was setting up many Irmidades (religious groups). These groups brought Catholics together in places without a church or priest. He built small huts where people could gather and pray. This helped keep their faith alive.

People saw Joseph Vaz as a very holy man. Many miracles were said to happen because of him. One story tells how he was almost attacked by some men. When he knelt to pray, water gushed from the ground. The men ran away, and Vaz was safe. A shrine was built at this spot in Mudipu, and many people visit it today.

Joining the Oratorians

When Joseph Vaz returned to Goa, he preached in villages. He joined a group of priests who wanted to live together in a religious community. This group officially became the Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in 1685. This was the first native religious community in the area. They took over the Church of the Holy Cross of Miracles. Joseph Vaz was chosen as the first leader of this community.

Mission to Sri Lanka (1687–1711)

Journey to Ceylon

Joseph Vaz heard that Catholics in Ceylon had no priests for many years. He felt called to help them. In 1686, he got permission to go to Ceylon. He traveled disguised as a poor beggar. He reached the port of Tuticorin in 1687.

Vaz and his servant, John, sailed to Ceylon. They carried no bags, hiding sacred items for Mass. A big storm forced their ship to stop in Mannar. They were very tired, hungry, and had no money. They begged for food for a few days. Then they sailed to Jaffna.

Working in Secret in Jaffna

In Jaffna, there were many Calvinists. Catholic priests were banned by the Dutch rulers. So, Vaz had to travel secretly, pretending to be an Indian holy man (a sanyasi).

He got very sick with dysentery from the hard journey. After he got better, he started finding Catholics. He worked at night, hiding from the Dutch. In 1689, he settled in a village called Sillalai, where many Catholics lived. He helped them strengthen their faith. In 1690, he moved to Puttalam and worked there for a year. He could speak Portuguese, which was helpful as many local Catholics spoke it.

Sillalai: "Little Rome"

After his illness, Joseph Vaz began begging from house to house in Jaffna. He looked for signs of Catholics. He wore a large rosary around his neck to see people's reactions. Soon, he found houses where he was welcome. One day, he asked a man if he wanted to see a priest. This led to Vaz revealing he was a priest. He was then given a safe place to stay.

Later, Catholics in Jaffna worried that Vaz's presence might be discovered. They moved him to Sillalai, a village known as "Little Rome" because it was entirely Catholic. Sillalai was small and not noticed by the Dutch. It had kept the faith alive by having a Catechist (a lay leader) who looked after the chapel and taught the young. Vaz used this system in other Catholic villages.

Vaz made Sillalai his main base for over two years. He visited Sillalai and nearby villages at night, always with a safe escort. When the Dutch found out about him, soldiers tried to catch him, but he always escaped. However, he saw that leading Catholics in Jaffna were suffering because of his presence. So, he and John moved to Puttalam, which was in the Kingdom of Kandy.

Moving to Kandy

Puttalam had many Catholics, but they had not had Mass or sacraments for over 36 years. Joseph Vaz helped them first. Then he traveled to other villages, preaching, giving sacraments, rebuilding churches, and appointing catechists. After 18 months, he left for Kandy, the capital of the independent Kingdom of Kandy.

In Kandy, Vaz was arrested because someone thought he was a Portuguese spy. He was kept under close watch. The king, Vimaladharmasurya II, saw that Vaz was harmless and spent his time praying. The king ordered that Vaz and John be kept in house arrest.

Vaz used this time to learn the Sinhala language. He and John built a small shed with an altar and a cross. They prayed there openly. On Christmas night in 1691, he said Mass for the first time in Kandy. The king allowed him to continue. Soon, Catholics came to him for sacraments and Mass. The king later allowed him to leave the house but not cross the river around the city. Vaz asked his community in Goa to send more priests.

Miraculous Rain in Kandy

One time, there was a very long drought in Kandy. The king asked Joseph Vaz to pray for rain. Vaz set up an altar in the public square and prayed. Before he finished, rain poured down, but not a single drop fell on him!

This miracle changed everything. The king gave Vaz special privileges. He could preach anywhere, even in Dutch areas. This helped many people convert to Catholicism in Kandy.

Expanding the Mission

With the king's support, Vaz made Kandy his main base. He sent John to Goa to ask for more priests. Then, Vaz visited Catholic villages in the Kandyan Kingdom. He helped Catholics, built chapels, and appointed local leaders to keep the faith strong. To enter Dutch territory safely, he dressed as a beggar. He spoke both Sinhala and Tamil, which helped him blend in.

In 1697, smallpox broke out in Kandy. This was a very dangerous disease. People who got sick were often left alone to die. Joseph Vaz and his nephew found these abandoned people. They built huts for them and cared for them twice a day. They brought food, medicine, and clothes. They cleaned the patients and their huts.

As more people got sick, the king and his court left the city. Even common people left. Joseph Vaz went from house to house, caring for patients. He also rented houses near the church to create hospitals for the homeless and abandoned. Many patients were moved by his kindness. They saw the charity of God's religion and converted to Catholicism.

When many people died each day, Vaz and his nephew often had to dress bodies, carry coffins, dig graves, and bury the dead themselves. The king openly said that if not for Vaz's charity, the streets would have been full of dead bodies.

Visiting Other Towns

Joseph Vaz visited many towns along the coast. In Hanwella and Malwana, he found strong Catholic communities. In Colombo, he worked secretly at night in the "Old City" (Pettah), making many conversions. When the Dutch found out, he moved to Negombo.

Negombo had a very large Catholic population. Vaz helped increase their faith. He then returned to Kandy. Later, he visited Manthota, an important Catholic village. He set up chapels and appointed leaders there. He also revisited Jaffna after four years. He had visited almost the entire west coast of Sri Lanka, which was (and still is) the most Catholic part of the island.

Before returning to Kandy, Vaz visited places like Batticaloa. In Batticaloa in 1710, he was tied to a tree and beaten for his faith. He returned to Kandy and then made a second visit to Batticaloa.

More Missionaries Arrive

In 1697, three more missionaries from Goa arrived to help Vaz. He was appointed the main church leader (Vicar General) in Ceylon. He started organizing the mission into different areas.

New missionaries arrived in 1705. This allowed Vaz to divide the mission into eight districts, each with a priest. He also worked on creating Catholic books in Sinhala. He humbly refused an offer to become a bishop in 1705, preferring to remain a simple missionary. This is why he is often shown with a bishop's hat (mitre) next to him.

Death and Legacy

Final Years

King Vimaladharmasurya II, who supported Vaz, died in 1707. But the next king, Vira Narendra Sinha, was even more supportive. More missionaries arrived in 1708. In 1710, even though he had health problems, Vaz took another trip.

When he returned, he became very sick. He recovered from some infections but was left weak. He died in Kandy on January 16, 1711, at the age of 59. His work was continued by Jacome Gonsalves.

Becoming a Saint

People started asking for Joseph Vaz to be made a saint around 1737. Many miracles were recorded. The process continued over many years. On January 21, 1995, he was beatified (the step before becoming a saint) by Pope John Paul II in Colombo.

In 2013, a miracle attributed to Vaz was investigated. Pope Francis decided to make Joseph Vaz a saint without needing a second miracle. This is a rare decision.

Joseph Vaz was canonized (made a saint) by Pope Francis on January 14, 2015, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He is the first saint to be canonized in Sri Lanka. He is also the first saint from the area of Goa, India.

Honoring His Memory

Today, there are places named after Saint Joseph Vaz. Joseph Vaz College in Wennappuwa, Sri Lanka, was founded in 1935. In Goa, there is a school and a science college named after him. In Karnataka, India, there is a church dedicated to him in Mudipu. In Sri Lanka, there is a chapel in a remote village called Aluthwewa.