Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Blessed Joseph Vaz now Saint Jospeh Vaz; canonized moments ago by Pope Francis in Sri Lanka

Bl. Joseph Vaz

 
Image of Bl. Joseph Vaz

Facts

Birth: 1651
Death: 1711
Beatified By: Pope John Paul II

Blessed Joseph Vaz (21 April 1651, Benaulim � 16 January 1711, Kandy) was a Catholic Oratorian priest from Goa. He is known as the Apostle of Ceylon.

Fr. Vaz entered Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) during the Dutch occupation, when Calvinism was the official religion. He traveled throughout the island bringing the Eucharist and the sacraments to clandestine groups of Catholics. Later in his mission, he found shelter in the Kandyan kingdom where he was able to work freely. At the time of his death, Fr. Vaz managed to rebuild the Catholic church on the island. On 21 January 1995, he was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Colombo

No comments:

Post a Comment