Known as the ‘Apostle of Ceylon,’ St. Joseph Vaz, Sri Lanka’s first canonised saint, was declared a saint by Pope Francis in 2015. Born in Benaulim, Goa in 1651, he dedicated his life to preserving and spreading the Catholic faith in Sri Lanka during Dutch colonial rule.
He began his mission from Tuticorin, India, and arrived in Mannar, Sri Lanka, before moving to Jaffna to minister to persecuted Catholics. To serve effectively, he learned Sinhala and Tamil and embraced local customs.
St. Joseph Vaz later went to Kandy, where he aided people during a smallpox epidemic and, according to tradition, brought rain during a severe drought through prayer. He passed away in Kandy in 1711, leaving a legacy of rebuilt churches and a strengthened Catholic community.
Today, churches and a school bearing his name stand as living reminders of his sacrificial service and enduring faith.