The Apostle of ceylon Joseph Vaz was proclaimed a saint by Pope Francis a short while ago at a special mass held at Galle Face in Colombo.

Joseph Vaz became the first Saint from Sri Lanka.

Born on 21 April 1651 in Benaulim (Goa, Portuguese India) Joseph Vaz was an Oratorian priest and missionary in Ceylon (today's Sri Lanka).

Vaz entered Ceylon during the Dutch occupation, when Calvinism had been imposed as the official religion, after taking over from the Portuguese. He travelled throughout the island bringing the Eucharist and the sacraments to clandestine groups of 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.

He died on the 16 January 1711 in Kandy.

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.