Sri Lanka: The Blessed Joseph Vaz, Apostle of Ceylon (1651-1711).

Blessed Joseph Vaz (April 21, 1651, Benaulim - January 16, 1711, Kandy) was a Catholic Oratorian priest from Goa. He is known as the Apostle of Ceylon. He entered Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) when, due to the Dutch colonial occupation, 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 he managed to rebuild the Catholic church on the island. On January 21, 1995, Joseph Vaz was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Colombo, Sri Lanka.