Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Colombo (Agenzia Fides) – Two prominent figures offer a point of reference and an example for the missionary task of the Church in Sri Lanka, for all its members: priests, religious, and laity: Saint Paul and Blessed Joseph Vaz, who is known as the apostle of Sri Lanka (1656-1711). This is what has been expressed by the Bishops of former Ceylon who, during this Year of St. Paul declared by Benedict XVI, have asked the faithful to focus on two main figures that can be of inspiration and give fresh strength to the evangelization effort on the island that is experiencing conflict, suffering, and the resignation of its people.
In a message that was sent out to all the parishes on the occasion of the Year of St. Paul, the Bishops’ Conference reminded the faithful of these two figures and their greatness: one because of his universal importance, the other because of his personal dedication to Catholics in Sri Lanka.
Fr. Joseph Vaz was a priest from India who traveled to Sri Lanka disguised as a farm worker and lived as a beggar, serving the Church in secret. Practicing Catholicism was prohibited, but willing to expose himself to many dangers, Joseph offered help to those in difficulty, attending to smallpox victims, serving his neighbor in Christ’s name, preaching the Gospel to the sick and the poor, keeping the faith alive on the island. Fr. Joseph has been recognized by the Church as the one who allowed Christianity to flourish once more on the island, and is considered as the “founder” of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. Because of his missionary work, Pope John Paul II described Blessed Joseph as the “Saint Paul of Sri Lanka” in his Beatification Ceremony, which took place in 1995, during his Apostolic Journey to the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and Sri Lanka on the occasion of the 10th World Youth Day.
The Church in Sri Lanka began a three-year preparation in 2008 for the January 2011 centenary celebration of his death. “Both Saint Paul and Blessed Joseph Vaz announced the Word of God with passion, without considering the threats and persecutions: Paul gave his life to the point of martyrdom, while the life of Blessed Joseph was a continuous martyrdom,” the Bishops said, inviting the faithful to “imitate, study, and follow the example of these two great men of God,” in the encounters and seminars organized on a diocesan level, in schools, parishes, movements, and associations.
The Bishops have adopted the words of John Paul II himself: “Father Vaz was a son of Asia who became a missionary in Asia. The Church today needs more such missionary men and women.” He also recalled God’s commandment to proclaim “a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace,” and to place a definitive end to the tragic violence that is marking the nation. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 24/7/2008)
