Joseph was born on April 21, 1651 as the 3rd of 6 children, in the village of Goa, then known as Portuguese India, as part of the Portuguese Empire. His parents, Cristovao Vaz and Maria de Miranda were devout Catholics. His father belonged to a prominent Naik family of Sancoale.
He learned both Portuguese and Latin. He was very bright and respected by his teachers and fellow students. He progressed so rapidly that his father decided to send him to the city of Velha Goa for further studies, where he took a course in rhetoric and humanities at the Jesuit College of Saint Paul. He further studied Philosophy and Theology at the Saint Thomas Aquinas’ Academy of the Dominicans.
At the age of 24, he was ordained a Deacon, and the following year he was ordained a priest. He went barefoot to live like the poor and acquired a reputation as a popular preacher and confessor.
He opened a Latin school in Sancoale and in 1677 he consecrated himself as a “Slave of Mary”.
He wanted to serve as a missionary in Ceylon, an island Southeast of India however, the cathedral chapter sent him to the City of Canara, India instead where he was appointed Vicar. There was explosive conflict between the Catholic and Missionary authorities, dividing the Catholics of the region. He appealed to both sides using unity of the people of the Catholic faith, persuading them to resolve the conflict.
He poured himself into missionary work, building new churches and small schools in the villages there.
2 men against Christianity planned to kill him. They asked for the healing of one of their own, taking him to the top of a hill. Joseph got on his knees, and held his staff with a light appearing. Water gushed from the ground below his staff and caused the assailants to flee out of fear. A shrine is dedicated to him at the site in Mudipu.
At the age of 33, he returned to Goa where he preached and joined a group of priests who formed the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri. He was elected as provost of the community.
He traveled the area, ministering to those in need and hiding, but developed acute dysentery from the harsh journeys. The region he covered was mostly under Dutch control and only accepted Calvinism as their religion. Villagers helped protect him, offering up security and secluded transportation. He resided in a Catholic village called Sillalai, where he established his headquarters, sneaking in and out at night, to evangelize in those hostile areas, returning before dawn.
His life was threatened and was moved to Puttalam where he built churches and appointed catechists. He left for Kandy, India, but was arrested and imprisoned. An anti-Christ Frenchman accused him of being a spy but the King saw through the lie and restricted him to house arrest. Many came to pray with him till he was found to be no harm and set free, remaining in the area. He built a church and requested additional priests. After receiving assistance, he started missions again, worked on translating Catholic literature for the communities, and turned down the opportunity to become Bishop.
Upon his return to Kandy, he found a violent outbreak of smallpox. He attended to those who were neglected with devout Catholics. Many, including the King and authorities, left the city, leaving it deserted. Many of the sick saw his strength and compassion, and converted to Catholicism. It took 12 months for the epidemic, and residents returned to a changed city.
He continued to minister to the local regions, even during times of storms and floods, all still by foot. At times he was captured by the Dutch persecution and beaten but he still continued even more strongly in his faith with support from the King.
In 1710, he returned to Kandy and fell ill. He recovered from infections and fevers but was left weakened. He succumbed to illness on January 16, 1711 at the age of 59.
He is the patron saint of Sri Lanka, the Parish of Wacalhotte, Aluthwewa, and Archdiocese of Goa and Damao, Sri Lanka.
His feast day is January 16.
For God’s Glory.
Shrine in Mudipu:
