Saint Joseph Vaz (1651-1711) was a priest from Portuguese India who became a missionary in Sri Lanka. He was born in Sancoale, Goa, and joined the Oratorian order.
Joseph Vaz went to Sri Lanka, which was called Ceylon at the time, during the Dutch rule. The Dutch were trying to make everyone follow Calvinism and were against Catholicism. Despite this, Vaz traveled around the island, secretly helping Catholic groups. Later, he found a safe place to work in the Kingdom of Kandy.
By the time he died, Vaz had brought the Catholic Church back to life in Sri Lanka. Because of his work, he is known as the Apostle of Ceylon. Pope John Paul II beatified him in 1995, and Pope Francis made him a saint in 2015 at a ceremony in Colombo.