Sri Lanka has a vibrant Catholic community today due to the dedication and immense sacrifices of two priests from Goa. One is St Jose Vaz and the other is Fr Jacome Gonsalvez. The latter arrived on the island to assist St Jose Vaz. It was the period, the maritime provinces were under the control of the Dutch, who had seized these areas from the Portuguese.
The Dutch outlawed the practice of Catholicism and banished all Catholic priests. No European Catholic clergyman could enter the country as they could be easily detected.
The alternative was to seek the assistance of indigenous priests from India. It is in these highly dangerous circumstances, these two holy men volunteered to look after the flock in Sri Lanka. See under History for further details
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