The Joseph Naik Vaz Institute worked for the canonization of St. Joseph Vaz since 1978. H.H. Pope Francis canonized St. Joseph Vaz in January 2015. The Institute is committed to inter-religious harmony and peace among all communities, especially racial justice in today’s world. We are pleased to launch our St. Joseph Vaz Inter-Racial and Inter-Religious “Truth, Racial Justice, and Racial Reconciliation” initiative to heal the racial divide. More information on this initiative will be made available in the coming months.

Statement on Racism

1. As followers of an Indian Saint, St Joseph Vaz (1651-1711), better known as “Apostle of Kanara (Mangalore) and Sri Lanka”, we strongly condemn the string of violent killings of African Americans at the hands of law enforcement in the United States.
2. St. Joseph Vaz was a priest who served people of diverse races, languages, cultures and traditions. He resisted racism and casteism within the Church while being a great Christian missionary.
3. He was a non-colonial missionary who entered Sri Lanka, disguised as a laborer, and came without colonial armies and resources to minister to Catholics who were left without priests and religious rites when the Portuguese were defeated by the Dutch in the 17th century. He did not come to conquer and subjugate anyone.
4. He respected and served people of all races, castes, and religion in his humanitarian service during the small pox epidemic in Kandy as well as throughout his ministry. He won the admiration and protection of the Buddhist King of Kandy, Vimaladharma Surya II.
5. Among the Catholics persecuted by the Dutch authorities in Sri Lanka whom he ministered to and served, were African slave converts whose mixed-race descendants today still maintain devotion to him.
6. We believe that All Lives Are Sacred, but in the present circumstances we respect the movement for racial justice and the protection of African Americans from being killed through unnecessary violent police action.
7. We support all peaceful protests for a change in public and private policy toward African Americans and people of color, ensuring them equality in jobs, economic opportunities, housing, education, and compassionate treatment.
8. We send our compassionate greetings to our African American brothers and sisters as we work for respect for diversity and inclusion of native cultures and traditions. We invite everyone to support and participate in an inclusive St. Joseph Vaz Inter-Racial and Inter-Religious “Truth, Racial Justice, and Racial Reconciliation” initiative to see what we can all do to repair the damage done to people of color, especially to Native Americans and descendants of African slaves.

Joseph Naik Vaz Institute
www.josephnaikvaz.org