About Saint Joseph Vaz Deva Dharma Nikethanaya

Introduction to Institute

The Saint Joseph Vaz Deva Dharma Nikethanaya is an Institute of Higher Learning in Theological Sciences in the Archdiocese of Colombo, mainly for the lay faithful. It offers a comprehensive syllabus in Catholic Theology, preceded by courses in Philosophy and other Human Sciences. The Institute is affiliated with the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome and follows the Statutes approved by the Congregation for Catholic Education for Institutes of Higher Religious Sciences.

Vision & Mission

The Institute aims to provide theological education in the vernacular, promote New Evangelization, and empower lay faithful and Religious to respond to the needs of the local Church in line with Vatican Council II directives.

St. Joseph Vaz

St. Joseph Vaz, born on April 21, 1651, in Goa, India, was a pioneering Catholic missionary who dedicated his life to the spiritual care and revitalization of the Catholic faith in Sri Lanka. Despite being born in a period when Christianity was under severe suppression, particularly from the Dutch colonizers who controlled parts of India and Sri Lanka, Joseph Vaz emerged as a beacon of hope for the oppressed Catholic populace.

From a young age, Joseph was deeply religious and was ordained as a priest in 1676. Recognizing the dire need for pastoral care in Sri Lanka, where Catholics were deprived of religious ministers, he volunteered to missionize in what he called his "Calvary". In 1687, disguised as a laborer, he entered Sri Lanka. Despite the risks of persecution, he traveled extensively across the island, ministering to the hidden Catholics, reviving their faith, and rebuilding the church under oppressive circumstances.

His humility, dedication, and miraculous works earned him the affection and respect of not just Catholics but also of many Buddhists and Hindus. He was particularly noted for his service during a smallpox epidemic, where he cared for the sick without regard for his own health. This act of compassion significantly improved relations between different religious communities.

Joseph Vaz was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1995 during his visit to Sri Lanka and canonized by Pope Francis on January 14, 2015, in Colombo. St. Joseph Vaz's life and works remain a towering example of missionary zeal, interfaith dialogue, and unconditional love for one's neighbor.

The Saint Joseph Vaz Deva Dharma Nikethanaya, named in his honor, is an Institute of Higher Learning in Theological Sciences in the Archdiocese of Colombo. It offers a comprehensive syllabus in Catholic Theology, preceded by courses in Philosophy and other Human Sciences, affiliated with the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome and follows the Statutes approved by the Congregation for Catholic Education for Institutes of Higher Religious Sciences.