Portuguese India – 300th Anniversary of José Vaz

The 300th anniversary of Blessed José Vaz, a prominent missionary in Sri Lanka, was marked in 1951 with the issuance of Portuguese India stamps commemorating his birth.

José Vaz (1651-1711) was a Goa-born Portuguese missionary who played a crucial role in reviving and strengthening the Catholic faith in Sri Lanka during a period of religious persecution. He is credited with establishing numerous churches and chapels, translating prayers and catechisms into local languages, and leaving a lasting impact on the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka.

In 1951, Portuguese India issued a set of 9 stamps to commemorate the 300th anniversary of his birth. The stamps feature the image of José Vaz and the text “300th Birth Anniversary of José Vaz”. The printing was done at Litografia Portugal, Lisboa, using offset lithography.