Gonsalves Gracia was one of the martyrs I think there were 4) who were
killed in Japan where they entered as missionaries.
If I remember there's a church dedicated to hom in Bassein. I read thus
long time ago, as far as I remember hr was a native, not of mixed blood of
Portuguese and local people.
Politics should stay out of religion. Just because Xavier was born in Spain (I.e., from Spain) does not mean that he is the “Apostle of Spain”. Just because Jose’ Vaz was born in Goa (I.e., from Goa) does not mean he is the “Patron of Goa”.For Goan Catholics who are believers, all over the world,
Rightly, Jose (Joseph Vaz) was more to Sri Lanka then tio Goa. Thanks to
the efforts of the California-based Philomena Geese (maybe spelling is
wrong) that she secured the Vatican's ears in the cause of making Jose Vaz
the Saint. Whatever factors matter in the naming of Saints as Patron of
There is also a political side to such issues too, I guess...
The earlier patroness of Goa was Catherine of Alexandria. It was on her
feast day that the Portuguese conquered Goa from the Adil Shahis in 1510.
In the post-colonial times of the late twentieth century, this might not
seem like a
Sent from my iPhoneBegin forwarded message:From: John de Figueiredo Date: December 9, 2023 at 5:56:51 PM ESTTo: Gilbert Lawrence Subject: Re: Forced Exodus of GEM DiasporasIn the minds and the hearts of many Goan Catholics Francisco Xavier was the Patron of Goa (or more specifically, of Goan
