1. Jacome Gonsalves, CO was an Oratorian priest and missionary in Sri Lanka, then known as Ceylon.
22 Facts About Jacome Gonsalves
1. 2.
Jacome Gonsalves was proficient in the local Sinhala and Tamil Languages.
3.
Jacome Gonsalves is known as the "Father of Catholic Literature in Sri Lanka" because of his tremendous literary output.
4.
Jacome Gonsalves had written many books, prayers, hymns and translated many Latin hymns into local languages.
5.
Jacome Gonsalves was the eldest son of Tomas Gonsalves and Mariana de Abreu, a Goan Catholic couple living in the parish of Our Lady of Piety.
6.
Jacome Gonsalves's family had been Catholic for many generations, being among the first native converts at the beginning of Portuguese rule in Goa.
7.
Jacome Gonsalves enrolled in the University of Goa [probably Saint Paul's College, Goa], and obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts.
8.
Jacome Gonsalves decided to enter the Oratorian Congregation of Goa.
9.
Jacome Gonsalves was appointed to the chair of philosophy at the University of St Paul's in Goa [probably the Collegio Sao Paulo].
10.
Jacome Gonsalves mastered this language during his first assignment on the islands of Mannar, Arippu, Musali and other places in the Munnar district.
11.
Fr Jacome Gonsalves studied with the Buddhist monks at the Malwatta chapter, known for their high and elegant Sinhala.
12.
Jacome Gonsalves was appointed as the Sub Chief of Bishop of Cochin and as the chief of the all Oratorians in Sri Lanka.
13.
Jacome Gonsalves serviced as a peacemaker of King in 1726.
14.
Jacome Gonsalves took place in stopping a revolt that was going to be in 1729.
15.
Jacome Gonsalves wrote many of his works at Bolawatta, near Negombo.
16.
Jacome Gonsalves Gonsalvez is known as the "Father of Catholic Literature of Sri Lanka".
17.
Jacome Gonsalves has written 42 books including 22 in Sinhala, 14 in Tamil, 5 in Portuguese, and 1 in Dutch.
18.
Jacome Gonsalves wrote and translated many hymns during his lifetime.
19.
Jacome Gonsalves introduced a new variety of hymns, or lamentations called Pasan, which are still being sung in the lent times.
20.
Jacome Gonsalves has done a number of paintings on the Stations of the Cross.
21.
Jacome Gonsalves chose there as the meeting place of the all missionaries who were in Sri Lanka.
22.
Jacome Gonsalves was buried in the Church of Our Lady of Assumption, Bolawatta.