History - Life

 Birth

Jacome Gonçalves was the eldest son of Tomás Gonçalves and Mariana de Abreu, a Goan Catholic couple living in the parish of Our Lady of Piety (Piedade, Goa). He was born on 8 June 1676. He was a Konkani Brahmin by lineage. His family had been Catholic for many generations, being among the first native converts at the beginning of Portuguese rule in Goa.

Education

Gonsalves studied at the Jesuit College of Goa. He enrolled in the University of Goa [probably Saint Paul's College, Goa], and obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In 1696 he began theological studies at the Academy of St Thomas Aquinas in Goa, where he also held the post of organist.

This seems to have led him to develop a taste for poetry, prose and music

Ordination

He was ordained, to the priesthood by Rt. Rev. Agostinho de Anunciação, Archbishop of Goa, in April 1700 at the Cathedral of St. Catherine. He decided to enter the Oratorian Congregation of Goa. He was appointed to the chair of philosophy at the University of St Paul's in Goa [probably the Collegio São Paulo].

He took up his post in January 1705, but relinquished it the same year to go to Sri Lanka.

Death

Fr. Jacome Gonsalves came to Bolawatta church in 1740. There he wrote and published many books. He chose there as the meeting place of the all missionaries who were in Sri Lanka. He passed away on 17 July 1742, at an age of 66. He was buried in the Church of Our Lady of Assumption, Bolawatte.

Reliquaries

His tomb was opened in 1852, by Fr. Florentine Gracia. Some of his bones were found there and a bone was kept in the altar of the new church. And then the tomb was sealed. When it was opened again, his cross and a tooth was taken out. The tooth has been kept in the church of Our Lady of Sorrows, Nainamadama. It is owned by Muthunamagonnage Niroshan Pranadu for generations.

Courtesy: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Jacome_Gonsalves#/Life