Goan Catholics

Goanesische Catholics ( Goan Catholics; Konkani: गोंय्चे कॅतोलिक Goiche Catholic; Portuguese: Goeses católicos ) are Roman Catholic Christians whose ancestors were converted to Christianity during the Portuguese colonial rule over Goa and partly assimilated. During the Portuguese colonial rule introduced the majority of Catholics in Goa, Daman and Diu. Today, 360,000 mainly Catholic Christians make up just over one quarter of the population in Goa from all over India are 1.62% Roman Catholic.

Since the beginning of the Portuguese colonization of India, there were in Goa, Portuguese India and the rest below in the predominantly indigenous areas of the Indian princely states suffragan dioceses of the Archdiocese of Goa, mixed marriages between Portuguese and Indians; rapidly a caste of half-breeds began to emerge. In 1540 there were 1800 households in Goa already with about 10,000 descendants of Portuguese sailors, merchants, soldiers and garrison originating from the lower nobility adventurer with Indian women. Adding to servants and slaves added, it should have been about 40,000. Most of these officials were Hindus and Muslims. My conversion to Catholicism had different reasons. In addition to real conversions through the many missionaries who worked on the Malabar coast down, there were also many new Christians, what social benefits and social advancement promised by the conversion. Moreover, also the Indian caste system played a role, because it did not apply to the Christians, and indigenous untouchables or members of lower castes saw here a welcome chance to break out of the traditional social system. Therefore, only a small part of the Goan Catholics actually Portuguese descent. In addition to the Catholic faith, they also adopted Portuguese names and Portuguese culture, partly also the Portuguese language, which has also influenced the local dialect Konkani. Not later than the 19th century, the Catholics spread from Goa also to Bangalore, Mangalore and Mumbai. Today they are spread over the former Portuguese India also in the whole of India and in Portugal, but also in other Lusophone states and in the UK, North America, Australia, East Africa and the Arabian Gulf. In South India, the Latin Goan Christians mingled with the Thomas Christians settled there since time immemorial. One can basically distinguish two communities in the name and to the membership of the various liturgical rites of the Catholic Church. While the descendants of Goan Catholics belong exclusively to the Latin liturgical rite Catholics in the Thomas Syro -Malabar and Syro -Malankara rite in are located.

Especially at the instigation of the Indian MPs Professor Froilano de Mello in the Portuguese Parliament were assimilated Goan Catholics - not classified as assimilados, but in 1951 recognized as a (theoretically equal ) Portuguese citizens - in contrast to the African "subjects" of Portugal. By 1961 ( the end of Portuguese rule by annexation to India) was born in Goa, Daman and Diu Catholics and their children therefore entitled to the Portuguese citizenship.

Known representatives of the ethnic group

  • Maria Cron (1608-1683), a stigmatized nun in Goa
  • Ivan Dias * 1936 Indian Cardinal
  • Joseph Gabriel Fernandez * 1925 Old Bishop of Quilon, South India
  • Collien Fernandes elm * 1981, German television presenter and actress
  • Gonzalo Garcia (1556-1597), Franciscan Friar Minor, martyr, saint of the Catholic Church
  • Valerian Gracias (1900-1978), Archbishop of Bombay and the first Indian Cardinal
  • Joseph Vaz (1651-1711), Seliger, Apostle of Ceylon
Konkani language Syro-Malabar Catholic Church Roman Catholic Diocese of Quilon Gonsalo Garcia
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