Matheus de Castro

Dom Matheus de Castro (1594–1677) was a native of Divar, Goa, India. He was the first Indian Bishop of the Catholic Church.^[1] Consecrated Bishop of Chrysopolis by the Vatican and appointed Vicar Apostolic to the Kingdoms of Idalxa (Adil Shah), Pegu and Golconda.^[2]

Biography

Born into the influential Hindu Goud Saraswat Brahmin family of Divar named Mahale. It is said that Matheus de Castro was kidnapped and sent to a seminary to prepare for the pristhood (During the Christianisation of Goa in the early phase of the Goa Inquisition, the Portugueses authorities used many ploys to convert the natives to Christianity. One of which was to kidnap boys from influential Hindu families prior to their attaining puberty and enrol them in seminaries to prepare for the priesthood. Besides the families being influential, male children from the upper castes of Hindu society were by enlarge literate, hence the task of indoctrination was much easier). On being ordained a Catholic priest he was instrumental in converting his parents and members of his community to the new faith.

Dom Thomas de Castro the Bishop of Fulsivelem was his nephew. Both uncle and nephew were at constant loggerheads with the Padroado. They were vehemently against the Goa Inquisition. Throughout using effort and influence to try and rid Goa of the same.

Bishop de Castro was held in great esteem at the courts of the Great Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan and by the rulers of the Kingdom of Bijapur who belonged to the Adil Shahi dynasty.^[3] They permitted him to erect dwelling houses and residences in their dominions for the accommodation and convenience of converts. He helped estabish commercial relations between the Catholics of Goa and the peoples of those Kingdoms. He founded the Apostolic Mission of Bombay which evolved from a village in the 17th century to India's premier Metropolis.

Reference

1. ^ Biographical Dictionary of Church Missions by Gerald Anderson, Wm. B Eeadman Publishing, 1999
2. ^ Indian Prelates by Jno Godinho, Bombay, 1924
3. ^ Storia de Mogor by Niccolao Munucci

Persondata
Name	Castro, Matheus De
Alternative names
Short description	First Catholic bishop from India
Date of birth	1594
Place of birth	Divar, Goa, India
Date of death	1677
Place of death