Saint Joseph Church and Seminary
MACAO, 1983, Architectural Series, Scott 473
MACAO, 2005, Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Scott 1173a
MACAO, 1998, this S/S with set on doors shows the facade of St. Joseph's,
Scott 920
the S/S is also available with a gold overprint:
"Amizade Luso-Chinesa/Festival de Macao" and Chinese text
Jesuits founded St. Joseph's Seminary in 1728 to train both foreigners and young men of Macao as missionaries for China. St. Joseph's Seminary Church (seen on this stamp) was completed in 1758, the same year when Pombal had the Jesuits removed and imprisoned. The Vincentians took over the school in 1784 and under their tenure was granted the title "Royal Seminary." It later became a university. In 1998 and 1999, the Church underwent restoration work, returning the building to its original appearance. It was reopened to the public in December 1999. More
CHINA, 1997, Scott 2814
Among Macao's historic structures the chief and most symbolic of Macao is the great ruined façade of the Church of the Mother of God, the largest Christian church in Asia. It was built in 1602 according to the plans of a Jesuit architect, Blessed Carlo Spinola, SJ adjacent to the Jesuit College of St. Paul's, the first Western college in the Far East, the printing press of which produced many important books. The church suffered a number of fires, the last in 1835 which left only the façade of carved stone. This had been built in 1620-27 with the assistance of Japanese Christian artisans who had fled from feudal persecution in Nagasaki. The remains of both church and college are known collectively as the Ruins of St. Paul's, and the name is sometimes mistakenly thought to refer to the church alone. Together they are a reminder of the role of the Jesuits in bringing Christianity to the Far East. More
MACAO, 1983, architectural series, Scott 475
MACAO, 1989, a mini sheet honoring Portuguese influence in Asia pictured St. Paul's, Scott 610a
The background image is Religious Procession at the S. Paul’s Church Ruins, Macao (1858)
drawn by William Heine, engraved by P.S. Duval & Co., New York.
MACAO, 1993, series on Portuguese speaking capital cities, Scott 703
MACAO, 1997, Scott 879
PORTUGAL, 1997, Scott 2167
