Martyrs of Pastoral Charity
The Story of the Xaverian Martyrs
The idea is not ours. Someone else gave us the thought of
remembering the Xaverian Missionaries who have concluded their missionary
journey with a tragic death. It was Pope John Paul II, in an address
during the preparation meetings towards the Great Jubilee 2000, who challenged
us: “Do not ever forget the many who have given their lives for the Gospel,
through martyrdom” (Nov. 1994). Below, or on the right, you'll find the
different links of the Xaverian Missionaries who died tragically.
We believe that their lives and their vocation may inspired our hearts to
faithfulness to God.
First missionary to China, and after enduring many trials in two years of mission work, he died in 1901, at 28 years old. - Painting by A. Costalonga
Caught in between the Japanese war with China, Fr. Botton was shot by an army officer in 1944, at the age of 35.
Fr. Carrara was 31 years old when a rebel commander shot him and Br. Faccin in Congo, in 1964. He was coming out of church, with his confession stole on.
The first one to die as martyr in Baraka, Congo, in 1964. Br. Faccin was only 30 years old. He had been in Congo for 5 years.
He was the victim of another attack by the same rebel officer who killed Fr. Carrara and Br. Faccin. Fr. Didone' was killed on the same day, Nov. 28, 1964, together with diocesan priest Joubert.
A veteran missionary of East Pakistan, Bangladesh, he was killed by a soldier in 1971, victim of the civil war.
Killed in Bangladesh, at the age of 42, having spent some 12 years serving the poor. It was an ambush of thieves, one October evening in 1974.
Found dead in a forest in Brazil, in 1976, after over one month of his disappearance. He was 48 years old.
Died at the age of 31 in a car accident, in Brazil, in 1987. The accident seemed to be a deliberate attempt on the Bishop's life who was traveling with him.
Killed in Burundi, together with Ms. Gubert and Fr. Maule, in 1995, in the rectory house of Buyengero. He was 65 years old.
Lay missionary of 73 years of age, who spend over 20 years in Africa, sharing her love. She died kneeling with Fr. Marchiol and Fr. Maule. It was Sept. 30, 1995.
Together with Ms. Gubert and Fr. Marchiol, he was gunned down, as he was kneeling in the living room of the rectory. He was 53 years old.
From the original Italian "Con Loro, sempre!"
Fr. Augustus Luca wrote the biographies of Caio Rastelli and John Botton.
Alberto Comuzzi edited the biographies of Louis Carrara, John Didone', and
Victor Faccin. Renzo Agasso wrote the life stories of Mario Veronesi,
Valerian Cobbe, Albert Pierobon, Salvatore Deiana, Aldo Marchiol, and Ottorino
Maule.
For the English version, Fr. Steve McKend prepared the first translation for the
Xaverian Missionaries
The additional biography of Catina Gubert, and the US edition, was put together
by Fr. Alfredo Turco
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