Italian missionary, Burmese catechist to be beatified as martyrs
May 22, 2014
Father Mario Vergara (1910-1950), an Italian missionary, and Isidore Ngei Ko Lat, a Burmese lay catechist, will be beatified as martyrs at the cathedral in Aversa, Italy, on May 24. Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, will preside at the beatification ceremony.
According to an AsiaNews report, the two were slain in Burma (now Myanmar) by rebels who were influence by anti-Catholic Baptist missionaries. The catechist will be the first person from Myanmar to be beatified.
“May their heroic fidelity to Christ be an encouragement and example to missionaries and especially catechists in mission lands who carry out important and irreplaceable apostolic work, for which the whole Church is grateful,” Pope Francis said following his May 21 general audience.
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Further information:
- Pope: Prayers for flood victims, for China, and for Burma’s first Blessed (Vatican Radio)
- Raised to the altars, Isidoro Ngei Ko Lat, first Burmese Blessed, and Mario Vergara, 19th PIME martyr (AsiaNews.it)
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