Xaverian Martyrs
“Every athlete exercises discipline in every way.
They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one…”
Martyrs
Conforti
Xavier
Therese of Lixeus
The First Son
Caio Rastelli
Born at Ghiara di Fontanellato, Parma, Italy, on March 25, 1872.
Died at Taiyanfu, China, on Feb. 28, 1901
Fr. Caio Rastelli was the first Xaverian missionary to China, and the only priest at the time of the foundation of the Xaverians in 1895. He joined Bishop Fogolla in 1899 (declared blessed by Pope John Paul in 1999), and worked for two years in the Shanxi Province. Because of the Boxer uprising he endured many trials, escaped to Mongolia, returned to minister to the Christians spared by this revolution, and finally died in 1901, at 28 years old.
Martyr in China
Giovanni Botton
Born at Carmignano di Brenta, Padua, Italy, on May 9, 1908.
Killed at Hsuchang, China,
on April 30, 1944
Caught in the midst of the Chinese - Japanese war, Fr. John Botton was the youngest missionary sent to China. The Xaverians had tried many times to hide. On one of these instances, Fr. Botton, hiding in a cellar with other Christians, decided to get away, screaming at the soldiers "tien ciu tang, Italy" (Italian Catholic Mission), but was gunned down. The soldiers then shot at random in the cellar, injuring others.
Truly, A Good Shepherd
Luigi Carrara
Born at Cornale, Bergamo, Italy,
on March 3, 1933
Killed at Baraka, D. R. Congo,
on Nov. 28, 1964
Fr. Louis Carrara (2 years in Congo), Fr. John Didone' (6 years), and Br. Victor Faccin (3 years) faced the challenges of a civil war of former Congo. Br. Victor was shot at close range just outside of church in Baraka by an army officer. Hearing the commotion, Fr. Carrara, who was hearing confessions on that early afternoon, rushed out of church, and met his death, by the gun of the same general. The killing continued in Fizi, 30 miles north, where Fr. Didone' and diocesan priest Fr. Atanasio Joubert resided. It was Nov. 28th, 1964.
The Joy of Living
Giovanni Didonè
Born at Cusinati di Rosa', Vicenza, Italy,
on March 18, 1930
Killed at Fizi, D. R. Congo,
on Nov. 28, 1964
Fr. John Didonč (6 years in Congo), Fr. Louis Carrara (2 years), and Br. Victor Faccin (3 years) faced the challenges of a civil war of former Congo. Br. Victor was shot at close range just outside of church in Baraka by an army officer. Hearing the commotion, Fr. Carrara, who was hearing confessions on that early afternoon, rushed out of church, and met his death, by the gun of the same general. The killing continued in Fizi, 30 miles north, where Fr. Didonč and diocesan priest Fr. Atanasio Joubert resided. It was Nov. 28th, 1964.
The Good Works of a Brother
Vittorio Faccin
Born at Villaverla, Vicenza, Italy,
on Jan. 7, 1934
Killed at Baraka, D. R. Congo,
on Nov. 28, 1964
Br. Victor Faccin (3 years in Congo), Fr. Louis Carrara (2 years), and Fr. John Didone' (6 years), faced the challenges of a civil war of former Congo. Br. Victor was shot at close range just outside of church in Baraka by an army officer. Hearing the commotion, Fr. Carrara, who was hearing confessions on that early afternoon, rushed out of church, and met his death, by the gun of the same general. The killing continued in Fizi, 30 miles north, where Fr. Didone' and diocesan priest Fr. Atanasio Joubert resided. It was Nov. 28th, 1964.
He Opened his Arms, and Died
Mario Veronesi
Born at Rovereto, Trento, Italy,
on Nov. 10, 1912
Killed at Jessore, Bangladesh,
on April 4, 1971
Fr. Mario Veronesi, a missionary to East Pakistan (Bangladesh) for 19 years, was gunned down on April 4th by West Pakistan soldiers as he tried to calm panic-stricken people who were seeking refuge within the mission compound of Jessore. The soldiers began firing into the house as Fr. Veronesi walked out with his hands up, wearing a Red Cross badge. The troops then entered the church and shot four more people.
Water and Blood
Valeriano Cobbe
Born at Camisano Vicentino, Vicenza, Italy, on Jan. 14, 1932
Killed at Shimulia, Bangladesh,
on Oct. 14, 1974
Fr. Valerian Cobbe worked for 12 years in Bangladesh, especially in building wells for irrigation for the local farmers. At about 9:00 pm, as he was coming back from a visit to the sisters, three loud shots shattered the stillness of the night. His close friend, Manuel Mistri, run to the rescue, and he was shot too. They laid dead in a pool of blood near the Xaverian residence, victims of assassin's bullets. He concerned himself with the social and economic welfare of the outcast of his own parish.
Martyrdom in the Family
Alberto Pierobon
Born at Cittadella, Padua, Italy,
on Dec. 14, 1927
Killed at Almirante Tamandare', Parana', Brazil, on July 31, 1976
Fr. Albert Pierobon served in many parishes in Brazil for 15 years. He even buried his sister who died in Brazil. The circumstances of his death are not clear, but he was killed by cold-blooded murderers. Fr. Pierobon disappeared, then he was found 20 miles from the parish mission. Probably, these people "commissioned" to kill Fr. Albert because he was defending the people of his own parish.
Joys, Songs and Self-Giving
Salvatore Deiana
Born at Arauli, Oristano, Italy,
on July 17, 1956
Killed at Altamira, Para', Brazil,
on Oct. 16, 1987
At the 15 mile of the Trans-Amazonian road, the car driven by the Bishop of Xingu with Fr. Salvatore Deiana, and two other passengers, suddenly collided head on with a van. Fr. Deiana, with 5 years of mission work in the Amazons, is killed instantly. Later on, it was discovered that this accident was planned, with the number one target being the Bishop, who defended the rights of his people. They were going to celebrate Mass for the local dispossessed farmers.
Missionary with a Gentle Smile
Aldo Marchiol
Born at Udine, Italy,
on March 19, 1930
Killed at Buyengero, Burundi,
on Sept. 30, 1995
Lifetime Volunteer for Mission
Ms. Catina Gubert
Born at Fiera di Primiero, Trento, Italy,
on Dec. 8, 1921
Killed at Buyengero, Burundi,
on Sept. 30, 1995
Pastor, Missionary and Prophet
Ottorino Maule
Born at Gambellara, Vicenza, Italy,
on April 7, 1942
Killed at Buyengero, Burundi,
on Sept. 30, 1995
Fr. Ottorino Maule (54 years old), Fr. Aldo Marchiol (65), and Ms. Catina Gubert (75) were killed in the mission house with one gunshot in the head each. The three missionaries who had worked many years in Burundi, were ordered to kneel down and then were executed. These mission- aries received threats many times by the government army, for speaking on behalf of local people, and for the way army officers reported the killings in Burundi.