4228(III)_First Laotian Martyrs Beatification
We are grateful to the Lord who gave to us this wonderful gifts holiness and witness of the blessed Laotian martyrs
December 13, 2016
Vientiane, Laos, 11 December 2016 -- The date of beatification was fixed Pope Francis has ordered that the beatification ceremony for all of the 17 martyrs of Laos takes place in the city of Vientiane, Laos, on 11 December 2016. The personal representative of the Holy Father at the ceremony was Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, OMI, Archbishop of Cotabato in the Philippines and the whole Beatification Eucharist was attended by 2000 Catholic faithful and priests with 15 other Bishops and Cardinals coming from nearby countries of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
The martyrs of Laos, to be known as "Father Joseph Tiên and his companions," include, in chronological order of their martyrdom, Father Joseph Tien (diocesan priest in Laos); Father Jean-Baptiste Malo, MEP (French, Foreign Missions of Paris); Father René Dubroux, MEP (French); Father Mario Borzaga, OMI (Italian); Catechist Paul Thoj Xyooj (Lao); Father Louis Leroy, OMI (French); Father Michel Cockerel, OMI (French); Santa Tenaud, MEP (French); Catechist Joseph Outhay (Lao); Father Vincent Hénoret OMI (French); Father Marcel Denis, MEP (French); Father Jean Wauthier, OMI (French); Father Lucien Galan, MEP (French); Catechist student Thomas Khampheuane (Lao); Father Joseph Boissel, OMI (French); Catechist Luc Sy (Lao); Layman and Pho Inpeng (Lao). Liturgical Feast for the Lao Martyrs is set for December 16.
Historic Step for the Catholic Church in Laos was held in the Cathedral of the capital Vientiane. The Lao Martyrs were killed between 1954 and 1970 by the communist Pathet Lao guerrillas who seized power in the tiny nation of Southeast Asia. Five of them belong to the congregation of the Foreign Missions of Paris (MEP), the first missionaries who in 1885 brought the Gospel in Laos; six are Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), few native Lao Catechists and also the first Laotian priest Joseph Thao Tien, killed in 1954.
In the new climate of openness and availability shown by the Laotian government, Archbishop Paul Tschang In-Nam, apostolic nuncio in Bangkok and apostolic delegate in Myanmar and Laos, at the end of the Mass expressed his thanks, hoping that in the near future Laos can forge diplomatic relations with the Holy See.
The Catholic community in Laos has about 60 thousand baptized (1% of the population out of 6.8 million inhabitants), spread in four apostolic vicariates and accompanied in pastoral service by a score of priests in all. Bishop Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun, apostolic vicar of Pakse, described the celebration as "moment of full communion with the Holy See and with the universal Church, in a real year of grace".
Pope Francis recalled their sacrifice following his recitation of the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square last Sunday: “Their heroic fidelity to Christ can be an encouragement and example to missionaries, especially catechists, who in mission lands play a valuable and irreplaceable apostolic role, for which the entire Church is grateful.”
