Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Congregation for the Causes of Saints has judged the diocesan process for beatification of 15 martyrs valid, among religious and lay catechists, killed in Laos, "in hatred of the Christian faith" between 1954 and 1970. The Process therefore enters its second phase and its procedures in the Vatican Congregation officially begins.
The news, say Fides sources, was welcomed with great joy by the Bishops and the Catholic community in Laos, but also by the Congregation of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) and by the Society for Foreign Missions of Paris (MEP), which have their religious missionaries in the list of the 15 martyrs, composed of 5 French religious OMI, 5 religious MEP and 5 secular Laotians.
The Bishops of Laos, promoters of the Cause, have entrusted the realization of the process to the diocese of Nantes, where one of the missionaries came from, Fr. Jean-Baptiste Malo, MEP. The diocesan process was officially closed in the spring of 2010 in the diocese of Nantes (see Fides 30/03/2010). The Postulator of the Cause, Fr. Roland Jacques OMI, will now have to write the "Positio", which will then be examined by the Relator of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
There is another cause of beatification already registered in the Congregation, which regards missionaries killed in Laos:Fr. Mario Borzaga OMI and the Laotian catechist Paul Thoj Xyooj. For this Process, the "Positio" has already been formulated for about a year and we are waiting for the Relator to examine it. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 16/12/2011)
