DownloadHOLY SEE
Laotian Martyrs: beatification date has been set
Pope Francis has directed that
the beatification ceremony for all 17 Martyrs of Laos (including six Oblates of
Mary Immaculate) take place in the city of Vientiane, Laos, on 11 December
2016. The Holy Father’s personal representative at the ceremony will be His
Eminence, Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, OMI, Archbishop of Cotabato in the
Philippines. The government of Laos has given its approval.
The Martyrs of Laos, to be known as "Father Joseph Tiên and his Companions,” include the following, in the order of their martyrdom: Father Joseph Tiên (Diocesan priest in Laos); Father Jean-Baptiste Malo, m.e.p. (French religious of the Missions étrangères de Paris or Foreign Missions of Paris); Father René Dubroux, m.e.p. (French); Father Mario Borzaga, o.m.i. (Italian); Catechist Paul Thoj Xyooj (Laotian); Father Louis Leroy, o.m.i. (French); Father Michel Coquelet, o.m.i. (French); Father Noël Tenaud, m.e.p. (French); Catechist Joseph Outhay (Laotian); Father Vincent L’Hénoret, o.m.i. (French); Father Marcel Denis, m.e.p. (French); Father Jean Wauthier, o.m.i. (French); Father Lucien Galan, m.e.p. (French); Student catechist Thomas Khampheuane (Laotian); Father Joseph Boissel, o.m.i. (French); Catechist Luc Sy (Laotian); and Layman Phô Inpèng (Laotian).
Bishop Sebastian Koto KHOARAI, OMI
On 9 October 2016, at the end of a Marian celebration for the Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis named 17 new Cardinals. Among the four who are beyond the age of 80 is an Oblate of Mary Immaculate, Bishop Sebastian Koto KHOARAI, Bishop-emeritus of Mohale’s Hoeck in Lesotho.
The 87 year-old Cardinal-elect professed his first vows as an Oblate in 1951 and was ordained a priest in 1956. He was appointed the first Bishop of Mohale’s Hoek in 1977 and retired at the age of 84 in 2014.
Cardinal-elect
Sebastian KOTO KHOARAI as a young Bishop
In announcing the Consistory for 19 November 2016, Pope Francis said: "To the Members of the College of Cardinals, I will join also an Archbishop and two Bishops Emeriti who are distinguished in their pastoral service and a priest who has rendered a clear Christian witness. They represent many bishops and priests throughout the Church who build up the People of God, announcing the merciful love of God in the daily care of the Lord's flock in the confession of faith.”
