Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - There are many catechists who, on all continents, have remained faithful to the mandate received to proclaim Christ and his Gospel until the supreme sacrifice of their lives. Men, women and even children, animated by the Spirit, were authentic "blood witnesses" of Christ. Looking at this "innumerable host" we remember some who have been beatified. On May 24, 2014, PIME (Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions) missionary Father Mario Vergara and catechist Isidoro Ngei Ko Lat were beatified, who died as martyrs in Burma out of hatred for the faith in May 1950. On May 21, Pope Francis pointed out: "May their heroic fidelity to Christ be an encouragement and example to missionaries and especially to catechists who carry out a precious and irreplaceable apostolic work in mission lands, for which the whole Church is grateful".
There is not much news about the life of the catechist Isidoro Ngei Ko Lat, who is the first Burmese faithful to be beatified. Baptized on 7 September 1918, Isidoro belonged to a family of farmers who converted to Catholicism. From an early age he frequented the missionaries and often went with them. He entered the Toungoo minor seminary, showing zeal and commitment, but due to his poor health he had to return to his family. Determined to commit himself to the Lord, he did not marry and opened a free private school in his village, where he also gave catechism lessons. In 1948 he met Fr. Vergara, who invited him to serve as a catechist in Shadaw. Isidore remained by the missionary’s side until his martyrdom. Blessed martyrs Davide Okelo and Gildo Irwa are two young Ugandan catechists who lived in the early 20th century. They belonged to the Acholi tribe, whose members still live mainly in northern Uganda today. Their martyrdom occurred three years after the foundation by the Comboni missionaries of the Kitgum mission (1915). The two young people were united by a deep friendship and the desire to make Christianity known to their compatriots. Their exact date of birth is not known, but we do know that of baptism (June 6, 1916), confirmation (October 15 of the same year) and martyrdom (October 19, 1918). At that time Davide was 16/18 and Gildo 12/14. In the early months of 1917, the catechist from the village of Paimol died, Davide asked the superior of the Kitgum mission if he could replace him. He was assigned to young Gildo Irwa as an assistant. The missionary raised the difficulties of such a commitment, but David replied: «I am not afraid of death. Jesus also died for us!». In Paimol they dedicated themselves tirelessly to their mission, in addition to earning their food by working in the fields. They taught catechism, led prayers, and animated songs. In a short time they were well regarded by all. Between 18 and 20 October 1918 they died pierced by the spears of two Adwis, who had taken up arms against the impositions of the colonial leaders. Before killing them they asked him to leave the village and teach catechism, to save their lives, but they refused. They were beatified on October 20, 2002, World Mission Sunday. Blessed Peter ToRot (1912-1945), lay catechist, martyr, first Blessed of Papua New Guinea, was assassinated during the Japanese occupation for refusing to accept polygamy. He is remembered as a man of courage and strength in faith, of prayer, as well as of determination in following Jesus Christ with his life to the end. Peter ToRot was a "second generation Christian" who followed in the footsteps of his parents. He was a father of a family, catechist, teacher, and died a martyr in defense of his Christian faith, after having worked hard to become a good teacher and a good catechist. Married, he led a married and family life according to the teachings of the Gospel. He defended the values of marriage and resisted the traditional culture of polygamy and the laws of the Japanese imperial Army, and died defending his faith. He was beatified on January 17, 1995 by John Paul II during his pastoral trip to Papua. On April 23, 2021, the beatification of ten martyrs of the Guatemalan diocese of Quiché took place in Santa Cruz del Quiché. This land, like much of Latin America, was bathed in the blood of many martyrs, "faithful witnesses of God" and of his Gospel, committed to building the community and society according to the values of the Kingdom. The 3 missionary priests and 7 lay people, including a 12-year-old boy, were killed in hatred of the faith between 1980 and 1991. They were only moved by love for God and their poorest brothers, in a time of persecution by the Church and of violence against the entire population. In addition to the priests, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, all born in Spain, 7 lay people were beatified: Domingo del Barrio Batz, married, killed together with Father Cirera; Juan Barrera Méndez, 12, member of the Catholic Action; Tomás Ramírez Caba, married, sacristan; Nicolás Castro, catechist and extraordinary minister of Communion; Reyes Us Hernández, married, engaged in pastoral activities; Rosalío Benito, catechist and pastoral worker; Miguel Tiu Imul, married, director of Catholic Action and catechist. In the message for the beatification, the Bishops of Guatemala wrote: "Blessed is the blood shed by these brothers of ours, because with their witness they have shown us what it means to love Jesus Christ ... Blessed are the martyrs of an indigenous people blessed by faith in Jesus Christ, because they have shown us how far the dedication of a catechist or a missionary can go". (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 11/5/2021)
