Pope recognizes martyrdom of priest, catechist killed in Myanmar

December 09, 2013 - Pope Francis on Monday recognized the martyrdom of an Italian missionary and a local catechist who were killed for their faith in the last century in Myanmar, formerly Burma. 39-year old Fr. Mario Vergara of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) from Frattamaggiore, near Naples, Italy, and Catechist Isidore Ngei Ko Lat were killed at Shadaw, Myanmar, on May 24, 1950, and were dumped in the river. The decree on the martyrdom of the two was among 12 that Pope Francis authorized on Monday. There was a decree on a miracle through the intercession of an Italian nun and 10 decrees on heroic virtues of 5 men and 5women from France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Canada, Spain and Puerto Rico. Details of the decrees are as follows:

MIRACLE
Venerable Servant of God Giovannina Franks, founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Nurses , born in Como ( Italy ) June 24, 1807, died February 23, 1872.

MARTYRDOM
Servants of God, Mario Vergara, professed priest of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, and Isidore Ngei Ko Lat, and Lay Catechist, killed in hatred of the faith in Shadaw (Burma, now Myanmar) May 24, 1950.

HEROIC VIRTUES
Servant of God Maria Matteo Maurizio Garrigou, Priest, Founder of the Institute of Our Lady of Compassion, born in Gudanes (Ariege, France) September 21, 1766, died in Toulouse (France) September 27, 1852.

Servant of God Clemente (nee Vincent Fuhl), professed priest of the Order of St. Augustine , born in Aidhausen (Germany) June 18, 1874 and died in La Paz ( Bolivia), March 31, 1935

Servant of God Marcello of the Virgin of Carmel (nee Boldizsár Marton), professed priest of the Order of Discalced Carmelites born in Kiskomárom (today Zalakomár, Hungary) September 9, 1887 and died in Budapest ( Hungary) May 29, 1966

Servant of God Roman Bottegal, professed priest of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Trappists), born in San Donato di Lamon (Belluno, Italy) December 28, 1921 and died in Beirut (Lebanon) February 19 1978

Servant of God Rosalia Cadron - Jetté (in religion: Mother of the Nativity), founder of the Sisters of Mercy, born in Lavaltrie (Montreal, Canada ) January 27, 1794 and died in Montréal (Canada) April 5, 1864

Servant of God Maria Rosa Teresa Gay Tibau , founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph now Sisters of St. Joseph of Gerona, born in Llagostera (Girona, Spain) October 24, 1813 and died in Gerona (Spain) March 18, 1884

Servant of God Maria Oliva of the Mystical Body (nee Maria Oliva Bonaldo), foundress of the Institute of the Daughters of the Church , born in Castelfranco Veneto (Treviso , Italy) March 26, 1893 and died in Rome on 10 July 1976

Servant of God Orsola Mezzini , professed religious and Superior General of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Mission for the Deaf and Dumb, born Camping Monghidoro (Bologna, Italy) December 12, 1853 and died in Bologna (Italy ) 23 March 1919

Servant of God Maria Scholar of Divine Providence (nee Maria Orsola Rivata), professed religious and first Superior General of the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master, born in Guarene (Cuneo, Italy) July 12, 1897 and died in Sanfré (Cuneo, Italy ) on 24 March 1987

Servant of God Raphael Cordero Molina, Layman, born in San Juan de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico) October 24, 1790 and died there July 5, 1868