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).
