I can't find Asian saints!

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littlemary4Him

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Hi everyone! I have a request. I am the president of Catholic Campus Ministry at my college, and we are having an 'Asian Culture Night" next week, to attract students, have fun, and inform them about the events that we sponsor. I would like to have information about various saints from Asia (or even just about the Church in Asia) posted, and have students participate in a scavenger hunt involving said information. However, I can’t find anything online about Asian saints who were actually from Asia, and not missionaries to Asia. Does anyone have any saints (and some info about their lives), or any good websites? Thank you!
 
I think of a couple off the top of my head:

St. Paul Miki (Japanese)

St. Andrew Kim (Korean)
 
Most of the Asian saints I’m aware of are martyrs.

Here is a little information about the St Andrew Dun Lac and his fellow Vietnamese martyrs, St Paul Miki who was Japanese (and his companions), and St Andrew Kim Taegon (Korean) and his fellow Korean martyrs, St Lorenzo Ruiz who was Chinese-Filipino but travelled to Japan and was martyred there, and the Chinese martyrs including Sts Agatha Lin and Augustine Tchao.

The Catholic Encyclopedia may have more information on some or all of these Saints, or new leads for you to follow.
 
Depends on how you define Asian…
Here is an interesting link to consider from the USCCB:
Asian and Pacific Presence: Harmony in Faith
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from which I pulled this excerpt:

**Following the Witness of Martyrs
**Besides these living role models, Asian and Pacific Catholics come to the United States with a long heritage of extraordinary witness of life and martyrdom. The Church recently recognized many Asian saints and martyrs; however, the total number of saints and martyrs could fill an entire Asian and Pacific Litany of Saints.

From India, Gonsalo Garcia was canonized in 1629 and John de Brito in 1947. More recently, Pope John Paul II beatified Blessed Joseph Vaz in 1995.

From Japan the heroic witness of St. Paul Miki and his companions, including Gracia Hosakawa, Ludivico Ibaragi, Michael Kozaki, and Takayama Ukon, have been honored by the Church.

The Church in Korea suffered more than 10,000 martyrdoms. In 1984, Pope John Paul II canonized 103 martyrs in Seoul. Outstanding among those saints are St. Andrew Kim Taegon, the first native Korean priest, and Chung Hasang and Kim Hyoim, who were heroic lay leaders.

The Philippines’ first martyr, San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, was canonized in 1987. Catechist Pedro Calungsod was beatified in 2000.

It is estimated that more than 130,000 Vietnamese Catholics died for Christ’s sake during persecutions from 1625 to 1886. On June 19, 1988, Pope John Paul II canonized 117 of them, including St. Andrew Dung Lac, St. Phanxico Xavier Can, St. Vincent Diem, St. Phaolo Le Bao Tinh, St. Phero Nguyen Khac Tu, and a woman, St. Agnes Le Thi Thanh. On March 5, 2000, Blessed Andrew the Catechist was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Rome.

Also on March 5, 2000, Blessed Nicholas Bunlert Kitbamrung, the Thai Church’s first martyr priest, was beatified.

From China, 120 martyrs were canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 1, 2000. Of these, thirty-three were foreign missionaries and eighty-seven were native Chinese, including Ahan Wen Lan, Pei Xio, Zhan Da Pun, Liu Shui Tin, Cao Gul Ying, Liu Wen Yuen, and Liu Han Zhou.

Among the many Eastern Catholic martyrs and saints are Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified, born of a Syrian family in Galilee, who was beatified in 1983; Blessed Joseph Kassab Hardini, who was beatified in 1998; and from India, Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Blessed Alphonsa Muttathupadath, who were beatified in 1986, and St. Marian Theresia, who was canonized in April 2000.
 
Paul Miki. Do an internet search for Paul Miki and the twenty-six Martyrs of Japan.

Miki was crucified in Nagasaki in 1597. Here is a quote from him as he was dieing with his friends:

"The sentence of judgment says these men came to Japan from the Philippines, but I did not come from any other country. I am a true Japanese. The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I certainly did teach the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason I die. I believe that I am telling only the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you to become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ’s example I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain.”

After Christians were severely persecuted in Japan, they were all but wiped out. Only a small remnant of Christians remained underground. Missionaries were astonished to find a Christian community in Nagasaki when they were able to return a couple of centuries later. Apparently, Miki’s prayers were answered; his blood, along with that of his companions, was fruitful.

On Paul Miki’s feast day, I had a house mate who was known for his puns. He said. “Blessed are the Miki.” I think that terrible joke may be why I like him so much.

I know there are a ton of Asian Saints. I’m sure others people can supply some.
 
St Alphonsus wrote quite a book on martyrs and saints…and their martyrdom… a lot of them were Asian!
 
If no one has mentioned it yet…

I just stumbled upon this blessed (he is not a full blown saint yet) from Thailand:

“Blessed Nicholas Bunkerd Kitbamrung, the first Thai priest to be beatified. He died a martyr during a persecution of the Church in 1944.”

I just saw an article on Catholic Exchange:
catholicexchange.com/node/21910

All of a sudden, it’s raining Asian saints!
 
Wow, thank you so much!! This is exactly what I needed! Thank you to all who posted! Persons viewing this thread: unless there is a saint or website I really need to check out, don’t worry about posting. I have all the information I need now! 🙂
 
hindu.com/2008/03/02/stories/2008030256000500.htm

Soon to be canonised Bl.Sr.Alphonsa can be a special patron for school children, esp. from minority backgrounds ; she too was misunderstood, may be even ignored by many , during her lifetime .

In our culture that values fame and appearance much, she found her joy , like most saints, in being in the will of God and esp. in the midst of or even from suffering - united with our Lord !

And He , in turn shows us how pleasing such a selfless soul is to Him , by many miraculous events that have followed, through her intercession from heaven !
 
Does anyone know what she is the patron of? Also what virtues she displays?
 
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