St. Roque González y de Santa Cruz
Facts
Patron: Jesuits; missionaries; Paraguay; martyrs
Birth: November 17, 1576
Death: November 15, 1628
Canonized: Pope John Paul II
Author and Publisher - Catholic Online
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Saint Roque González y de Santa Cruz was a Paraguayan Jesuit priest and missionary who served the Guaraní people. He founded Christian reductions, learned the language of the people, and sought to proclaim the Gospel while defending their dignity and welfare.
Roque was killed at the mission of Todos los Santos de Caaró in 1628 after celebrating Mass. Pope John Paul II canonized him in 1988 as the first native-born saint of Paraguay.
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