St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara (C.M.I.)
Feast: 18 February (Roman Latin Catholic Church), 3 January (Syro-Malabar Church)
Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara was born on 10 February 1805 in Kainakary, Kuttanad (then Travancore, now Kerala, India) and died on 3 January 1871 in Koonammavu, Cochin, Kerala. He was beatified on 8 February 1986 at Kottayam by Pope John Paul II and canonized on 23 November 2014 in Rome by Pope Francis, becoming the first Indian male saint. He is venerated in the Syro-Malabar Church, and his major shrine includes St. Joseph’s Church, Mannanam and St. Philomena’s Forane Church, Koonammavu.
St. Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception
Feast: 28 July
Born on 19 August 1910 in Kudamalur (Kerala, India) and died on 28 July 1946, St. Alphonsa was a nun of the Franciscan Clarist Congregation. She was beatified on 8 February 1986 and canonized on 12 October 2008 by Pope Benedict XVI, becoming the first woman of Indian origin to be canonized, and the first canonized saint in the Syro-Malabar Church. Her major shrine is St. Mary’s Syro-Malabar Church, Bharananganam (Diocese of Palai), where her tomb is located and has become a pilgrimage site.
St. Mariam Thresia Chiramel
Feast: 6th June, 26th April at St Mary’s Forane Puthenchira
Born on 26 April 1876 in Puthenchira (Thrissur, British India); died on 8 June 1926 in Kuzhikattussery (Thrissur). She founded the Congregation of the Holy Family. She was beatified on 9 April 2000 by Pope John Paul II, and canonized on 13 October 2019 by Pope Francis, with her major shrine at Puthenchira, India, where her tomb is located.
St. Devasahayam Pillai
Feast: 14 January
Born on 23 April 1712 in Nattalam, Kingdom of Travancore, and died on 14 January 1752 at Aralvaimozhy, Travancore. He was beatified on 2 December 2012 at St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral, Kottar, Tamil Nadu, and canonized on 15 May 2022 by Pope Francis. His major shrine is St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral, Kottar, Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, where his resting place is located.
St. Euphrasia Eluvathingal
Feast: 29 August
Known as the “Praying Mother,” St. Euphrasia of Kerala lived a life of deep prayer, humility, and service within the Carmelite tradition, inspiring generations with her spiritual simplicity. She was canonised as a saint by Pope Francis on 23 November 2014 in Vatican City.
St. Joseph Vaz
Feast: 16 January
The Apostle of Sri Lanka, St. Joseph Vaz, was a Goan missionary who brought the light of faith to persecuted Catholics in Ceylon, serving with courage, humility, and unwavering devotion.
Non-Indian Saints
St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Feast: 5 September
A global icon of compassion, Mother Teresa dedicated her life to serving the poorest of the poor, embodying Christ’s love through her tireless work with the Missionaries of Charity.
St. Francis Xavier
Feast: 3 December
One of the first Jesuits and a close companion of St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Francis Xavier carried the Gospel across Asia, becoming one of the greatest missionaries in Church history. He rests in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa.
St. Gonsalo Garcia
Feast: 6 February worldwide, 7 February in India
The first Indian-born saint, St. Gonsalo Garcia served as a Franciscan missionary in Japan, where he embraced martyrdom for his faith, symbolizing steadfast courage and witness.
St. John de Britto
Feast: 4 February
A Jesuit missionary from Portugal, St. John de Britto immersed himself in Tamil culture to preach the Gospel, ultimately giving his life as a martyr for the faith in South India.
St. Thomas the Apostle
Feast: 3 July
Although not ethnically Indian, St. Thomas is venerated as the Apostle of India, traditionally believed to have been martyred in 72 AD at Mylapore (Chennai). His tomb is located in the San Thome Basilica in Chennai. He is recognized as a saint and foundational figure of the Indian Church.
Blesseds
Blessed Rodolfo Acquaviva
A Jesuit missionary and nobleman, Blessed Rodolfo Acquaviva courageously brought the faith to the Mughal court and was martyred in Goa, remembered for his unwavering zeal for Christ.
Blessed Dionysius of the Nativity
A skilled navigator turned Carmelite missionary, Blessed Dionysius devoted his life to spreading the Gospel in Asia and was martyred in Goa for his steadfast faith.
Blessed Redemptus of the Cross
Once a sailor, Blessed Redemptus joined the Carmelites and served with deep humility and courage, giving his life alongside Blessed Dionysius as a witness to Christ.
Blessed Kunjachan Thevarparampil Augustine
Known as the “Servant of the Poor,” Blessed Kunjachan dedicated his life to uplifting the marginalized, especially the Dalit community, embodying the Gospel through simple yet powerful acts of love.
Blessed Rani Maria Vattalil
A Franciscan Clarist sister, Blessed Rani Maria worked for the poor and oppressed in central India, ultimately offering her life as a martyr of love and forgiveness.
