Catholic Saint
St. Roque González
“A Jesuit missionary who founded several of the famous Guaraní Reductions in South America before being martyred.”
Feast Day: November 17
Biography
St. Roque González de Santa Cruz was a Paraguayan Jesuit and one of the first criollo (American-born) priests in South America. He founded several Jesuit Reductions among the Guaraní people, creating self-sustaining communities. He was killed by a shaman who opposed Christian influence.
Prayer to St. Roque González
I came to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth.