HOLY FATHER TO CANONIZE 123 BLESSEDS ON OCTOBER 1

VATICAN CITY, SEP 26, 2000 (VIS) - Pope John Paul will preside at a Eucharistic celebration in St. Peter's Square at 10 a.m. on Sunday, October 1, during which he will canonize 123 Blesseds, from Asia, Europe, America and Africa.

The future Saints are: Agostino Zhao Rong, priest (d. 1815), and 119 companions, martyrs in China (d. 1648-1930); Maria Josefa del Corazon de Jesus Sancho de Guerra, virgin and foundress of the Institute of the Servants of Jesus of Charity (1842-1912); Katharine Drexel; virgin, foundress of the Sisters of the Most Holy Sacrament for Indians and Colored People (1858-1955); Giuseppina Bakhita, virgin, of the Institute of the Daughters of Charity, Canossians (1869-1947).

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