In 1549 the great Jesuit missionary St. Francis Xavier arrived on the shores of Japan. Within 40 years there were over 200,000 Catholic converts, most settling in the southwest city of Nagasaki. While St. Francis did not see the tremendous growth of his missionary efforts, St. Paul Miki, the son of wealthy Japanese parents, did.

Memorial of St. Agatha, virgin and martyr

Tuesday of the fourth week in ordinary time

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Saturday of the third week in ordinary time