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The 17 martyrs of Laos gave their lives for Christ between 1954 and 1970 under the Pathet Lao Theravada Buddhist-communist political movement. They include 6 native Laotians, 5 Paris Foreign Missionaries and 6 Oblates of Mary Immaculate missionaries.

German Oblate of Mary Immaculate priest Fr. Thomas Klosterkamp is the postulator for the Laotian Martyrs’ cause for canonization, according to Vatican Radio. According to Fr. Klosterkamp, as of 2015, Catholics accounted for just 1.5% of the population in Laos.

Key for the Laotian Martyr Shrine (courtesy of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate):

  1. Fr. Joseph Tien, a Laotian priest who was 35 years old when he was martyred on June 2, 1954.

  2. Fr. Jean-Baptiste Malo, M.E.P., a French missionary to China and Laos, who was also martyred in 1954.

  3. Fr. René Dubroux, M.E.P., a French missionary martyred in 1959.

  4. Catechist Paul Thoj Xyooj, who disappeared in 1960 on an apostolic trip to villages with Fr. Mario Borzaga. Paul Thoj Xyooj was the first Hmong missionary and martyr.

  5. Fr. Mario Borzaga, O.M.l., martyred with Paul Thoj Xyooj in 1960.

  6. Fr. Louis Leroy, O.M.I.

  7. Fr. Michel Coquelet, O.M.I.

    Frs. Leroy and Coquelet were taken from their stations in the Province of Xieng Khouang and put to death, along with Fr. Vìncen tL’Hénoret, O.M.l., in April and May of 1961.

  8. Catechist Joseph Outhay was martyred in Southern Laos in 1961, along with Fr. Noël Tenaud.

  9. Fr. Noël Tenaud, M.E.R., martyred in 1961 with Joseph Outhay.

  10. Fr. Vincent L’Hénoret, O.M.l., martyred in 1961 with Frs. Leroy and Coquelet.

  11. Fr. Marcel Denis, M.E.P., martyred in 1961 after a period of time being kept as prisoner.

  12. Fr. Jean Wauthier, O.M.l., an advocate for refugees who was killed in 1967.

  13. Thomas Khampheuane, martyred at age 16 in 1968. A pupil of Fr. Lucien Galan, with whom he died, he is the first Laven martyr (from the Boloven plateau in Laos).

  14. Fr. Lucien Galan, M.E.P., a missionary to China who was killed in an ambush with Thomas Khampheuane in 1968 while they were returning from the Boloven plateau.

  15. Fr. Joseph Boissel, O.M.l., martyred on his way to visit an isolated Christian community in 1969.

  16. Catechist Luc Sy*

  17. Lay leader Maisam Pho Inpeng

*Catechist Luc Sy was sent by his bishop to evangelize the Vang Vieng area in Laos, with lay leader Maisam Pho Inpeng. They were martyred on their way back from visiting catechumens in a distant village in January 1970.