Roque González de Santa Cruz

Roque González de Santa Cruz, also Rochus Gonzales, (* 1576 in Asunción, Paraguay, † November 15, 1628 in São Miguel Caaró at the Missões, Brazil ) was a Jesuit missionary and martyr and was canonized in 1988.

Life

Roque González de Santa Cruz founded several Jesuit Reductions ( eg San Ignacio Miní ) and the cities of Posadas and Encarnación. Together with his Spanish friar Alonso Rodríguez S. J. he was (now in the province of Corrientes in Argentina) murdered on 15 November 1628 Caaró by the cacique Nezu. On November 17, 1628, the Spanish Jesuit Juan de Castillo was martyred.

Worship

The heart of Saint Roque and the spear with which he was killed, are now in the Martyrs Chapel in Asunción. Roque González de Santa Cruz was canonised with his brothers Alonso Rodríguez and Juan de Castillo on May 16, 1988 by John Paul II in Asunción. His feast day is November 16. St. Roque is the patron saint of the city of Posadas in Argentina and the capital, Asunción, Paraguay. He is the first saint of Paraguay.

Others

Roque González is depicted on the front of the banknote over 100,000 PYG.