San Francisco Shoyemon

Saint Francisco Shoyemon (also known as Shoyemon Francisco) was a devoted Lay Dominican catechist and martyr who gave his life for the faith in Japan during the intense persecution of Christians under the Tokugawa shogunate. Born in Japan to a Christian family, he embraced the Lay Dominican vocation, dedicating himself to teaching the Catholic faith to others, particularly children and new converts, in secret. His work as a catechist was central to his life, embodying the