Saints

Saint John Vianney is the patron saint of all pastors or parish priests.

Tracing Janssen's path to founding SVD is a lengthy journey. It encompasses his numerous interactions with a variety of parties. Inevitably, a slew of issues and complications arose during the process. He encountered cultural clashes and religious strife in Germany following the outbreak of the "Kulturkampf," which resulted in the decline of spiritual practices in the country. As a devout Catholic family, Janssen was taken aback by a shift in the public's religious attitude.

On April 27, 2003, Alberione was beatified by Pope Saint John Paul II, who called him the “First Apostle of the New Evangelization”—a sign for the whole Church that even through an avant-garde apostolate can one achieve holiness.

Pope Francis approved the Sainthood of an Indian martyr, Blessed Lazarus, called Devasahayam Pillai. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints announced the canonization on November 9.