St. Francis Xavier

Was a student of St. Ignatius of Loyola

Co-founder of the Society of Jesus, otherwise known as the Jesuit order

Missionary for the spreading of Catholicism in India, Boreo, Moluccas and Japan

A.K.A. the "Apostle to the Far East"

He arrived in Kagoshima, Japan in 1549 and established the first Christian community

He was only in Japan from 1549-1551

Within 40 years of his arrival, over 200,000 people converted to Christianity

Thousands of Japanese Christians were also martyred for their faith shortly thereafter

The first to die for the Christian faith were the Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan

Patron saint of Japan

Feast Day: December 3