Spaniard Ignacio Echeverria, 39, became known as the 'skateboard hero' after he used his board to beat Islamist attackers during the Borough Market attack.

Three terrorists - who had already driven a van into London Bridge pedestrians, were wielding 30 centimetre knives and stabbing those in their path.

After seeing a man attacking a police officer and then turn his attention to a nearby woman, Echeverria grabbed his skateboard and dashed towards the terrorists.

He struck one with his skateboard, distracting the attacker. That enabled several people escape to safety.

Echeverria then saw a second man attacking a police officer. Before he could intervene, he was stabbed twice in the back and died of his wounds.

He was one of eight victims killed in the attack that left 48 injured.

Echeverria was posthumously awarded the George Medal by Queen Elizabeth and was given Spain's Order of Civil Merit for his heroics.

Skate parks in Spanish cities Alicante and Madrid now bear his name. A musical called 'Skate Hero' chronicles the last 24 hours of his life.

New path to sainthood

It's possible that Echeverria could become a saint for his actions.

Pope Francis announced a fourth and new path to canonisation, known as Oblatio Vitae. This is to be used if people lay down their life to save another.

In an apostolic letter about the new path, Franics wrote: 'The heroic offering of life, suggested and sustained by charity, expresses a true, complete and exemplary imitation of Christ."

The Echeverría family has been asked if they would like Ignacio to be considered as a candidate for sainthood.

Echeverría's father, described his son as 'an ordinary person who always stood up for what he believed in - which included standing up to terrorists if he was caught up in an attack.

"I would like Ignacio's death to be useful," Echeverría's father said.

"I trust he is already in heaven but if his death helps other people who ask for his intercession, what he did was worthwhile."

The canonisation process has opened in Madrid.

After his death, the Echeverría family discovered Ignacio had given religious lessons to Spanish-speaking children at his local parish in Poplar, east London.

Anyone who knew him is being encouraged to give statements to religious authorities to help back up his bid for sainthood.

'We need those who knew him to explain what he was like and how they saw him - and testimonies from those who, even without knowing him, have found help in his life and death," his father said.

"His life was exemplary in a thousand ways, and he knew how to be aware of others and resist temptations we are all subject to.

"His example shows it is worth being decent even if it costs you your life."

Source

• Daily Mail

He is now on the road to sainthood, thanks to a norm issued by Pope Francis this summer that opens the door to canonisation for those who have "voluntarily and freely offered their lives for others and have persevered until death in this regard."

Fernando was sent to Cambodia while still a seminarian. He worked as a teacher in a technical school for the handicapped.

In the school, people who were disabled, most especially landmine victims, learned skills which help them earn a living.

Among his students was Sarom, a sixteen-year-old boy who was a victim of a landmine. He wanted to finish his studies there but he was asked to leave by the school authorities for his disruptive attitude.

According to Fernando, Sarom was tricky but he still had a place for him in his heart.

On October 17, 1996, Sarom came to the school for a meeting. Angered, he suddenly he reached into a bag he was carrying, pulled out a grenade, and began to move towards a classroom full of students; the windows of the room were barred, leaving the students no escape.

Fernando came up behind Sarom and grabbed him. Sarom tried to free himself but the missionary held on to Sarom.

Sarom accidentally dropped the grenade behind Richie, and in a flash, Richie was dead.

While the Philippines is a Catholic-majority country, the island nation only claims two canonised saints thus far, both of whom died in the 17th century.

However, numerous causes have been opened in recent years, with many people in the various steps of the process of canonisation.

Source

• Catholic News Agency
• 2oth Century Martyrs Blogspot
• Jesuit Asia Pacific Conference

Suzanne Aubert was the founder of the Sisters of Compassion, New Zealand's only home grown order of Sisters.

In 1997 the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference supported the first part of the formal process, called the "Introduction of the Cause of Suzanne Aubert".

Last year Pope Francis declared Suzanne Aubert ‘venerable' - the second formal stage on the way to being declared a saint.

If Suzanne Aubert's Cause for Sainthood is successful, she will be New Zealand's first saint.

Bishop Charles Drennan, the liaison Bishop for Suzanne Aubert's Cause, commented "kiwi culture readily celebrates its sports heroes and sometimes its arts and music high achievers.

"Suzanne Aubert's gutsy life focused solely and relentlessly on the needs of others helps us also to celebrate a radical life of practical faith."

He went on to say, "Mother Aubert's life shifts holiness onto our streets and fields.

"Hers is a gumboots ‘n sleeves rolled up type of saintliness that resonates both in this country and overseas, with growing interest in her Cause in France and parts of the Pacific."

Sister Margaret Anne, congregational leader for the Sisters of Compassion, said "The 1^st of October gives us the opportunity to rejoice in the faith filled life of Suzanne Aubert but more importantly to dare to follow her example by taking the time to listen to the promptings of the Spirit.

Last year marked the 90th year since Aubert's death in New Zealand after dedicating 66 years of her life to living among, learning from and wal

Read full press release

Source
Supplied Amanda Gregan
Communications Advisor - NZ Catholic Bishops
Te Huinga o nga Pihopa Katorika o Aotearoa

Hundreds of Catholics have been declared saints in recent decades, but few with the acclaim accorded Mother Teresa, set to be canonized by Pope Francis on Sunday, largely in recognition of her service to the poor in India.

"When I was coming of age, she was the living saint," says the Most Rev. Robert Barron, the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

"If you were saying, 'Who is someone today that would really embody the Christian life?' you would turn to Mother Teresa of Calcutta." Read more