Fr. John Botton

Martyr in China

Caught in the midst of the Chinese - Japanese war, Fr. John Botton was the youngest missionary sent to China.  The Xaverians had tried many times to hide.  On one of these instances, Fr. Botton, hiding in a cellar with other Christians, decided to get away, trying to stop the soldiers who were bombing the surroundings.  Screaming at the soldiers, Fr. John Botton shouted "tien ciu tang, Italy"  (Italian Catholic Mission), but was gunned down. The soldiers then shot at random in the cellar, injuring others.