Fr. Caio Rastelli, s.x.

The First Son

Born at Ghiara di Fontanellato, Parma, Italy, on March 25, 1872

Died at Taiyanfu, China,
on Feb. 28, 1901

Fr. Caio Rastelli was the first Xaverian missionary to China, and the only priest at the time of the foundation of the Xaverians in 1895.  He joined Bishop Fogolla in 1899 (declared blessed by Pope John Paul in 1999), and worked for two years in the Shanxi Province.  Because of the Boxer uprising he endured many trials, escaped to Mongolia, returned to minister to the Christians spared by this revolution, and finally died in 1901, at 28 years old.