Catholics observe North American martyrs' feast day

Catholics celebrate the feast day of the North American Martyrs on October 19, honoring eight French Jesuits who died while evangelizing indigenous peoples. Pope Pius XI canonized the group in 1930.

The martyrs include Saint Isaac Jogues, Saint René Goupil, and Saint Jean de Lalande, who died in the present-day United States. The others, Saints Antoine Daniel, Jean de Brébeuf, Noël Chabanel, Charles Garnier, and Gabriel Lalemant, died in Canada.

Between 1636 and 1642, the missionaries traveled through regions including modern day Canada and New York to work among the Huron, Algonquin, and Iroquois. During the summer of 1642, Saint Isaac Jogues and Saint René Goupil were traveling with Huron warriors when they were ambushed by Mohawks at Lake Champlain.