Roman Catholics will commemorate on Saturday, Dec. 3, the memory of Saint Francis Xavier (San Francisco Javier), the patron saint of foreign missions and co-founder with Saint Ignatius de Loyola of the Society of Jesus (Jesuit Order).

Novaliches Bishop Roberto O. Gaa will preside over a fiesta mass on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 9 a.m. at the St. Francis Xavier Parish in Novaliches, Quezon City. The celebration coincides with the 30th parish fiesta and the commemoration of the Second Sunday of Advent.
A procession will also be held on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Novena masses were held from Nov. 25 to Dec. 3.
At the St. Francis Xavier Parish in Antipolo, Rizal, novena prayers followed by the holy mass were held from Nov. 24 to Dec. 2.
St. Francis was the first Jesuit missionary priest. The Catholic Church considers him to have converted more people to Christianity than anyone since St. Paul.
Born in Pamplona, Spain in the year 1506, he has ordained priest in 1537. He was one of the first seven followers of St. Ignatius of Loyola. He converted thousands to the faith as he preached in several countries including India and Japan. St. Francis died in 1552 and was canonized by Pope Gregory XV on March 12, 1622.