SEMERIA, STEFANO. - Missionary, b. 17 Feb. 1813 at La Colla (Ventimiglia), d. at Marseilles 23 Jan. 1868. In 1829 he entered the Oblates of Mary Immaculate; ordained priest in 1856, he was first entrusted with ministry among the Italians of Marseilles, then went as a missionary to Corsica.
In 1847 he was superior of the first mission of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Ceylon; in 1856 titular Bishop of Olympia and coadjutor to the Apostolic Vicar of Jaffna; in 1857 Apostolic Vicar of Jaffna. In this capacity he fostered the renewal of Christian communities through popular missions. He founded schools, congregations of indigenous sisters and brothers, and prepared native clergy, thus laying the foundations for the revival of Christian life in his vicariate.