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