VERJUS, ENRICO BATTISTA STANISLAO. - Bishop and missionary, b. at Oleggio (diocese of Novara) on 26 March 1860, d. there on 13 Nov. 1892.
Having soon moved to Savoy with his family, he entered in 1872 the Apostolic School of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and, five years later, in 1877, their Congregation. Ordained a priest in 1883, he left as early as 1884 for the apostolic vicariate of New Guinea. This mission field was at the beginning of its evangelization, and the fierce, cannibalistic savages made the missionary’s work very difficult and dangerous. Nevertheless, V. succeeded in winning the hearts of many and transforming them into true Christians. In 1889 he was elected and consecrated apostolic vicar of New England; but even before taking possession of it, he was appointed coadjutor to his own apostolic vicar of New Guinea. Having subsequently returned to Europe for the ad limina visit and to obtain missionaries, he was overtaken at Oleggio, where he had gone to regain his strength in his native air, by an inexorable illness which, after ten days, led him to the grave. His cause of beatification was introduced on 11 March 1949.