What are those Church Renovations?
We are preparing a place for the reliquary which contains the relic of Peter To Rot who will be cannonised as the the first saint of Papua New Guinea later this year. Watch this space for further updates as we prepare to welcome this holy relic.
Who is Peter To Rot?
Blessed Peter To Rot was a Catholic catechist from Papua New Guinea. He was born on March 5, 1912, and tragically died on July 7, 1945, after being martyred for his faith during World War II.
Here's a summary of his life and significance:
Early Life and Vocation: Peter To Rot was born into a family that had converted to Catholicism. He showed a strong inclination towards his faith from a young age and was trained as a catechist, becoming one of the youngest in Papua New Guinea at 21 years old. He married Paula Ia Varpit and had three children.
Japanese Occupation and Ministry: When Japanese forces occupied Papua New Guinea in 1942, foreign missionaries were imprisoned. Peter To Rot bravely stepped up to lead his local parish, continuing to provide spiritual guidance, conduct prayer services, and administer sacraments like baptism, even building a church from branches after the main one was destroyed.
Martyrdom: The Japanese authorities eventually began to restrict religious practices and reintroduce practices like polygamy, which Peter To Rot strongly opposed, advocating for Christian marriage. His unwavering commitment to his faith and his continued ministry, even holding secret prayer services in caves, led to his arrest in 1945. He was imprisoned and subsequently murdered by lethal injection by Japanese officers, refusing to renounce his responsibilities to his people.
Beatification and Canonization: Peter To Rot was recognized as a martyr for his faith by the Catholic Church. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1995 in Papua New Guinea. He is scheduled to be canonized as a saint on October 19, 2025, becoming the first native Papuan saint.
Blessed Peter To Rot is revered as a symbol of courage, faith, and the defense of Christian values, particularly the sanctity of marriage, in the face of persecution.
Who is Peter To Rot?
Blessed Peter To Rot was a Catholic catechist from Papua New Guinea. He was born on March 5, 1912, and tragically died on July 7, 1945, after being martyred for his faith during World War II.
Here's a summary of his life and significance:
Early Life and Vocation: Peter To Rot was born into a family that had converted to Catholicism. He showed a strong inclination towards his faith from a young age and was trained as a catechist, becoming one of the youngest in Papua New Guinea at 21 years old. He married Paula Ia Varpit and had three children.
Japanese Occupation and Ministry: When Japanese forces occupied Papua New Guinea in 1942, foreign missionaries were imprisoned. Peter To Rot bravely stepped up to lead his local parish, continuing to provide spiritual guidance, conduct prayer services, and administer sacraments like baptism, even building a church from branches after the main one was destroyed.
Martyrdom: The Japanese authorities eventually began to restrict religious practices and reintroduce practices like polygamy, which Peter To Rot strongly opposed, advocating for Christian marriage. His unwavering commitment to his faith and his continued ministry, even holding secret prayer services in caves, led to his arrest in 1945. He was imprisoned and subsequently murdered by lethal injection by Japanese officers, refusing to renounce his responsibilities to his people.
Beatification and Canonization: Peter To Rot was recognized as a martyr for his faith by the Catholic Church. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1995 in Papua New Guinea. He is scheduled to be canonized as a saint on October 19, 2025, becoming the first native Papuan saint.
Blessed Peter To Rot is revered as a symbol of courage, faith, and the defense of Christian values, particularly the sanctity of marriage, in the face of persecution.