Blessed Peter To Rot
![[Blessed Peter To Rot]](saintp8g.jpg "jpg photograph of Blessed Peter ToRot, date unknown, photographer unknown; please do not write to ask about the image")
- Memorial
- 7 July
- Profile
- Son of Angelo To Puia, a village chief, and Maria la Tumul, adult converts who were part of the region's first generation of Catholics.
Peter was a pious boy, and though somewhat drawn to religious life, he became a lay catechist and worked with the areas missionaries.
An excellent teacher and organizer of classes, he constantly carried and taught from his Bible.
Married Paula la Varpit on 11 November 1936.
Father of three; one child died in infancy, another after the War.
In 1942 all the missionaries and their staff were arrested by the invading Japanese and lodged in concentration camps.
Peter continued to lead the faithful of his village as best he could, caring for the sick, Baptising and teaching the faithful, helping the poor.
When the War began to go against them, the Japanese began to repress the locals, forbidding Christianity, and pushing for a return to pre-Christian ways, particularly of polygamy.
Peter opposed the regression, and was arrested in 1945 for conducting religious gatherings.
Imprisoned in a cave, he was so well known, supported and beloved by those who knew him that he was a source of strength to his people, and of annoyance to his captors.
Martyr.
- Born
- 1912 in Rakunai, East New Britain (part of modern Papua New Guinea)
- Died
- poisoned and suffocated on 7 July 1945 in a Japanese concentration camp at Rakunai, East New Britain (part of modern Papua New Guinea)
- Venerated
- 2 April 1993 by Pope John Paul II
- Beatified
- 17 January 1995 by Pope John Paul II
- Canonized
- pending;
if you have information relevant to the canonization of Blessed Peter, contact
Archdiocese of Rabaul
Vunapope, P.O. Box 357
Kokopo, Enbp. Papua New Guinea
- Patronage
World Youth Day
- Additional Information
-
Austrialian Dictionary of Biography
Blessed Peter ToRot television documentary
Catholic Church of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands
John Paul II's Book of Saints
Katolsk i Norge - norwegian
L'Osservatore Romano
Lost Lives
World Youth Day 08
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