Archdiocese of Brisbane

On October 19, the Church joyfully celebrates the canonisation of Blessed Peter To Rot, the first saint of Papua New Guinea. Born in 1912 in Rakunai, Peter was grounded in the Catholic faith and faithfully served as a lay catechist, courageously continuing his pastoral mission even after missionaries were imprisoned by Japanese forces during the Second World War. He is remembered for his steadfast defence of the sanctity of marriage and family, standing firm in the Church’s teaching amid political and cultural pressures. Beatified by St John Paul II during his visit to Papua New Guinea in 1995, Blessed Peter To Rot’s life remains a powerful witness of faith, fidelity and pastoral zeal.