Communities in Sydney and the Central Coast are preparing to hold celebrations in honour of Blessed Peter To Rot who will be proclaimed Papua New Guinea’s first saint on Sunday 19 October.
All are welcome to join Mass followed by refreshments on the canonisation day at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Randwick, beginning at 2.30pm.
On Sunday 26 October, the Holy Cross Parish, Kincumber will hold Mass from 11am followed by refreshments in honour of the newly canonised saint and will unveil his relic in the church.
The event will bring together many of the parish’s ministries, as the day will also involve the blessing of a new statue of St Mary MacKillop in a newly-landscaped garden, and the presentation of papal blessings to a small group of dedicated volunteers.
A lay catechist and one of the church’s martyrs, Peter To Rot refused to cease his Christian teachings and hosting of prayer services when Japanese forces occupied Papua New Guinea during the Second World War.
He married in 1936 and criticised attempts at encouraging his people to return to the pre-Christian practice of taking multiple wives.
For his devotion to Christ and the Catholic faith, Peter was arrested and killed by the invading forces in 1945. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1995 and Pope Francis approved his canonisation in March.
“Both Peter To Rot and Mary MacKillop can be defined by their trust in God, with both carrying out the mission to bring Christ to those most in need,” said a message from the Kincumber parish.
“We as the Holy Cross Parish community wish to uphold these two saints as inspiration for how to live by the word and teachings of God and how to bring these actions into the lives of those around you.
“The celebration day will bring joy, hope, and a sense of connectedness to all.”
