Saint Peter Chanel

Peter Chanel was born in 1803 at Cuet, in eastern France, to a farming family, and worked as a shepherd boy before a parish priest noticed his intelligence and piety. He was ordained in 1827 and served as a devoted parish priest, then joined the newly founded Society of Mary, the Marists, longing for the missions.

In 1836 he sailed with the first Marist missionaries to the Pacific, and in 1837 he landed on the island of Futuna with a lay brother. He learned the language, cared for the sick and won the people's affection by his kindness, though few were baptized at first. When the son of the local king asked for baptism, the king, fearing the loss of his traditional authority, sent warriors against Peter. On April 28, 1841, he was clubbed to death. Within a few years almost the whole island became Catholic. He was canonized in 1954 as the first martyr and patron of Oceania.

Futuna celebrates its patron with great festivity, and his relics rest in the shrine at Poi, built where he was martyred. Marist schools and parishes in Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific islands and the Americas celebrate his feast with Mass and service.