The feast day of St Peter To Rot was celebrated on the Gold Coast, nine months after Papua New Guinea’s first saint was canonised. Source: The Catholic Leader.
His feast day is July 7, but was observed on July 5 by the PNG community at Marian Valley, where music was central to the celebration.
Also present were a few parishioners from Mary Queen of the Pacific Parish in Waigani, Port Moresby.
Carmelite Father Paul Sireh celebrated the Mass and gave a homily centred on the Sacrament of Marriage, a theme close to the life of the St Peter To Rot. Marian Valley Pauline Fathers concelebrated.
The opening hymn was a processional chant paired with a dance from the Tolai language and culture from the home of St Peter To Rot.
Parts of the Mass were led by representatives of the Momase and New Guinea Islands regions, with the hymns led by the community’s young musicians and choir.
In his homily, Fr Sireh said St Peter To Rot was remembered for his “steadfast defence of the sanctity of marriage and family, standing firm in the Church’s teaching amid political and cultural pressures”.
“To Rot teaches us two fundamental things,” Fr Sireh said.
“First, that God’s plan for marriage and family is, male and female, united by a sacrament, until death do them part.
“Husband and wife should respect each other with kindness, love, and trust with wholehearted as precious dignity and gift from God.
“Second, that we are all called to holiness. Holiness is not reserved for a privileged few, but we can be holy in whatever state of life we find ourselves.”
St Peter To Rot stood firm and faithful to the Gospel even when persecuted, he said.
St Peter To Rot was a catechist and father who was killed by Japanese forces in 1945 for his defence of the Sacrament of Marriage. He was canonised by Pope Leo XIV on October 19, 2025, becoming PNG’s first saint.
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St Peter To Rot’s first feast day a reminder to stay faithful to the Gospel (By Kymberlee Gomes, The Catholic Leader)
