First Martyr of the Pacific
Who was Peter Chanel? He was French! Born 12/7/1803 in Cuét
Who was Peter Chanel? He was French! Born 12/7/1803 in Cuét Brought up on a farm The 5 th of 8 children
Who was Peter Chanel? The Major Seminary at Belley He entered the minor seminary in 1819 He was ordained in 1827 at Belley He joined the Marists in 1831
Who was Peter Chanel? The Major Seminary at Belley Taught at the College in Belley for one year, then became Administrator and Spiritual Director of the School
His statue now stands in the courtyard of that College
In 1833 he came to Rome with Fr Colin to get approval of the Society of Mary Pope Gregory XVI
In 1836 the Society of Mary was approved and entrusted with the Mission to Western Oceania Pope Gregory XVI Chanel, who had always wanted to be a missionary, was chosen as one of the first group of eight to go there.
Journey to Oceania
8 Nov 1837
Journey to Oceania
On the Island of Futuna Hard work learning the language
On the Island of Futuna Tribal wars Chanel and the missionaries were peacemakers
On the Island of Futuna A Chief was not happy about conversions
On the Island of Futuna 28 April 1841
The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians - Tertullian
The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians From Wallis and Futuna the Catholic faith spread Vanuatu, Solomons, PNG Kiribati
Effects Some of the great changes it brought: –An end to Tribal warfare, Cannibalism, Worship of ancestral gods –Belief in Christ Peace
Effects Wallis Futuna Fiji Vanuatu Tonga Samoa New Caledonia PNG Chanel Shrine at Poi
Effects Relics of Chanel
Effects Children of Poi at the memorial of Chanel’s house
Effects Cathedral on Wallis
Faces of the Pacific Wallis Futuna Fiji Vanuatu Tonga Samoa New Caledonia PNG Children of Futuna
Faces of the Pacific A Fala – a Futunian house
Making tapa cloth
Seminarians Bomana
Faces of the Pacific Women on Wallis
Suva, Fiji
Faces of the Pacific Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary
Novitiate, Tutu
Religions of the Pacific The Pacific today is mainly Christian –French Polynesia is 99.6% Christian –For comparison Italy is 82% Christian But many types of Christianity –Methodist –Anglican –Roman Catholic –Hundreds of smaller Christian churches
Politics of the Pacific The struggle for self-sufficiency Third world countries in a global economy Overseas aid is important Politically fragile
Cultures of the Pacific Local languages 2 major public languages –English –French Very localised. Village life Building style High humidity Traditional cooking
First Martyr of the Pacific St Peter Chanel