Late Peter ToRot remembered

THE anniversary celebrations of Peter ToRot, a catechist in Rakunai, East New Britain, who was killed by the Japanese for defying the order to allow polygamy, was held on Jan 17 in Rakunai.
The celebrations in Port Moresby were coordinated by the Petro ToRot Foundation Inc, a lay organisation established in 1996 to promote the life and work of ToRot and support the archbishop of Rabaul in his push for the canonisation of Peter ToRot.
Bishop of Kavieng-Lorengau and president of the Bishop Conference of PNG and Solomon Islands, Bishop Rochus Tatamai, spoke at length about the life and martyrdom of ToRot from which he drew lessons for the work of catechist, the sacrament of marriage and family life, relationship of faith and culture.
“Peter ToRot was beatified especially because of his defence of the sacrament of marriage,” he said.
“He was officially declared by Pope St John Paul II a martyr for the faith during the beatification ceremony at Sir John Guise Stadium, Port Moresby, on Jan 17, 1995”.
The celebrations included a Eucharistic celebration with Bishop Rochus as the main celebrant.