17 clergymen and others to witness ToRot canonisation

Seventeen clergymen from the Catholic Bishops Conference of PNG, including Cardinal Sir John Ribat, will be making the journey to Rome to witness the long-awaited historic milestone of the canonization of their own, Blessed Peter ToRot as a saint.

In a press conference, Catholic Bishops Conference General Secretary Fr Lawrence Arockiaraj says two clergymen traveled on Monday, while the other 15will depart on October 16 for the Vatican.

About 100 people in total, including the clergymen will be there to witness the canonization, pilgrims, those from Australia and those living and studying in Rome.

Fr Lawrence says the program leading up to Blessed Peter ToRot’s canonization on October 19, includes a thanksgiving mass and presentation of a revised missal or mass book to capture the country’s first ever saint in text.

The clergy men will return on October 22.

In the nation’s capital - the Catholic faithfuls will participate in a thanksgiving mass on the 26th to commemorate Blessed Peter ToRot’s canonization at the Sir Hubert Murray stadium.

Fr Lawrence says in the home province of Blessed Peter ToRot, East New Britain, a four-day sainthood celebration is planned for December 11-14.

ToRot was a layman who was martyred during the Second World War in 1945 by the Japanese for baptizing and secretly conducting marriages for couples.

His sacrifice saw him recognized by the Church in 1995, through his beatification by Pope John Paul the Second, which formally announced that someone lived a holy life.

After three decades of prayers and waiting – Torot will now be a Saint.