Feast day: April 2
Pedro Calungsod was only 14 years old when he joined a group of Spanish missionaries who traveled from the Philippines to the Marianas Islands to teach the native people about God. Pedro was a devout young man who served as a sacristan in the church. The missionaries were sure he would be a good example for the young people on the islands.
Pedro was eager to share his deep faith in Jesus with others, and many of the natives were baptized as a result of his efforts. However, some people on the islands were wary of the newcomers. Unfortunately, Pedro fell victim to a group of people who feared that the missionaries were poisoning children with holy water. When Pedro and a priest came to a village to baptize the chief’s daughter, they were killed by assassins. He was just 17 years old.
Saint Pedro was canonized in 2012.
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