St Peter Chanel, first martyr of Oceania

St Peter Chanel was a French priest, born in 1803. He taught in a seminary for five years, then led seven Marist priests to the islands of Western Oceania. He patiently learned a difficult new language while the mission saw little success, and he was left on Futuna for years before help came. He was clubbed to death there on 28 April 1841. Within two years of his death the whole island had become Catholic. His feast is April 28. Light a free candle for missionaries and for slow, patient work that bears fruit late. St Peter Chanel, pray for us.