Another Filipino to be canonized this month

Pedro Calungsod (1654– April 2, 1672) was a young Roman Catholic Filipino migrant, sacristan and missionary catechist, who along with Blessed Diego Luis de San Vittores, suffered religious persecution and martyrdom in Guam, Marianas Islands for their missionary work in 1672.

Through Calungsod and San Vittores’ missionary efforts, many native Chamorros converted to Roman Catholicism.

Calungsod was beatified on March 5, 2000 by Blessed Pope John Paul II. On February 18, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI officially announced that Calungsod will be canonized on October 21, 2012.

Mass in his honor was celebrated on September 21, 2012 at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Kellyville, NSW.

Updated: 2012-10-03 — 04:23:09