Next Sunday, July 7th, Remembering Blessed Peter To Rot
If you would like to know more about Peter to Rot, there is a great deal on him our our website. Go to News, the Current News. Where it indicates to type in the inquiry, put Peter to Rot and click enter. Some entries are repeats of Significant Days but there are three pages of references.
Archbishop Rochus Tatamai MSC – and a personal, family memory
Archbishop Rochus Tatamai is a close relative of Blessed Peter To Rot.
Peter To Rot's elder brother is Joseph Tatamai, who is the Archbishop’s
grandfather. Joseph Tatamai is the father of Rochus Tatamai, and Archbishop
took both names: his father and his grandfather’s name, and thus he was
baptised Rochus Joseph Tatamai. Since Blessed Peter To Rot was the younger
brother of his grandfather, according to Melanesian culture and traditions,
Peter To Rot is considered also his grandfather.
A privileged anecdote
I still fondly recall the deep, strong voice of St John Paul II on 17th January 1995 at the Nunciature after the Solemnity of the Beatification of Peter ToRot as "BLESSED" at Sir John Guise Stadium. when Yours Truly had a sneaked in opportunity to present and introduce the three cousins (JOHN TOKELETO. ROCHUS TIRUPIA AND RUFINA IAMAMA) to the then His Holiness POPE JOHN PAUL II.
When presenting RUFINA IAMAMA to his Holiness. The Pope held my hand firmly and asked me these simple and yet pleasant familiar words...IS SHE YOUR AUNT??? IS SHE A GOOD AUNT???At this instant. YOURS TRULY CAN NEVER GET OVER THE FACT THAT I SHOOK HANDS WITH A HOLY MAN.
HE IS NOW SAINT POPE JOHN PAUL II. MAY I SNEAK IN ANOTHER SMALL DETAIL TO ADD I WAS PRIVILEGED TO HAVE SHOOK HANDS WITH SAINT POPE JOHN PAUL II ON BOTH HIS PASTORAL VISITS TO PNG -IN 1984 AND IN1995. (@ SIR HUBERT MURRAY STADIUM 1984 THEN @ THE SIR JOHN GUISE STADIUM 1995)
6th July 2011
