ACTIVITIES BASED ON THE LIFE OF ST PETER CHANEL

1. ACTIVITIES BASED ON THE LIFE OF ST PETER CHANEL The following information sheets are a summary of the life of St Peter Chanel. They are aimed at Year 9 and ‘The Beginnings of the Church in Aotearoa New Zealand’, the 9F topic. This information could also be used with Year 10 in ‘Inspiring Men and Women’, the 10E topic. Suggested Activities: • Using the information provided the students could create a visual timeline on the life of Peter Chanel. This could be done in their books or on paper and put up on the classroom wall. If it was done on paper the students could be put into pairs and given one of the bullet points to illustrate. As a class they could then put all of the events in order and attach them to the wall, thus creating a pictorial timeline. • The students could write quiz questions based on the material. Each pair or group could then ask the rest of the class the questions and a point scheme could be invented. Creating a quiz show activity is a great way of reinforcing the material and assessing student knowledge. • The students could be given a world map which they then use to trace the journey of St Peter Chanel from Lyon to Futuna. • The students in small groups could take turns being Peter Chanel and be interviewed by the rest of the group. It could be set up like a ‘This is Your Life St Peter Chanel’ show.

2. ST PETER CHANEL1803 – 1841 Timeline • 1803 Peter Chanel was born in the village of Cuet near Lyon in France. • As a young boy he helped out on the farm but didn’t really begin his school education until he was eleven. • He went to various schools then entered the seminary at Brou. He was a gentle, respected student. • 1827 Peter was ordained a priest. • 1831 He joined the group called the Society of Mary. This group was called to serve others as Mary did. • 1836 He was asked to be the Superior of a group of four priests and three brothers who sailed to the Pacific with Bishop Pompallier as missionaries. • 1837 November, Fr Chanel and Br Nizier were dropped on an island north east of Fiji called Futuna. • Peter worked on the island with about 1000 Polynesians from two different groups. • Fr Chanel found it hard to learn the language but he helped the sick and needy. They called him the ‘kind hearted man’.

3. He was not successful in converting many of the native people to become Catholics. The King Niuliki was afraid he would lose power over his people if they became Catholic. He threatened his people with death if they converted. • A crisis occurred when Niuliki’s eldest son decided to become a Catholic. • 1841 28th April, Musumusu came to Fr Peter’s hut and pretended to need medical help. When Peter wasn’t looking he attacked him, clubbed and speared him to death. • 1841 Before the end of this year the main persecutors or ‘haters’ of the Christians, including King Niuliki, died. • The next year Bishop Pompallier visited the island. The new leaders asked him for another missionary. • Fr Servant was their new missionary and by 1844 every member on the island had become Catholic. • Peter Chanel’s remains were eventually buried on Futuna and they lie in a special shrine. The grave of his attacker lies nearby. • 1954 on June 13th, Peter Chanel the martyr was made a saint. • He is the patron saint of Oceania which includes New Zealand.