Saint Peter Claver, 1581–1654
September 9

Saint Peter Claver was from Spain. He moved to Columbia and became a Jesuit priest. When slave ships came from Africa, Saint Peter would meet them at the docks to give the slaves food and medicine. He would tell the slaves how much God loved them and talk to them about Jesus. He wanted to stop all slavery but until that happened, he made sure slaves were given food and clothes and treated kindly. He also helped sick people in the hospital, prisoners in jail, and sailors.

Discuss: To whom can you bring God’s message of love?

Peter Claver is the patron Saint of missions to slaves, Colombia, and a patron of sailors. More than three hundred thousand people were converted through his work among slaves. He is considered one of the most important figures of the Catholic Church’s work for human rights. Saint Peter also inspires chaplains of ports, who visit ships as they are docked. The Knights of Peter Claver is the largest African-American Catholic fraternal group in the United States.

Activity
Needs
Verbal/Linguistic

Discuss with your child some of the ways Saint Peter Claver made a difference: He was kind to slaves and taught them about Jesus; he also helped sick people, prisoners in jail, and sailors.

• Have your child make a list that answers the questions: What do sick people need? What do prisoners in jail need? What do sailors need?
• After she/he has compiled a list of these groups of people and their needs, ask her/him to suggest ways these groups could be helped or ideas for meeting their needs.
• Offer some additional suggestions for the list. Together, determine whether any of the actions are feasible for your family to carry out.