Saint Peter Chanel, born in 1803 in France, was a missionary and a member of the Society of Mary (Marists). He dedicated his life to evangelizing the South Pacific islands, particularly the island of Futuna in modern-day Fiji. Despite facing strong resistance, he preached the Gospel and worked to build a Christian community. St. Peter Chanel was martyred in 1841 when he was killed by locals who opposed his mission. His death sparked the conversion of many on the island. Canonized in 1954, he is the patron saint of Oceania. His feast day is celebrated on April 28th.
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has decreed that this is a Holy Day of Memorial (Optional) to be observed in Canada.