Peter Donders

Peter Donders (27 October 1807, Tilburg - 14 January 1887, Batavia, Surinam) was a Dutch Roman Catholic Missionary among the lepers of Surinam.

Biography

Statue in Tilburg

Petrus Donders was lovingly known by Tilburgers as Peerke Donders. He desired from his early childhood to be a priest, but he had to begin life as a worker in a factory. He afterwards became a servant in the minor seminary "Beekvliet" in Snt Michiels Gestel where he learned a little. Later a benefactor enabled him to pursue his theological studies at the Major Seminary of Haren. A chance reading of the "Annals of the Propagation of the Faith" determined his vocation for foreign missions. He was accepted in 1839 for the then colony of Dutch Guiana (now Suriname republic) as a missionary, ordained priest the following year, and in 1842 arrived at Paramaribo to begin his long apostolic career. He laboured with success among the blacks in the plantations, and by 1850 had instructed and baptized 1200.

Before he was convalescent he not only resumed his work among the blacks, but extended it to the Indians of Saramacca. In 1855 he took up his residence in Batavia where for nearly thirty-two years he ministered to 600 lepers. He left them only to visit the blacks and Indians.

In 1865 the whole colony was confided to the Redemptorist Fathers by the Holy See and the Dutch King. Father Donders at once asked to be of their number and was received in Paramaribo, in 1867, by Monsignor Swinkels, the first Redemptorist vicar Apostolic. After this he went back to his charge. He studied music to cheer his afflicted children, and though given an assistant he laboured till his death on 14 January 1887.

He has been beatified by the Congregation of Sacred Rites. His feast day is January 14.

Source

• "Peter Donders". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1913. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05129b.htm. 

Peerke Norbert Donders, C.Ss.R. (Tilburg (Netherlands), October 27, 1809 - Batavia (Suriname), January 14, 1887) was a Dutch priest who was beatified in 1982.

Donders was born in Tilburg, the eldest son of the house Arnold weaver Donders and Petronella Brekke. Child labor in those days was quite common, and Donders Sat a boy of twelve from behind the loom. His dream of becoming a priest could not come, his parents had no money for. After 1831 he was declared unfit for military service, he asked the priest to help him. He was servant to the minor seminary in St. Beekvliet Michielsgestel, and was subsequently admitted for his zeal for the seminary. During his further studies at the Seminary at Haaren, Bishop Grooff from Suriname to visit. These priests were looking for the mission in Suriname. Thunder was the only one who came. To the satisfaction of his superiors, moreover, that the stranger in our midst preferred to leave. Image in Tilburg

On June 5, 1841 he was ordained early, 31 years old, and on August 1, 1842 he went to Suriname to work among leprosy patients. He was appointed chaplain in Paramaribo, and in a leprosy colony located on the former plantation on the river Coppename Batavia. In 1856 he was finally transferred to Batavia. On June 24, 1867 he laid the monastic vows, and he joined the Congregation of the Redemptorists. During the period he made mission trips to the Indians in the interior until 1882 he was called back to Paramaribo. From 1883 to 1885 there was a cedar cathedral was built, St. Peter and Paul Cathedral. In October 1885, Thunders re-sent to Batavia. There he received on January 1, 1887 to uremia, and he died on January 14, 77 years old.

His remains were initially in the cemetery of the leper colony buried on July 28, 1900 but was buried behind the St. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Paramaribo. On January 17, 1921 was again reburied, this time in a tomb in the left wing of the cathedral.

Donders' birth house in Tilburg was reconstructed in 1930 on the old foundations, and a well, and they were not heard at the cottage, built a chapel in procession park. On May 23, 1982 Donders was beatified after Pope John Paul II in 1979 had already confirmed that in 1929 a child through the intercession of Donders was cured of bone cancer.

The Foundation supports Peerke Donders leprosy projects in Southeast Asia. Furthermore, including a scouting and a first aid society to Peerke Donders named.

In 2009 a movie about the life of Peerke Donders. This film is called "His life, his letters.

See also

• Father Damien

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company. 

Persondata
Name	Donders, Peter
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1809
Place of birth
Date of death	14 January 1887
Place of death