Donders, Peter, Venerable

DONDERS, PIETER, venerable.—Priest, born in Tilburg on 21 October 1809, died in Paramaribo on 15 January 1887. At the age of 22 he entered the seminary as a servant, because he was of modest means and mediocre intelligence. He devoted his free hours from work to study, making excellent progress, so that at the age of 28 he transferred to the major seminary of Helaar, and on 25 July 1841 was ordained a priest. The following year he departed as a missionary for Surinam (Dutch Guiana), where he became the apostle of the lepers in Paramaribo. In 1866 he donned the habit of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, continuing his mission among the indigenous peoples. The cause of beatification of D. is currently under way before the Sacred Congregation of Rites, and his virtues have been approved as heroic.