The Dominicans Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

Fr. Peter (Augustine) Anderson, OP

Fr. Peter, a convert and member of the Eastern Dominican Province, was born in or near Elizabeth, N. J., January 8, 1812. Educated at St. Roses's near Springfield, Ky.  Ordained there April 5, 1840 by Bishop Richard P. Miles, O.P., of Nashville, Tenn.  In 1849, after splendid missionary work in Kentucky and Ohio, he was sent to help to organize the Church in California, which had lately become a part of the United States. He built the first church in Sacramento, Saint Rose Church, and died there of Asiatic cholera, November 27, 1850, having contracted it while dutifully ministering to the sick and dying in the epidemic. Later his remains were transferred to St. Dominic Cemetery in Benicia, California. He was held in high regard as a missionary, Dominican friar, and priest.  Fr. Peter also is the first friar to die and be listed in the necrology of the Western Dominican Province.  The image seen here is placed on the side of St. Dominic Church in Benicia, California where the parishioners continue to leave flowers for him to this day.

adapted from contributions by Fr. George Christian, OP

Image: this relief is located on the South exterior wall of St. Dominic Church in Benicia, CA. Click image to enlarge

Read more in our province history: Mission West

Dominican Friars: Pioneers in the Archdiocese

Date of Birth

Date of Profession

Date of Ordination

Date of Death

January 8, 1812

 

April 5, 1840

November 27, 1850

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