Saint Peter
Saint Peter, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ, is also considered as the first pope of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the builder of the early community in Christ, which suffered persecution from the hands of several Roman Emperors.

Peter was the son of John, whose brother Andrew was another apostle of Jesus. They were living through fishing, in the village of Bethsaida, on the province of Galilee. It was during their search in the seas that Jesus had called them to accompany Him and be “fishers of men”.

He was one of the closest followers of Jesus, having one of the only three to see Jesus’ transfiguration, as he was also assigned to be “petros”, which his name came from, on which the church should be built.

He traveled from Antioch unto several places such as Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia Minor and Bithynia, preaching the words of God. He also went to Rome, where he died in the hands of Emperor Nero by being crucified upside down. Several books are also attributed to him, such as the epistles, and the Gospel of Mark, as Mark was his disciple and interpreter.

Although Peter is famous for his denial of Jesus at the time that their the Lord was under trial, Peter goes down in Catholic teaching as a man of faith and determination, exhibited in his missions, endeavors, and even in his death. Saint Peter, even at the point of his death, chose to be crucified upside down because he feels that he does not deserve to be punished in the same way that his Master did.

In the same manner, the parishioners of Saints Peter and John Parish are called to be faithful and brave in the face of difficulties. It is also in the same manner that, men are called to be the builders of Christ’s Church, and the destroyers of the gates of Hades.

Saint John
Saint John is known to Christians as the “Beloved Apostle”, who wrote the fourth canonical gospel, a series of epistles, and the book of Revelation. He is the brother of Saint James the Greater, who at the same time is an apostle of Jesus Christ. Along with Saint Peter, Saints James and John were the only apostles to witness Jesus’ transfiguration, the raising from the dead of Jairus’ daughter, and Jesus’ agony in Gethsemane. Saint John is often attributed to an eagle, because of his high amount of reasoning and philosophy in his writings.

Saint John is also the same apostle on to whom Jesus Christ entrusted her mother at the foot of the cross. In his ministry, he is recognized to be a theologian, as he wrote his New Testament books with lofty thoughts. Having received illumination from the Lord Himself, he is credited for the only apocalyptical writing that the Roman Catholic Church has recognized.

In writing the fourth Gospel, Saint John reveals himself as “apostle whom Christ loves”, having rested his head on the Lord’s chest during the last supper. The real meaning of his writings, because of its grammatical and symbolical supremacy, is still under debate.

Saint John’s feast day falls on December 27.