29/06/2026
Today is the Catholic holiday celebrating Saint Peter and Saint Paul. It’s most commonly known as “the Fisherman’s holiday”. And since Pucusana is a coastal town where fishing is the main form of employment, this holiday is a BIG deal around here. Pucusana has been celebrating with much entertainment, food, games, dancing, contests, and fireworks. Today, the festivities starts early in the morning with Mass at the local Catholic Church, and then the statue of Saint Peter is paraded through town in a large procession. The statue is taken to the ocean and put on a decorated ship, and the procession continues, accompanied by many other beautifully decorated boats on the ocean, before the statue is finally returned to the Church.
Simon and his brother Andrew, was asked by Christ to give up their jobs as fishermen to follow Christ and become “fisher of men”. Jesus would later change Simon’s name to Peter (in Greek: Petros means rock) by saying, “On this rock, I build my church”.
Fishing is a dangerous profession. The sea has claimed many limbs and lives just so we can eat. When Christ called Peter to become a “fisher of men” it was not an odd thing to say or a play on words. Christ wanted Peter to understand it would be dangerous, and most likely cost him his life, but he would be providing the food of eternal life to the world. Peter accepted without hesitation and followed Christ.
The Apostle Peter would indeed go on to plant Christ’s church by spreading the good news about Christ dying for our sins and raising from the dead. Peter would empower countless others to spread the faith for many years before he was martyred. Because of this, Peter was named the first Pope of the Catholic Church. So today, Peru's coastal fishing cities honor Saint Peter by celebrating their Fishermen.
St. Peter is just one example of how the choice to follow Christ will be the most significant and meaningful one of your life. Happy Fisherman’s Day.
