– 1580-1654

A native of Spain, young Peter Claver left his homeland forever in 1610 to be a in the colonies of the New World. By this time, the slave trade had been established in the Americas for nearly 100 years. Ten thousand slaves poured into the port each year after crossing the Atlantic from West Africa under conditions so foul and inhuman that an estimated one-third of the passengers died in transit. Although the practice of slave-trading was condemned by Paul III and later labeled “supreme villainy” by Pope Pius IX, it continued to flourish.

Fr. Claver was ordained a Jesuit in 1616 and became a moral force, in the port of Cartagena, Columbia. As soon as a slave ship entered the port, Fr. Claver first begged for fruits, biscuits, or sweets to bring to the slaves, he then went on board with translators to bring his gifts, as well as his skills as a doctor and ministered to the ill- treated and exhausted occupants.

Fr. Claver saw the slaves as fellow Christians and encouraged others to do so as well. During the season when slave ships were not scheduled to arrive, he traversed the country, visiting plantation after plantation, to give spiritual consolation to the slaves. He avoided, when possible, the hospitality of the planters and owners and lodged instead, in the slave quarters.

During his 40 years of ministry it is estimated that he personally catechized and baptized 300,000 slaves. St. Peter Claver died after 4 long years of illness in 1654. He was canonized in 1888.

Many organizations, missions, parishes, religious congregations, schools and hospitals bear the name of St. Peter Claver and also claim to continue the Mission of Claver as the following:

 The , Inc., is the largest African-American Catholic fraternal organization in the United States. In 2006, a unit was established in San Andres, . The Order was founded in Mobile, Alabama, and is presently headquartered in .[6]  Claver's mission continues today in the work of the Apostleship of the Sea (AoS)and his inspiration remains among port chaplains and those who visit ships in the name of the Church, through the AoS.[11]  The Missionary Sisters of St. Peter Claver are a religious congregation of women dedicated to serving the spiritual and social needs of the poor around the world, particularly in Africa.