Below is an introduction to the first Spanish missionaries in the islands of Yap and Pohnpei. Chuuk and Kosrae had very little or no contact with the Spanish missionaries. Catholicism was introduced to Chuuk by German Capuchins in 1911 and Kosrae was dominated by the American Missionaries that came in 1852.

1710 - First attempt of Spanish missionaries to go to the Carolines, two Jesuit priest put ashore Sonsorol for a two day expedition but their ship was carried away by strong winds and waves, they were left on Sonsorol and never seen again. All attempts of finding them were unsuccessful.

1731 - 11th of February, Father Juan Antonio Cantova, S.J. (also known as John Anthony Cantova) accompanied by Father Victor Walter and Digal set sail for the Garbanzos Islands (literally meaning chick peas - because the islands were so small, scattered like chick peas) or the Caroline Islands.

2nd of March, Father Cantova and Father Walter arrived to de los Dolores (name so because it was discovered on a Friday on the second day of the novena to our Lady of Sorrows) or what is known today as Ulithi. The two Jesuit priests first went to Mogmog, where the chief resided, but because the island was too small, crowed, and had little area for cultivation. They went to Falalop, where it was larger and had more room for cultivation.

1733 - Three years later, after leaving Father Cantova to obtain supplies in the Mariana Islands, Father Walter finally returned to discover that Father Cantova was killed and the first Spanish mission was burned down by hostile islanders. Father Walter did not continue Father Cantova's work in Ulithi. It was not until 150 years later that mission work on the islands would return.

Note: Though Father Cantova lived a short time on the islands, before he was killed he wrote in great details descriptions of the islands and the people's daily living - from describing their traditional rituals, the women's house, and the changing ideologies in which the young people had through his mission's influence, he left behind a great contribution to the understanding of the lifestyles of the people in Ulithi during this time and one of the very first detailed maps of the Caroline Islands.

    It can be concluded that Father Cantova was killed because the chiefs of the islands didn't like the fact that he was preaching against their customs, questioning the legitimacy of their leadership and their faith in their traditional practices and gods, with this, young people were becoming less obedient to their older leaders thus creating bad feelings toward Cantova leading to his death.

1837 - Fr. Desire Maigret and Fr. Louise Bachelot, two Picpus Fathers who had been sent to Hawaii, set out to bring the faith to other parts of the Pacific; their destination was the island of Pohnpei, however, before setting on the island, Fr. Bachelot became sick and died. He was buried on Na and Fr. Maigret stayed on alone in Pohnpei from 13 December 1837 to 29 July 1838.

1886 - 29th of June, six Capuchins arrived in Yap. To their credit, they understood that the only way they could get through converting the people of Yap was to gain the support of the chiefs thus the first thing the Capuchins did when arrived was to see the chiefs. Construction of San Cristina (1, 2 the pictures are building plans for the Yap Colony), the first Spanish Colony in Yap.

1887 - Fr. Llevanera and Fr. Ambrosio de Valencina visits Yap and later continued their journey to Pohnpei. Fr. Llevanera was impressed with the progress of mission work in Yap and they were greeted and welcomed with great warmed by the islanders. After nineteen days of visit, he and his company continued their journey on to Pohnpei where the welcome reception was not as warm as experienced in Yap.

    On their arrival, Fr. Llevanera noted that there were many foreigners on the island and probably contributed to the resistance in which they had on the Spaniards. Among these foreigners were traders and American missionaries that have been there since 1852. This resistance accelerated when the current Governor, Posadillo, questioned the title of a large piece of land given to the Protestant missionaries by Pohnpeian nobility. This stirred up the rebellion of Pohnpeians against the Spanish Government leading to the death of Governor Posadillo. The conflict came to an end after the arrival of three Spanish warships.

    Despite the conflict, the Capuchins were able to build the first Catholic church in the Spanish colony of Santiago which is today's Catholic mission site and the Spanish Wall in Kolonia, Pohnpei.

After 1887, the Capuchins' mission work persisted on in both Pohnpei and Yap and extending to Palau. There were many occasional resistance, for example; in Pohnpei the Protestants felt that the Catholic mission was the conspirator of the conflict between the Spanish administration and Islanders while in Yap, they were challenged by local witch doctors who blamed them for a volcanic eruption. At the end of the Spanish Administration, German Capuchins continued the expansion of Catholicism throughout the Caroline Islands. The mission was officially transferred to the German Capuchins in 1903.

Sources: 1) Discovery and Description of the Garbanzos Islands 2) Micronesia: Winds of Change 3) Catholic Missions in the Carolines and Marshall and 4) Spanish Capuchins in the Carolines.