How can I say no Lord, I will keep saying yes Lord
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands/ Youths Convention - Detailed Version
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference
of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands
is meeting at the Don Bosco Technological Institute in Port Moresby for a youth convention. The youth
convention which started last Sunday 6 November will end Sunday, 13 November
2016. Three hundred and thirty (330) young people from 22 dioceses are
attending as representatives.
Apart from bringing various youth
representatives together, the youth convention will also serve to officially mark the close
of the Jubilee Year of Mercy in PNG and Solomon Islands.
The Jubilee Year of Mercy proclaimed by the Holy Father, Pope Francis started
on 8 December 2015 and officially ends with the closing of the Holy
Door at St. Peter’s Basilica, in the Vatican, on 20 November
2016. Throughout the rest of the world, the Jubilee Year of Mercy’s Holy Doors
will close on 13 November.
Upon learning of the PNG and
Solomon Islands Catholic Youth Convention,
Pope Francis imparted his paternal blessings to the Catholic Bishops
Conference and the young people gathered at the Port Moresby convention.
Pope Francis’ blessing was
disclosed in a letter written by Cardinal Pietro Parolin,
Vatican Secretary of State to the Apostolic Nuncio in PNG,
Archbishop Kurian Matthew Vayalumkai. With his blessings, Pope Francis hopes
that the youth convention will also be a fruitful occasion for listening to the
young people with “renewed and expansive hope, for they (the youth) represent
new directions for humanity”. The Holy Father has encouraged the Church in PNG
and Solomon Islands
to take this youth event as an opportunity to reflect on new approaches of
pastoral care specially tailored for young people in the region.
The Pope’s representative, Apostolic
Nuncio Kurian Matthew Vayalumkai graced the convention with his presence on Wednesday.
This was set aside for the pilgrimage walk which began at Don Bosco
Technological Institute and ended at the Catholic Cathedral Church of Port Moresby.
In unison, the Catholic faithful of Port Moresby, Bereina and Kerema dioceses
joined primary, high, secondary and technical school students in the pilgrimage
walk and later for the Holy Mass.
Earlier at the start of the
convention, during the opening Mass last Sunday, Archbishop Francesco Panfilo of Rabaul told
the young people that the Church is very close to them. He assured them that
the Catholic Church was keenly aware of their daily challenges.
“Dear young people, you represent
here in this convention all the young people of PNG and Solomon Islands. We you pastors are
very much aware of the challenges that you face in the very practice of your
faith. Challenges from society that seems to value only what gives pleasure,
sex, alcohol, drugs and materialism,” Archbishop Francesco said in his homily.
He added, “You are also facing challenges about truth, about what is honest and
just, so take this as opportunity to learn true Christian values,” the
Archbishop said.
The prelate of Rabaul challenged
young people to choose Jesus. “We live in the society” he said, “where there
are evil people who want us to believe that what is good is bad and that what
is bad is good. And so, my dear friends, I challenge you to choose Jesus Christ
and to stand for what he lived and died for,” Archbishop Francesco emphasised.
At the convention, the 330 young
representatives of the Catholic Church of PNG and Solomon Islands are undergoing an
intense physical, spiritual, intellectual and social-pastoral training and mentoring
for the duration of their stay. Fr. Shanthi Chacko Puthussery, Secretary of the Commission for
Youth and Laity at the Bishops Conference is the main organiser. Asked about
his impressions so far, Fr. Shanthi explained that among the goals of the convention
was to reinforce and empower young people to stand firm in Christian values.
These values are under siege in an ever changing world that can be confusing
for young minds. Young people he said have a lot of potential which the Church
needs to treasure and nurture.
“The pedagogy we are using at
this convention is very simple: It is doing by learning and learning by doing,”
said Fr. Shanthi. The young people receive brief lessons on key topics related
to their faith and development. They are also given opportunity for peer
education. During group activities, the youth have an the opportunity to learn
from each other. It is a positive, powerful and beautiful experience for the
youth, Fr. Shanthi said.
Bishop Bernard Unabali of
Bongainville who is also present at this youth convention with other bishops of
the region said that this was the way to go for the Church and the society.
Young people have to know where they come from and where they were going.
“What we are and who we are is
really a responsibility of adults, adults who have their own history which we
can reflect upon for us to understand the world of today,” said Bishop Bernard.
The young representatives of the
Catholic Church in PNG and Solomon Islands
that are gathered in Port Moresby
have each been given a sling bag containing the Bible, the Catholic Catechism,
Jubilee Year of Mercy T-shirt and the daily program of activities. One of the
participants, Xavier Kumba who hails from Lae described the convention as a
moment of deepening his faith and knowledge of God.
Among many activities that the
youth have participated in, include undertaking a visit to the Bomana Prison;
visiting Port Moresby General Hospital; Bible Quiz and Picture exhibition of
saints (the men and women whose Christian life they can emulate).
Other activities lined-up and
still to be done include visits to some parishes within reach. At the end of
the convention outstanding participants will be given an award to encourage and
motivate them.
Fr. Brian Nonde CMM
Diocese of Lae in Papua New Guinea Celebrates 50 Years
In News:
http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/11/30/diocese_of_lae_in_papua_new_guinea_celebrates_50_years/1275941
The Catholic Diocese of Lae in Morobe, Papua New Guinea celebrated its golden anniversary earlier this month. The historical celebration took place at St. Mary’s Primary School grounds.
The joyful milestone was punctuated by various cultural representations and was witnessed by thousands of faithful from the diocese, well-wishers from the region as well as visitors from outside PNG.
The Apostolic Nuncio of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, Archbishop Kurian Matthew Vayalunkal was the main celebrant and several PNG Bishops and priests concelebrated the Holy Eucharist. The Nuncio solemnly blessed the diocese and its people and paid special gratitude to missionaries of the past and present for the fruit of their labour visible in Morobe Province.
“We are gathered here to remember the 50th anniversary of our Diocese of Lae. This is the right occasion to remember the history of the Church in our country, PNG. We rejoice, we give praise, and we go forth,” said the Apostolic Nuncio, during the homily.
Bishop Christian Blouin of the Diocese of Lae’s also gave thanks to the pioneers of the diocese saying, “four pioneers must be acknowledged at this occasion. Fr. Anthony Mulderink, one of the four pioneers who was there present to witness the occasion was thanked along with his pioneer-brothers of Mariannhill for their work. He also extended this gratitude to the people of PNG for their good will; friends of the diocese overseas, for being helpful to the diocese and all people who have contributed in making the Diocese of Lae become what it is to this day.
The Vicar General of the Diocese, Fr. Arnold Schmitt observed that the main work of the early missionaries was education and the formation of Catholic Christian families and they have continued to do that by reading the signs of the time. He added that the growing number of street kids is worrying and that they are trying to find ways of addressing that as well as the many other new challenges.
The existence of the Catholic Church in Morobe Province goes back to the time of the gold rush in Wau and Bulolo in 1927. However, the existence of the Diocese of Lae began with the mandate of Pope John XXIII on 18 June 1959 when the newly erected Vicariate of Lae was entrusted to the Congregation of the Missionaries of Mariannhill (CMM). The number of diocesan inhabitants was about 187,000. Of these, approximately 1,750 were Catholics.
Among the first priorities of the newly established Vicariate of Lae was education. The first Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood arrived in June 1962 and later other international congregations arrived and serve in the field of pastoral, social work and education.
In a nutshell, the Diocese of Lae has grown from modest beginnings with less than 2,000 Catholics to more than 30, 000 at present. As it celebrates 50 years of erection and as new pastoral challenges arise, the Diocese of Lae looks forward to new approaches of evangelising, proclaiming, sanctifying and serving the Melanesian Missionary Church in Oceania.( Fr. Brian Nonde CMM)
http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/11/30/diocese_of_lae_in_papua_new_guinea_celebrates_50_years/1275941
The Catholic Diocese of Lae in Morobe, Papua New Guinea celebrated its golden anniversary earlier this month. The historical celebration took place at St. Mary’s Primary School grounds.
The joyful milestone was punctuated by various cultural representations and was witnessed by thousands of faithful from the diocese, well-wishers from the region as well as visitors from outside PNG.
The Apostolic Nuncio of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, Archbishop Kurian Matthew Vayalunkal was the main celebrant and several PNG Bishops and priests concelebrated the Holy Eucharist. The Nuncio solemnly blessed the diocese and its people and paid special gratitude to missionaries of the past and present for the fruit of their labour visible in Morobe Province.
“We are gathered here to remember the 50th anniversary of our Diocese of Lae. This is the right occasion to remember the history of the Church in our country, PNG. We rejoice, we give praise, and we go forth,” said the Apostolic Nuncio, during the homily.
Bishop Christian Blouin of the Diocese of Lae’s also gave thanks to the pioneers of the diocese saying, “four pioneers must be acknowledged at this occasion. Fr. Anthony Mulderink, one of the four pioneers who was there present to witness the occasion was thanked along with his pioneer-brothers of Mariannhill for their work. He also extended this gratitude to the people of PNG for their good will; friends of the diocese overseas, for being helpful to the diocese and all people who have contributed in making the Diocese of Lae become what it is to this day.
The Vicar General of the Diocese, Fr. Arnold Schmitt observed that the main work of the early missionaries was education and the formation of Catholic Christian families and they have continued to do that by reading the signs of the time. He added that the growing number of street kids is worrying and that they are trying to find ways of addressing that as well as the many other new challenges.
The existence of the Catholic Church in Morobe Province goes back to the time of the gold rush in Wau and Bulolo in 1927. However, the existence of the Diocese of Lae began with the mandate of Pope John XXIII on 18 June 1959 when the newly erected Vicariate of Lae was entrusted to the Congregation of the Missionaries of Mariannhill (CMM). The number of diocesan inhabitants was about 187,000. Of these, approximately 1,750 were Catholics.
Among the first priorities of the newly established Vicariate of Lae was education. The first Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood arrived in June 1962 and later other international congregations arrived and serve in the field of pastoral, social work and education.
In a nutshell, the Diocese of Lae has grown from modest beginnings with less than 2,000 Catholics to more than 30, 000 at present. As it celebrates 50 years of erection and as new pastoral challenges arise, the Diocese of Lae looks forward to new approaches of evangelising, proclaiming, sanctifying and serving the Melanesian Missionary Church in Oceania.( Fr. Brian Nonde CMM)
See also in Agenzia Fides: http://www.fides.org/en/news/61276#.WG6xl_WcGM8
Youth Convention/ Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands
Port Moresby (Agenzia Fides) - The young people of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands conclude the Holy Year with a gathering in which they renew their commitment to follow and to choose Christ in their lives, in the social context in which they live, in Papua and in the Pacific islands. As Fides learns, the gathering, organized by the Episcopal Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands at the Don Bosco Technological Institute of Port Moresby, began on November 6 and will end on November 13 and sees the participation of 330 young people from 22 dioceses. Besides bringing together various representatives of young people, the gathering will also serve to officially mark the closing of the Jubilee of Mercy in the country.
The Archbishop of Rabaul, Mgr. Francesco Panfilo, told the young people present: "The Catholic Church is fully aware of your daily challenges. Society seems to value only what gives pleasure, sex, alcohol, drugs and materialism. You choose Christ, you choose the truth, what is honest and right, choose the best for you for the nation, learning to live the true Gospel values".
Even Pope Francis sent his fatherly blessing to the youth gathered at the conference, through a letter of Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, brought and read to the youth from the Apostolic Nuncio in Papua New Guinea, Mgr. Kurian Matthew Vayalumkai.
According to Fr. Shanthi Chacko Puthussery, Secretary of the Youth Commission of the Bishops Conference, the aim of the gathering is "to strengthen and empower young people to stand firm in Christian values". "The pedagogy we are using in this conference – he says to Fides - is very simple: you learn by doing" he said. In fact, in addition to catechesis, young people have the opportunity to learn from each other and to live a period of intense spiritual experience, intellectual and socio-pastoral. Among the many proposed activities, the visit to the prison of Bomana and the General Hospital in Port Moresby, a Bible quiz, commitment and direct involvement in some parishes. (PA-BN) (Agenzia Fides 09/11/2016)
Saying Bye to Rome Moving to Papua New Guinea
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