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
No comments:
Post a Comment