- Fr. Ambrose Pereira sdb

Port Moresby, 14th January, 2018:

Sr. Margaret Arere Ani, AD and Sr. Stella Kambis, AD, celebrated their Golden Jubilee as professed members of the Handmaids of the Lord – Ancilla Domini (AD) sisters on Saturday, January 13th at 10:30am with a Thanksgiving Eucharist at the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, East Boroko in Port Moresby. 

Present to witness and celebrate this special occasion was His Eminence John Cardinal Ribat, Archbishop of Port Moresby, Bp Rochus Tatami, MSC together with family members, priests and religious sisters. The Ambassador of France, Phillippe Janvier-Kamiyama was also present for the celebrations. 

In his homily, Cardinal Ribat congratulated the sisters for hearing the call of the Lord and fulfilling it in their everyday lives.  He spoke of Mary and her complete surrender to fulfil God’s will in her life.  “It was Mary’s faith that prompted her to say ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord’, to God’s invitation”, reminded the Cardinal.   The St Michael’s choir, Hanuabada, led the congregation in a prayerful celebration with their melodious voices.

After the Eucharistic celebration, a luncheon was held for all present.  Colourful dances were staged by different groups.  The organization was done by the family of Sr. Margaret with a view to encourage vocations to religious life.  

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Brief story of the sisters:

Sr. Margaret Arere Ani, AD, was born in Pari village on the 26th of August, 1947 to Patrick Vagi Anidika and Henao Biri.  She has 14 siblings and an extended family of 60 persons.  At the age of 10, she longed to go to church so by the age of 14, she joined the Aspirant of the Handmaids of the Lord, Ancilla Domini (AD) Sisters.  She received her final Profession as a nun on 15th January, 1968.

Sr. Margaret has served in several communities and various provinces in Papua New Guinea as a teacher.  She is one of the very few Motu-Koitabu women who have continually served as a missionary.

Sr. Stella Kambis, AD, was born in Maho village, Sabara Island in Milne Bay and comes from a family of 5 children.  Growing up in her village she learnt to read and write in her own language.  She enjoyed schooling, fishing, gardening and was an ‘all-rounder’ in most sports.

She then went to Sideia Island for her Primary School Teachers Training and after graduating, she entered the convent in Port Moresby where she learnt the life of the religious. It follows a step-by-step process from Aspirant, Postulant and Novice which led her to and make her First Commitment in 1968.  She continued her education at Marianville Girls High School and then went on to Goroka Teachers College for her Teachers Training.  She has spent her life in Ministry and Teaching.