Catholic Archdiocesan teachers welcome Academic Year with commissioning
By Nyleptha Kenny
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Port Moresby, 26th January 2018: The Port Moresby Catholic Archdiocese commemorated the start of the academic year 2018 with a Teachers Commissioning Program on Friday, January 26th. The program which was held at the Don Bosco Technological Institute (DBTI) at Boroko was attended by over 600 teachers from 35 schools in Port Moresby.
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This annual program aims to strengthen the teachers in the agency schools to renew their commitment to teaching young minds and setting good examples for children to follow.
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The program started off, with registration of teachers at the DBTI hall. Fr Clifford Morais sdb, Acting Rector of DBTI welcomed the gathering and invited the teachers to care and love young people as Don Bosco did.
With the theme “Caring, Protecting and Living Stronger Family Relationships,” the keynote speaker, Pastoral Vicar, Fr Vinod D’Mello, SMM encouraged the teachers to strengthen their families through the sacrament of marriage, the importance of forgiveness, children as a blessing from intimate love and prayer life within families and the Church. Upon reflection, some teachers shared their family life experiences which was encouraging for others.
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Following the reflection, a Eucharistic celebration was held at the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians which was animated beautifully by the teachers through traditional dancing, symbolic offering and lighting of candles to renew their commitment to their teaching vocation.
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“You are a teacher working 24/7 and as a noble profession through obedience, honour and knowledge,” the main celebrant, Fr Ambrose Pereira, sdb highlighted in his homily. Fr. John Glynn, Fr. Paul Kote, Fr. Clifford Morais and Fr. Joseph Dai concelebrated at the Eucharistic celebration.
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He emphasized on the Year of Youth and on its theme “Called to the fullness of Life and Love” and encouraged the teachers to have a role to play in instructing and inspiring young people to make good life decisions.
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The program concluded with the introduction of the newly appointed Catholic education secretary, Ms Paula Gande for the Archdiocese.
