66th AGM commences with a Eucharistic Celebration

Alexishafen, Madang: The 66th Annual General Meeting of the Bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands commenced with a Eucharistic Celebration on Tuesday April 29, 2025 at the Alexishafen Conference Centre in the Archdiocese of Madang. In attendance were 4 Archbishops, 16 Bishops and a Diocese Administrator.

Group picture after the AGM opening Mass

This year’s Annual General Meeting has: Journeying in communion with the youth in hope as its theme and will be held from April 29 – May 9, 2029.

The main celebrant of the Eucharistic celebration was His Lordship Bishop Pedro Baquero SDB, from Kerema Diocese and Bishop Deputy for the Youth Commission. Joining him as concelebrants were His Lordship Bishop Otto Separy, from Bereina Diocese and President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands and His Lordship Bishop Joseph Durero SVD, from Daru/Kiunga Diocese.

The Sisters of Saint Therese and members of the surrounding community led the liturgy with inspiring songs fitting for the occasion.

Reflecting on the reading of the day from Acts: 4:32 – 37 and Gospel of the day from John 3:7b – 15, Bishop Pedro gave a touching homily centered around being witnesses of life and providing pastoral accompaniment for the youth.

“The Gospel briefly mentions Moses lifting up a snake for the Israelites to look at and in the same way, Jesus was lifted up so that everyone who believes will have eternal life. For us, we would rather look at Jesus crucified than to look at a snake being lifted. Sometimes, it is not a pleasing sight to look at the youth because they are often looked down upon as the cause of some of society’s social issues. However, if we gaze upon Jesus, that’s when we’ll get truly healed: there is renewal, recreation and hope”.

Bishop Baquero challenged all those who have young people placed under their care to meet the young people where they are, make them feel included in the society and journey with them.

“As pastors and guardians, we must remind ourselves that young people are not issues to be solved. In order to address issues faced by young people, we should encounter them and include them in policy making. It is our responsibility to provide spiritual accompaniment to our young people”.

He concluded his homily by reflecting on the message of the post – synodal apostolic exhortation of Pope Francis Christus Vivit saying that it should permeate in the pastoral activities for the young people.

The Bishops will be going through annual reports from the different commissions under CBC and discussing important matters in the Church for the next two weeks.