66th Annual General Meeting of CBC PNGSI ends with thanksgiving mass

Alexishafen, Madang: The 66th Annual General Meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands concluded on Friday May 10, 2025 with a thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration.

From left to right: Fr Marek Kondrat, His Grace Archbishop Anton Bal and Fr Simon Dogowav

The local ordinary His Grace Archbishop Anton Bal was the main celebrant and joining him as concelebrants were Fr Marek Kondrat, Vicar General and Fr Simon Dogowav, Pastoral Vicar.

In a moving homily, Archbishop Bal firstly reflected on the first reading about the characteristics of Saul who later became Paul.

“Saul was a young man who was on a mission to get rid of the Christians. However, God had other plans for him – better plans. And so, he changed his way of life, his previous mission, got baptized and took on a completely different mission”.

Quoting late Pope Francis on his visit to PNG last year, he said that it is normal for us human beings to fall.

“When we see someone falling, we must not be mere spectators, we must be good Christians to help that person get back up on his/her feet. We must also know that falling is part of life and when we fall, let us not be ashamed to raise our hands and ask for help to get up”

Reflecting on the Gospel, he said that Jesus is reminding us once again that he is the bread of life and there is so much goodness in the Eucharist.

“Jesus is inviting us to part take of him in the blessed Sacrament that has the power to drive out death and also our weakness”

The mass concluded with a photo session outside the chapel followed by a farewell dinner.