Bishops Look at Commission Reports on third day of AGM

Alexishafen, Madang: The third day of the Annual General Meeting of the Catholic Bishops of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands ended on another high note on Thursday May 1, 2025.

Members of the Integral Human Development Committee after their meeting...From left to right: Bishop Donald Lippert OFM Cap (Mendi Diocese), Bishop John Bosco Auram (Kimbe Diocese), Archbishop Anton Bal (Madang Archdiocese), Auxiliary Bishop Justin Ain Soongie (Wabag Diocese), Bishop Francis Meli (Vanimo Diocese), Archbishop Rochus Tatamai MSC (Rabaul Archdiocese), Bishop Joseph Durero SVD (Daru/Kinga Diocese) and Bishop Otto Separy (Bereina Diocese)

The program for the day began with a Eucharistic celebration presided by His Grace Archbishop Christopher Cardone OP, from Honiara Archdiocese who was joined by the Chairperson of the day His Lordship Bishop Peter Houhou from Gizo Diocese and Reverend Fr Jeffrey Puritau, the Administrator of Auki Diocese.

On the feast of St Joseph the Worker, Archbishop Cardone reflected on the life of faith St Joseph the Worker lived.

“When I have encounters with young men, I often ask them: Are you a good man or  are you a con man? This question helps the young men reflect on their lives on a deeper level and challenges them to be a better person, more so, to emulate the characteristics of St Joseph the worker, the protector and the provider of his family”

Archbishop Cardone also remembered all the Fathers' Groups that gathered to celebrate the important day and prayed that they may be active in the Church to help and guide the young men.

He concluded his homily by acknowledging his two brother Bishops on the Memorial of St Joseph the Worker: His Lordship Bishop Joseph Durero SVD from Daru/Kiunga Diocese and His Lordship Bishop Jozef Roszynski SVD from Wewak Diocese and prayed for them.

Sessions for the day included the Canonization of Blessed Peter ToRot facilitated by His Lordship Bishop Dariusz Kaluza MSF and Buk Misa facilitated by the Liturgical Catechetical Institute Director Fr Tomas Ravaioli IVE.

Activities for the last day concluded with the Reports from the Commissions that had the Bishops going into their respective Committees to discuss the respective Commission reports.

The three committees are:

• Committee for Christian Formation: includes the National Catholic Education Commission, Senate for Priestly Formation, Liturgical Catechetical Institute, Social Communications Commission, Melanesian Institute, Doctrine, Law and Marriage and Divine Word University Council.

• Committee for Mission: Ecumenism and Interfaith Dialogue Commission, Conference Board for Right Relationships, Council of Bishops and Religious, Pontifical Mission Societies, Service Chaplaincies, Evangelization and Vangeke Institute.

• Integral Human Development: Caritas Papua New Guinea, Youth Commission, Catholic Church Health Services, Commission for Family Life and Laity and the Desk for Migrants and Refugees.