Kundiawa Catholics unite on International Day Against SARV

Kundiawa: The Catholic faithful of Kundiawa led by Fr Dan Zjorwaski started their awareness to commemorate the International Day Against SARV on Sunday August 10, 2025.

Fr Dan and the people taking part in the awareness against SARV

Before the awareness, Holy Mass was offered for those people who lost their lives through Sorcery Accusation Related Violence (SARV) and the survivors of this harmful misbelief. The faithful offered prayers and petitions and paid tribute and condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their loves ones to SARV.

The awareness started after the Holy Mass from Kundiawa hospital gate to Wara-Market (Kundiawa Mainmarket). Those taking part in the awareness carried printed banners, chart boards and papers with the message: "Say NO to Sanguma in Simbu"

This initiative was aimed to help the people build safe and healthy communities where human lives and dignity are upheld and maintained.

Fr Dan stressed during the awareness that the idea of Sanguma belief brings about disharmony in the families, communities and the society and it goes against the Church teachings.

He said, “This sanguma belief only exist in the mind. This belief of Sanguma is a misunderstanding projected by those who claim to be strong and superior in the community to destroy the weak and innocent people. It only pops up in the mind of those disclaimers in the society through factors such as jealousy and hatred"

Finally, the International Sorcery Day was meaningfully commemorated by the Catholic faithful in Simbu. The message passed through public awareness was to help the people of Simbu to be real and live in a safe healthy community and society were human lives and dignity are upheld and maintain. The awareness brings direct and clear message to the people to reconsider their way of thinking and behavior towards others in regard to Sorcery.

The awareness program brought a direct and clear message to the people to improve their way of thinking and behaviour towards the topic of SARV.