The Mary Help of Christians Shrine at Don Bosco Technological Institute in Boroko was the gracious host to His Holiness Pope Francis, his entourage, the Bishops of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands and the Pacific with hundreds of Priests, Deacons, Consecrated Persons, Seminarians and Catechists.
(The Holy Father greeting the crowd at the Mary Help of Christians Shrine - DBTI)
The crowd prayed fervently in preparation of the Holy Father’s encounter after his visit to the Children of Street Ministry and Callan Services.
The Holy Father was welcomed at the gates of Don Bosco Technological Institute with a traditional welcome by different cultural groups.
He was welcomed by His Eminence Sir John Cardinal Ribat MSC, the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands His Lordship Bishop Otto Separy and the Rector of the Shrine Reverend Fr Albert Lenon SDB.
Following the welcome remarks by Bishop Separy to His Holiness were four testimonies given by a religious sister, a priest, a catechist and a representative of the Synod on Synodality.
Sharing her testimony about her ministry in the House of Hope in the Diocese of Mendi, Sr Lorena Jenal said that the House of Hope provides security, shelter, hope and healing and for those in need due to accusations of witchcraft and sorcery.
“We have been able to help 250 women and a small group of men. We provide a holistic approach with counselling, therapy, medical, psychological, financial and emotional help”.
Sharing his testament as a priest was, Fr Emmanuel Moku, aged 64 years old. He was a late vocation from the Archdiocese of Port Moresby who was ordained in 2012 by His Eminence John Cardinal Ribat MSC when he was 52 years old.
He reflected on the obstacles that he encountered in his seminary formation because of his cultural background and a few challenges in his priestly ministry on a way forward for the local church.
Catechist Mr James Etariva from the Holy Family Parish, Kuriva in the Archdiocese of Port Moresby shared his journey as a Catechist.
“I began my service as a pastoral worker in 1982 at Holy Family Parish in the Archdiocese of Port Moresby. For 15 years, I did my pastoral work and then graduated as a full-time Catechist in 1997. Regardless of all the challenges, I am happy and I enjoy what I am doing because it is for the glory of God and to win more souls for heaven”.
Giving her personal reflection on the challenges of synodality, Grace Wrakia, a lay woman, born, baptized and raised in a third-generation Catholic Family in Papua New Guinea gave a local metaphor of returning from a big feast in Rome (the Synod on Synodality) and bringing back home food (the Synthesis report) to share.
The speakers each posed the following questions respectively:
• How can we communicate to the deprived and those on the peripheries that Jesus Christ and his Church cares for them?
• What is your response to the constant struggle to integrate the Catholic faith and our cultural identity?
• How can we convey the enthusiasm for mission to young people?
• Will the method at the Synod of conversation at a round table work in my local church?
In his address to the Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Consecrated Persons, Seminarians and Catechists, the Holy Father invited all to look at three aspects of our Christian and missionary journey that were highlighted in the testimonies: the courage to begin, the beauty of being present and the hope of growing.
The Courage to begin: the Holy Father mentioned that missionaries arrived in PNG in the middle of the nineteenth century and the first steps of their ministry was not easy.
“Indeed, some attempts failed, however, they did not give up; with great faith, apostolic zeal and many sacrifices, they continued to preach the Gospel and serve their brothers and sisters, starting again many time whenever they failed”.
The Holy Father then recommended an important direction for evangelization to all present for their own ‘starts’ being the peripheries of this country and acknowledged in a special way those belonging to the most deprived segments of urban populations as well as the most deprived segments of urban populations and those who live in the most remote and abandoned areas where basic necessities are lacking.
“I think too of the marginalized and wounded, both morally and physically, by prejudice and superstition, sometimes to the point of having to risk their lives. The Church desires especially to be close to these brothers and sisters because in them Jesus is present in a special way”.
The beauty of being present: the Holy Father reminded us that we are the most beautiful treasure in the eyes of God.
“Close to Jesus and under the mantle of Mary, we are spiritually united with all our brothers and sisters whom the Lord has entrusted to us and with those who cannot be here, ignited by the desire that the whole world may know the Gospel and share in its power and light”.
In responding to Catechist James Etariva’s question, the Holy Father said there is no specific technique for that but there is one proven way and that is to cultivate and share with them our joy of being the church(cf. BENEDICT XVl, Homily at the Mass of Inauguration of the Fifth General Conference of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopate, Aparecida, 13 May 2007).
The Holy Father also made reference to Grace Wrakia’s sharing on the Synod reminding us by esteeming and respecting one another and putting ourselves at the service of one another, we can show everyone we meet how beautiful it is to follow Jesus together and proclaim his Gospel.
“The beauty of being present is experienced not so much at large events and moments of success but rather in the faithfulness and love with which we strive to grown together every day”.
The hope of growing: The Holy Father encouraged everyone to have the confidence in the fruitfulness of our apostolate, continuing to sow tiny seeds of good in the furrows of the world.
“Saint Paul reminds us that the growth of what we sow is not our own work but the Lord’s. (cf. Mk 4:30-32). Holy Mother Church teaches the same thing when emphasizing that even with our own efforts, God is the one “who makes his kingdom to come on earth” (SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL, Decree Ad Gentes, 42).”
Pope Francis invigorated everyone to evangelize patiently without allowing ourselves to be discouraged by difficulties or misunderstandings, even when they arise in places where we especially do not want to encounter them: in the family, for example.
“Dear brothers and sisters, let us thank the Lord together for how the Gospel has taken root and continues to spread in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. Carry on your missions as witnesses of courage, beauty and hope! I thank you for what you are doing and I bless you all from my heart and I ask you, please do not forget to pray for me”.
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