Put God First in Everything; Archbishop Papa Urges Faithful

MENDI – Archbishop Clement Papa of the Archdiocese of Mount Hagen encouraged Catholics to put God first in everything they do as he presided over the opening Mass of the closing celebration of the Year of Reverence in the Diocese of Mendi on June 5.

Archbishop Clement Papa, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Mt. Hagen gives his homily during opening mass the Closing of the Year of Reverence at Kumin, Mendi Diocese

The Mass marked the beginning of a weekend-long celebration to conclude the Year of Reverence, which was declared by Bishop Donald Lippert OFM Cap. on June 27, 2025. The special year came to an end on June 7, the Feast of Corpus Christi.

Speaking during his homily, Archbishop Papa said many people often place God second or third in their lives while work, education, family responsibilities, financial needs and personal problems take priority.

He said that when people fail to put God first, they lose focus on their purpose and direction in life.

The Archbishop noted that many Catholics choose to spend Sundays working in their gardens, doing business or staying at home rather than attending Mass.

"God should always be number one in our lives," he said, adding that the Year of Reverence should not simply be seen as a diocesan program but as a spiritual journey that helps people grow closer to God.

As the Diocese of Mendi concluded the Year of Reverence, Archbishop Papa challenged the faithful to reflect on whether they had truly developed a deeper reverence for God and whether they now place Him at the centre of their daily lives.

He also reminded the faithful that the Church is not an organisation driven by money or personal gain but by mission.

The Archbishop said that while the Church builds schools, hospitals, classrooms and other facilities to serve communities, these achievements lose their true meaning if they are not grounded in prayer and spirituality.

Archbishop Papa prays over the bread and wine during the Liturgy of the Eucharist

He stressed that even the most successful projects are in vain if God is not at the centre of them.

Archbishop Papa encouraged priests, religious and lay faithful to always commit their work to God through prayer and to seek His guidance in everything they do so that their service may honour God and benefit His people.

The opening Mass was attended by priests, religious and Catholic faithful from the three deaneries of the Diocese of Mendi, along with visitors from other dioceses around the country.

The weekend celebration also included catechesis sessions and a Syro-Malabar Qurbana, providing opportunities for prayer, reflection and faith formation.

The celebrations concluded on June 7 with the closing Mass of the Year of Reverence on the Feast of Corpus Christi. The occasion also coincided with the priestly ordination of Deacon Martin Peter, bringing together hundreds of faithful in thanksgiving and celebration.