SVD Congregation congratulates Bishop Justin Ain Soongie

Sangurap, Wabag: The Society of the Divine Word (SVD) congregation extended their hearty congratulations to the newly installed Bishop of Wabag Diocese His Lordship Justin Ain Soongie on Thursday August 21, 2025.

SVD congregation representative Fr Elias Ayiako SVD

The congratulatory message was delivered on behalf of Fr Romeo Yadao SVD, Provincial Superior and the congregation through Fr Elias Ayiako SVD.

Fr Elias said that Bishop Soongie’s Installation is a great achievement for the SVD congregation who established the Diocese of Wabag.

“One of the SVD’s vision was to evangelize and build the local church and provide services such as education and health before moving on to evangelize in another place. The SVD congregation is so happy that Bishop Justin Ain Soongie is another fruit of the local church”.

He also stressed that despite the many bad things happening in Enga Province, there are also many good things happening.

“One clear example of the many good things happening in Wabag is the auspicious occasion that we are all gathered here to witness – the Installation of Bishop Justin Ain Soongie...We are seeing the local church thriving and there is hope”

Fr Elias encouraged the people to look beyond the negative headlines of Enga caused by a few that is being portrayed in the media and to celebrate the many good things that are happening in the Diocese and Province as a whole.

He acknowledged the Engan elites who continue to give back to the people and advocate for peace for a better Enga and also congratulated another great benefactor of the Wabag Diocese, Sir Paul Kurai who was recently Knighted by King Charles.

“The previous speakers have been encouraging you to work together...Working together starts when you pray together and when you pray for each other. Working together starts when the lay faithful pray for their priests and religious and also their leaders. When you don’t pray for those of us in authority, we become vulnerable. Those who are in positions of authority are always vulnerable to the temptations and challenges from the devil, thus, we need your constant prayers”

Fr Elias also called on the people to pray for forgiveness and repentance in order to restore peace in the Enga and encouraged the priests to preach more about forgiveness and repentance. He also called on the people to be advocates of peace by teaching their children and the young about forgiveness and repentance.

He concluded by calling everyone to be protectors of life.