Visiting Bishop leads Holy Eucharist mass at St. Charles Lwanga, Gerehu.

Gerehu, Port Moresby: In a joyous celebration of faith, St Charles Lwanga parish in Gerehu welcomed the presence of a visiting Bishop to lead the Holy Eucharist. With excitement, parishioners prepared diligently for this momentous occasion on Sunday April 14, 2024.

(His Lordship Bishop Rolando Santos CM, Parish Priest Fr Robert Spania MSC, two Communion Ministers and altar servers after mass. Picture: Sebastina Maloat)

The visiting Bishop; Bishop Rolando Santos CM, arrived at the parish with a warm reception from the community. His presence was met with reverence and gratitude as parishioners gathered in large numbers to participate in the sacred ceremony.

The Holy Eucharist was conducted with solemnity and grace, with the Bishop delivering a powerful homily that was deeply reflected upon by the congregation. His words of wisdom and encouragement uplifted the spirits of all in attendance, reaffirming their commitment to their faith and community.

In his homily, Bishop Rolando emphasized the importance of forgiveness over judgment.

Bishop stated, “Many young people in our society forget about God and engage in actions that may be deemed as sinful, but it is not our place to judge. Instead, we must offer forgiveness and commit them in our prayers.”

The St Padre Pio BCC Rainbow led the wonderful choir. Therefore, throughout the Mass, hymns filled the air echoing the joy and devotion of the parishioners. Families, friends, and neighbors came together in unity, strengthening the bonds of fellowship and love. The liturgy Coordinator, William Vue expressed his gratitude to his choir group for the preparation for the coming of the visiting Bishop to their parish.

“Today’s Holy Mass was a truly blessed occasion, and we are immensely grateful to Bishop Rolando Santos for leading us in this sacred celebration. It’s not every day that we have the honor of hosting such a significant event for our Bishop,” said Mr. William Vue.

“I want to commend our choir group for their outstanding dedication and organization in preparing for this special occasion. Their rendition of three procession songs accompanied by Buka and Manus custom dances added a beautiful and reverent atmosphere to the mass,” he added.

As the Mass concluded, the Bishop imparted the blessings upon the parish, leaving behind a sense of renewal and inspiration. Parishioners expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to share in this sacred experience and looked forward to the continued guidance and leadership of their visits in the future.

A young teenage girl and a committed parishioner serving Christ as an altar server, Margaret Liri, expressed the same excitement of having a Bishop in their parish as Mr. Vue’s.

“I have always admired Bishop; he is someone we all look up to. Thus, having him here with us today is amazing, and his homily really inspired me. It’s important to commit more young people to a prayerful life and consider priesthood as a vocation,” said Miss. Magaret Liri. 

The successful celebration of the Holy Eucharist at St. Charles Lwanga Parish served as a testament to the enduring spirit of the faith and community that thrives within the hearts of its members.