Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vanimo (Agenzia Fides) - The Pontifical Mission Societies in New Zealand confirmed their support for the growth of the Church in Papua New Guinea, in an encounter that took place recently in Port Moresby, attended by four National Directors of the PMS in the Pacific area (Australia, New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and the Pacific Islands).
A report was sent to Agenzia Fides by Fr. Paul Shannahan, Director of the PMS in New Zealand, saying that the four directors took part in the ceremony of Bishop Rochus Josef Tatatmai’s installation as Bishop for the Diocese of Bereina, in the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio and large gathering of Catholics of kerema origin (an indigenous ethnicity), dressed in their traditional tribal clothing. About half of the 19 dioceses of Papua New Guinea are governed by Bishops of local origin, which indicates that the Church is growing and becoming more and more autonomous, establishing roots in the territory.
However, this does not exclude the fact that at this moment in time missionaries are still needed and always appreciates, especially in the most hostile areas of Papua. For this reason, the PMS of Australia and New Zealand continue to offer support to the local Church with their efforts for inculturation, cultural and spiritual formation, evangelization, and economic and social development.
The PMS of New Zealand have donated $60,000 to a project approved by the Diocese of Vanimo in 2007 and Fr. Shannahan accompanied Bishop Cesare Bonivento, PIME in visiting the Churches constructed in two of the Diocese’s towns.
The life of the small Catholic communities in Papua, especially in the remote towns, is very simple. They are in need of external aid in order to grow and develop in both a spiritual sense (faith, catechesis, formation), as well as in a material sense (buildings, transportation, teaching materials, and even food supply and health care). With this in mind, the efforts and assistance from New Zealand’s PMS are immensely appreciated. The local Bishop has established a seminary in the area and is now working on finding professors and teaching material in order to begin using the building. The Diocese of Vanimo currently receives the help of 20 foreign priests. “The missionaries and the aid from the other Churches continue to be useful and necessary in Papua New Guinea,” Fr. Shannahan observed. The task of the universal Church is to offer attention and aid to the smaller Churches, for the growth of the whole world. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 10/4/2008; righe 32, parole 410)
