Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, on 30 January, 2009, appointed Fr. Valentine Gryk of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, for a five-year term (2009-2014).
The new National Director was born on February 2, 1957 in Uzbierez (Poland), and was ordained a priest on April 28, 1984 in Pieniezno (Poland), at the Seminary of the Divine Word. After studying philosophy and theology at the Seminary of the Divine Word in Pieniezno (Poland), he earned a Masters in Theology and a Licentiate in Spirituality from the Catholic University of Lublin (Poland). Following his ordination, he ministered for one year in Poland, from 1985-1989 in Papua New Guinea; 1990-1993 in Poland, in formation; 1994-1998 as Chaplain of teachers at the Goroka School (Papua New Guinea); 1995-1998 as Director of the Year for Spirituality for diocesan seminarians; 1999-2005 as Superior in Simgo. Since 2005, he has served as Director of the Kefamo Pastoral Center, and Biblical Coordinator for the Verbita province and the Church of Papua New Guinea, as well as CBF Coordinator for Oceania. Since 2006, he has been Vicar General of the Diocese of Goroka. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 27/3/2009)
