OCEANIA/PAPUA NEW GUINEA - Marian devotion in the diocese of Daru-Kiunga

Saturday, 20 July 2019 marian worship   popular worship   marian devotion   faith   local churches   ecclesial movements  

Daru-Kiunga (Agenzia Fides) - Marian devotion is strong and profound in the diocese of Daru-Kiunga, in the western part of Papua New Guinea. In the diocese, a suffragan of that of Port Moresby, there are about 50 thousand Catholics, out of a population of 220 thousand inhabitants of the territory. As Agenzia Fides learns, the "Legion of Mary" in the diocese celebrated its 10th anniversary of presence, confirming the profound faith and Marian devotion of its 500 members. Bishop Gilles Cote, at the head of the Daru-Kiunga community, participated in the organized events, alongside Fr. Martin We-en, director of Radio Maria in Papua New Guinea, and numerous priests and religious, in the presence of members of the "Legion of Mary" who carry out apostolic work in the three dioceses of the southern region (the archdiocese of Port Moresby, the diocese of Bereina and the diocese of Daru-Kiunga). Fr. Martin, celebrating a Eucharist, invited the faithful to "listen, see and act like Mary did, in the name of God". The Bishop gave a speech praising "authentic devotion to Mary" and reminding each member of the faithful of the gift received in Baptism. The Bishop then presided over the Eucharist that concluded the event, encouraging the legionaries to "live by imitating the Virgin Mary, obedient and humble in all things".
Fr. Alphonse Dende, diocesan priest of Kimbe and promoter of the "Legion of Mary", recalled that "Marian devotion helps to keep faith pure and defend it from attacks and heresies that today take place against the Church", stating that "this is why it is good to always to entrust the life of the communities to the Celestial Mother". (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 20/7/2019)


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