OCEANIA/PAPUA NEW GUINEA - ‘Journey Together’ Salesians renew mission in Papua

Monday, 10 July 2006

Port Moresby (Agenzia Fides) - The 60 Salesian confreres of the Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands delegation began the final stage of their ‘Journey Together’, as they commenced the Delegation Days and the Assembly of Confreres on 5th July, 2006. The Salesians present for the occasion will have the opportunity to discuss the Instrumentum Laboris on 6th and 7th July. A 2/3 majority will be needed to approve the IDP (Integrated Delegation Plan), SEPP (The Delegation Salesian Educative Pastoral Plan), Delegation Directory and Formation Plan. Steering committee members headed by Fr. Alfredo Maravilla, Fr. Rogello Miranda and Fr. Escala Jesus have been instrumental in compiling the 64 page document. The Discussion papers were put together in 2005 and the different communities followed the Appreciative Inquiry method to bring about the Lineamenta from which resulted the Instrumentum Laboris.
Learn, Value and Discern were the key words that have been chosen to accompany the participants through the days of the EAC. Punctuality, participation, listening and respect are guidelines that the Salesians will observe throughout the days.
‘Re-foundation’ stated Fr. Luciano Odorico sdb, Delegate of the PNG-SI delegation “is what we need to be convinced off as we strive to revisit the origin, our foundations and the beginning of our congregation” ANS Salesian bulletin reports
The Salesians have been in PNG since 1980 working mainly in the field of education. The presence of the Salesians gave rise to an increase in vocations, especially in the early 1990s. A mission opened in 1998 in Boroko today includes a house for aspirant Salesians and an technical training institute attended by over 300 young people from all over PNG. Last year 2005 the Salesians celebrated the 25th anniversary of their mission in this part of the world Besides education and training the Father help to diffuse the Gospel in remote villages and forest communities, offering important pastoral assistance to the local Church in catechesis and formation. The people of PNG are 66% Christian and of these 22% belong to the Catholic Church. (Agenzia Fides 10/7/2006 righe 26 parole 270)


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