Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Port Moresby (Agenzia Fides) - Fides has received more details with regard to the murder of St John of God Hospitaller Brother Augustine Taiwa on 28 August outside Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea (see Fides 2/9/2006). The funeral Mass on Saturday 2 September was presided by Archbishop Brian Barnes at the chapel of Holy Spirit Seminary, Bomana. The Mass was broadcast live by Fr. Zdzislaw Mlak SVD and repeated nation-wide on Sunday morning. His body was flown later to Wewak in order to be taken to Aitape, the mother house of the St. John of God Brothers, where he was laid to rest on Monday..
According to new details emerging from the reconstruction of the facts, on Monday evening, 28th of August, he was returning home at about 7.10pm and while driving slowly and talking to people along the street market near the small settlement not far from the Capuchin College, three young men who had been drinking, were throwing stones and things at passing cars. One of the men threw an iron rod through the open window of the car, and the iron pierced brother’s head killing him instantly. His car ran off the road and bumped against a large tree in front of the college. Police arrived on the scene very quickly and took him to the general hospital but he was pronounced dead on arrival at the Port Moresby General Hospital. Two of his attackers are in custody, the third managed to escape. Those who killed him knew him personally, as brother would sometimes visit with their families.
Br. Augustine, 46, was born at Rakunai in West New Britain Province. He was killed on his birthday, the feast of St. Augustine. He is known to many priests, religious and lay people around the country. He worked for a while at Rohanoka, the centre for alcoholic recovery, in Goroka, and for the past three years was working for the Conference of Men Religious as the superior of the house for priests and religious taking part in Xavier Institute courses and at the same time he was Course Coordinator at the Institute. His violent death shocked the Bomana community, Brother Augustine will be remembered by those of us who knew him as a very friendly and caring person. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 5/9/2006, righe 27, parole 390)
