The Catholic Bishops’ ConferenceCatholic of PNG & SI - Commission on Social Communications, Reporter P.O. Box 398, Waigani, NCD Tel.: 325 9577 - Fax: 323 2551 July 2016 ISSUE: 127 FIRST VOWS TO A RELI- GIOUS LIFE: Seen here are four young MSC Sis- ters who took the first step by making their vows to a religious life last Thursday, 30 June 2016, in the Archdiocese of Rabaul. Left to right- Sr Felicita (Manus), Sr Leonie (Kavieng), Sr Geraldine (Sepik) and Sr Flavia (Kimbe). Photo: Sr Daisy Lisania msc Reconciliations not for Referendum – says bishop By Raymond Komis The conflict that af- onciliations as the Girana fected the livelihood work of Christ. of the two families “Christian reconcil- THE bishop of and the people of iation is at heart the Bougainville, Wisai arose from in- work of Christ in, Bernard Unabali, differences and mis- with and for all of us called on the people understandings in the Holy Spirit”, the bishop said. He of Bougainville to between the two also expressed that see reconciliations as families. This led to as followers of Christ, means for bringing killings that saw both reconciliations are peace and not just families losing their our ordinary exten- for political reasons. loved ones. sion of Christ’s mis- He said this during The reconciliation sion in the world. his speech at Teituno ceremony began with He also added that village in the Wisai a para-liturgy led by r e c o n c i l i a ti o n s area of Buin in south bishop Unabali fol- should indirectly help Bougainville while lowed by a buai Bougainvilleans as witnessing a reconcil- chewing and tree part of their prepara- tion for their political iation ceremony in planting ceremonies. journey but not May. In his speech, Bishop solely for politics and The reconciliation- Unabali challenged referendum”. saw the families of the people of It is our Christian late Raphael Duake Bougainville to be duty to bring peace and Lucy Rukume true witnesses of who are brothers and and therefore recon- peace. sisters coming to- ciliations should be gether once again On the same note, for lasting peace on after a ten year con- he also challenged Bougainville and not flict that kept them those present to see just for referendum”, disunited. and understand rec- he said. Bishop Bernard stands at the centre of the reconciling parties at Teituno village in the Wisai area of Buin in south Bougainville. Page 2 Catholic Reporter July 2016 A tribute and a glimpse of a Bishop’s life-giving service BY RAYMOND TON Catholic Bishops Conference what would be his special ministry of in- AFFECTIONATELY known by many terest, he chose Caritas PNG. With as Bishop Chris, he is gentle and his previous experience working soft spoken but with a heart as with students at Lae University of young as a youth’s. It is fitting and Technology on Justice and Peace timely to be rewarded with the issues the appointment to head title “Chief” to a long-serving Caritas PNG was appropriate and Catholic priest and later Bishop of to his desire. Now Bishop Christian the Catholic Diocese of Lae, Mo- Blouin, has been Bishop Deputy robe Province, Papua New and Chairman of Caritas PNG Guinea on 29 April 2016. Most Board up to this moment. Rev. Bishop Christian Blouin, He has been the head of Caritas CMM, a French-Canadian of the PNG’s Governance Board during Order of Marianhill Missionaries its difficult years from 2007 – 2011 gave thirty-one years of his until a new management with the priestly life to the people in some appointment of a new National Di- rector. Under his leadership the difficult places of Lae City, Mo- organization is progressing well robe Province. and contributing meaningfully to On arrival inLae, Papua New the rural PNG communities. Guinea in 1985, his Bishop, Most As our Bishop Chris retires in Rev. Henry Lieshout sent him to Most Rev. Bishop Christian Blouin, CMM, at the Investiture Ceremony of the Logohu Award (front right) 2017 from active duty as Bishop of the remote islands of Siassi to ex- with Governor General Grand Chief Sir Michael Ogio (Centre) and Lady Ogio (left) including all other re- Lae Catholic Diocese, and Board perience rural PNG lifestyle, its Chairman of Caritas PNG, the Lo- cipients of various awards at Government House, Port Moresby, Friday, 29 April, 2016. culture and hopefully learnthe gohu Award is truly a fitting trib- TokPisin language quickly. Upon stroyed the building as well as new land. He recalls that it was Marianhill College building until ute as “Chief Shepherd” for the return to Lae City couple of many houses along the Bumbu not easy but, it was an opportu- May 2005. services rendered to PNG. It is also months later,” I decided to give River. I tried to be close to the dif- nity to know the community and Two years later, in 2007 upon an appropriate opportunity to rec- special attention to the youths ferent communities encouraging teach them the basic Catholic So- return to Lae, “I was appointed ognize all the hundreds of other particularly in Bumbu settlement them to take ownership and solve cial Teaching. From scratch the the second Bishop of Lae Catholic missionaries who have given their being so notorious for criminal ac- problems as they arose”. His gen- people cooperated fully to build Diocese”. As Chief Shepherd of the entire life to serve our people in tivities and an endless cycle of law tle nature was like paste that at- an elementary school, then a Pri- Diocese it brings with it both chal- PNG quietly and humbly both dur- and order problems”, he recalls tracted many to conversion in the mary School, a new Church, and lenges and opportunities for ing the pre and post-indepen- vividly. He says, “With help that I volatile and stubborn social envi- Community Hall. growth. When asked by the dence periods. received from my Congregation ronments in the settlements. The Bishop had again something and other donors we built a little Rev. Bishop Henry Lieshout saw new for him. This time in 2001, he workshop where young people a lot more in him and tested him was asked to be the Rector at the Bougainville Diocese Hosts under the direction of a master with new assignments and chal- Marianhill College of Catholic The- craftsman could carve wood and lenges. So in 1993 he was asked to ological Institute, Port Moresby. First Media Course make all kind of artifacts. It was open a new parish at Tent City Part of his assignment was to su- doing well till a big flood de- where the Diocese had acquired a pervise the construction of the By Raymond Komis Girana working and dissemination of in- formation from the diocese right THE Catholic Diocese of down to families. Bougainville hosted its First Basic During the course, the partici- Media Course for diocesan pas- pants expressed their gratitude Divine Mercy assists Matupit Islanders toral workers in central and desire to have more of this By John Paivu Leaders from the four Warlapang, a word asso- of all trades, ex bankers, Bougainville in June.The course kind of course delivered to the groups distributed the ciated with the tubuan lecturers, sportsman and that was organized and facilitated people of Bougainville. THE Divine Mercy Devo- tree crops based on the cultureof giving took others, join the group. by Bougainville Diocese Media at They also expressed that lead- tion in the Rabaul Dean- particular needsof their place. In its last meeting on Saint John the Baptist Mabiri Pas- ers be given the opportunity on ery under took a special communities. Three offerings,one to Saturday June 11, the de- toral Centre on 20th – 24th June Media Education based on the mercy work never before is a breakthrough for the Dioce- fact that most people are media The Islanders particu- the priest for his pastoral votion formalized a undertaken anywhere. larly requested for cash san Media since its establishment illiterate especially on the impacts According to its plan, work, the Warlapang to group to be called the after the Bougainville crisis in of media and vast changes and crops such as buai the Divine Mercy and the Devine Mercy Profes- five prayer groups from seedlings and mustard 2011 under the Diocesan Renewal developments on travel and com- IaWakaka,Kuraip and Ra- normal Sunday offering sionals. into Balanced Life program. munication technologies. “ vines, asthere is a huge malmal onthe North were given. Their foremost duty is The one-week course saw A clear and sound knowledge Coast, Raluan on Burma demand for these two The Warlapang and the to assist the work of the twenty-nine young men and on media will help people under- Road and Rakival all the commodities. offerings will go towards church. The group can women formed and trained on stand their world and the impacts Groups that have not way from Watom Island, the replacement of the also assist in getting em- media basics and news writing. media have in all aspects of life delivered food croptrees participated have been These young men and women and development in our world requested to donate rusted roof and the ridge ployment of anyone if of banana shoots, tapi- caps. they desire. were also privileged to receive today. This will also help oca, taro, singapo, or- these tree crops. lectures on the essence of com- Bougainville in terms of evange- This is a land mark The leaking roof had Already a champion anges and pawpaw made Sunday mass a munication in relation to Church lization and in her preparation for mercy work for the devo- golfer who is a young s e e d s , b u a i soggy mess and the prob- and the mystery of the Holy Trin- the upcoming referendum in p l a n ti n g s , m u s t a r d tion in the year of mercy.