CONGRATULATIONS TO FR BILL CUNNINGHAM MSC, 95.
Acknowledging the life and ministry of Fr Bill Cunningham MSC as he turns 95. For those who wished him 'Ad Multos Annos', they have had their blessing fulfilled.
His ministry, for many decades - he was ordained in 1951, almost 69 years ago - was in Eastern Papua, in mission work and with a commitment to religious education.
He wrote a book about the mission. Here is a description:
FROM MISSION to the DIOCESE of ALOTAU-SIDEIA. 75 years of Building the Church, Milne Bay-Eastern Papua, 1932 to 2007.
Nelen Yubu, Sydney, 2008. Pp. x and 280. Foreword by Francesco Panfilo, SDB, Bishop of Alotau-Sideia.
The first chapter, The Foundation of the Catholic Church in Eastern Papua was written by Anthony Arthur MSC. After this initial chapter, book moves in chronological order through the foundations, beginning with Sideia in 1932, followed by Ladava, the Trobriand Islands. After World War II there was expansion to a Nimowa, Rossel Island, Goodenough Island, Bolubolu, Fergusson Island, Normanby Island. The diocese was erected in 1975. Already the Sacred Heart Secondary School had been established in Hagita, 1970 and in 1985 St Pauls Pastoral Centre, Leaders Training Centre.
In the early years of the 21st-century, several other parishes were founded. There is a chapter on Catholic Youth as well as Communications and Publications. There are several small illustrations throughout of various MSC personnel who worked in Eastern Papua. Some Documentary Sources are listed and there are five pages with lists of MSC personnel who worked in Eastern Popular, 1932-2007 with the years in which they worked there. (The author himself is listed for 1970, 1972 – 1985, 1987 – 2007.)
