Death and funeral of Sir Michael Somare, the Grand Chief, ‘Father of the Nation’, PNG.
Cardinal John Ribat MSC officiated at his funeral.
A memorial Mass was held for Sir Michael Somare at Our Lady of the Rosary church, Kensington, on Sunday March 14th. It was organised by Paul Jennings and Roger Purcell in conjunction with the PNG Consulate in Sydney.
Paul officiated and can be glimpsed in this Mass photo.
Paul writes MSC knew Sir Michael because he was a parishioner of St Joseph's, Boroko. So Paul Guy would also have known him very well. As well, Adrian Meaney would have worked with him when organising the two Papal visits to PNG. I also met with him several times in 2010 - 2011 when I was invited to his home (at the parliament house in Waigani) on Sunday afternoons. I wasn't sure why I was invited, but we (with his wife and some children) spoke about the spirituality of Sana and about some of his successes as leader. I discerned later (after he went to Singapore in 2012 for six months medical procedures) that he was probably looking for a priest for solace and company.
Paul Jennings’ eulogy:
The life & death of each one of us…………
AMONG ALL THE TRIBUTES AND REFLECTIONS ON THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SIR MICHAEL IN THE PAST WEEKS, ESPECIALLY SHOW THE HEART OF THE MAN.
THE FIRST WAS A PHOTO OF A GROUP OF SCHOOL CHILDREN FROM DEEP IN HELA PROVINCE. THEY HAD PAINTED THEIR FACES WITH WHITE OCHRE AS THEIR SIGN OF MOURNING FOR THEIR FATHER.
THE SECOND WAS A TRIBUTE FROM PETER O’NEIL, PREVIOUS PRIME MINISTER, WHO APOLOGISED TO THE SOMARE FAMILY FOR ANY HURT HE HAD CAUSED SIR MICHAEL AND ASKED FOR FORGIVENESS. HE WROTE THAT HE WAS SURE THE GRAND CHIEF WOULD FORGIVE HIM BECAUSE OF HIS – SOMARE’S – HUMILITY AND KINDNESS OF HEART.
IN HIS BIOGRAPHY – SANA – PUBLISHED IN 1975, SIR MICHAEL SHARED THE SOURCE OF HIS HUMILITY AND GOODNESS OF HEART. SANA IS A SPIRITUALITY WHICH FOCUSES ON TWO PROCESSES. ONE IS THE PROCESS OF WATCHING, BEING ON THE WATCH, WATCHING OUT FOR OPPORTUNITIES; WATCHING OVER OTHERS. A GOOD SHEPHERD.
In Port Moresby
THE OTHER PROCESS IS MAKING PEACE. SOMARE WROTE: IF YOU SEE YOUR ENEMY COMING TO FIGHT OR ARGUE WITH YOU, THEN FIRST OF ALL PREPARE A MEAL FOR HIM. INVITE HIM TO EAT WITH YOU. AFTER EATING, YOUR ENEMY MAY BE MORE WILLING TO LISTEN.
AS THE PREAMBLE OF THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION SAYS: WE REJECT VIOLENCE AND SEEK CONSENSUS AS A WAY OF SOLVING OUR COMMON PROBLEMS.
IN 1978, I WAS WORKING AT ST JOSEPH’S PARISH IN PORT MORESBY, AND ON A SATURDAY MORNING WAS INVITED TO GO ACROSS THE ROAD TO THE INTERNATIONAL PRIMARY SCHOOL AND MEET SOME OF THE PARENTS. SR FLAVIAN, THE HEADMISTRESS HAD ORGANISED PARENTS WORK PARADE AND ALL THE MEN WERE DIGGING UP THE PLAY GROUND AREA TO REMOVE THE ROCKS AND LEVEL IT. THERE, SWINGING A PICK, WAS THE PRIME MINISTER, SIR MICHAEL. HIS SON, ARTHUR WAS A STUDENT AT THE SCHOOL, SO HE FELT IT RIGHT FOR HIM TO WORK WITH THE OTHER PARENTS. GENTLE AND HUMBLE IN SPIRIT.
AS PRIME MINISTER, SIR MICHAEL WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY INITIATIVES THAT WILL LIVE ON FOR MANY YEARS. THESE INITIATIVES WERE ALL CONCERNED WITH WATCHING OUT, ENCOURAGING A SENSE OF NATIONAL UNITY. ONE OF THE FIRST OF THESE WAS THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION.
THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CONTAINS THE STRENGTH OF STRUCTURES THAT HAVE WITHSTOOD THE POWER POLITICS OF THE YEARS. IT CONTAINS THE POETRY OF THE PREAMBLE: IT CONTAINS THE EMPOWERING WORDS OF THE NATIONAL GOALS:
THE FIRST NATIONAL GOAL – INTEGRAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT – STATES:
We declare our first goal to be for every person to be dynamically involved in the process of freeing himself or herself from every form of domination or oppression so that each man or woman will have the opportunity to develop as a whole person in relationship with others.
EMPOWERMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WHOLE PERSON.
IN 1985 THE SOMARE GOVERNMENT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE ESTABLISHMENTS OF PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS WAS THREATENING TO SPLINTER EDUCATION. SIR MICHAEL CONTACTED HIS OLD FRIEND, PAULIAS MATANE, AND ASKED HIM TO ESTABLISH A COMMITTEE TO WRITE A PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION FOR PAPUA NEW GUINEA THAT MIGHT BRING SOME UNITY OF VISION. I WAS INVITED ONTO THAT COMMITTEE TO REPRESENT THE CHURCHES.
WE DEVELOPED A PHILOSOPHY BASED ON INTEGRAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, STRESSING THAT INTEGRAL EDUCATION WAS NOT ONLY ABOUT MIND AND BODY, BUT ALSO EDUCATING HEARTS AND SPIRITS. THERE IS A CONTINUING STRUGGLE BETWEEN THAT PHILOSOPHY AND THE EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES COMING FROM THE SECULAR WEST.
IN 2008, SIR MICHAEL AGAIN SAW THE NEED TO BRING THE COUNTRY TOGETHER AND MAP A WAY TOWARDS A BETTER FUTURE. HE EMPOWERED A LARGE GROUP OF THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST THINKERS TO DEVELOP A VISION – VISION 2050 – IN THE INTRODUCTION TO THIS DETAILED VISION STATEMENT, SIR MICHAEL WROTE:
After 3 decades since independence, my government has had the courage to step back and reflect on our journey.
Our Vision 2050 provides every man and women, boy and girl in this country with the opportunity for personal development and positive engagement.
We are convinced that we must empower our people with the right education and life skills and provide them with the opportunity to earn an honest living.
SIR MICHAEL WAS GIVEN MANY HONOURS BY SEVERAL COUNTRIES.
THE COMMONWEALTH AWARDED HIM AS MEMBER OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL, A COMPANION OF HONOUR AND THE KNIGHT GRAND CROSS OF THE ORDER OF ST MICHAEL AND ST GEORGE. THE VATICAN AWARDED HIM AS A KNIGHTOF THE ORDER OF ST GREGORY THE GREAT. JAPAN MADE HIM A MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF THE RISING SUN AND FIJI A COMPANION OF THE ORDER OF FIJI.
IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA HE WAS MADE GRAND COMPANION OF THE ORDER OF LOGOHU.
HE WILL BE BURIED ON TUESDAY AT WEWAK ON KREER HEIGHTS. FROM THERE WE CAN BELIEVE THAT HE WILL CONTINUE HIS WORK AS WATCHMAN, LOOKING OVER PAPUA NEW GUINEA AND WORKING TO UNITE AND EMPOWER HIS PEOPLE. MAY WE PRAISE GOD FOR THE WAYS HE GIFTED PNG THROUGH THE GRAND CHIEF, AND BECOME MORE AWARE OF GOD’S CONTINUED BLESSINGS ON HIS PEOPLE.
