Displaying items by tag: Rochus Tatamai MSC

PNG Mission activity and challenges in the 21^st century

Brian Cahill writes from Tapini, Diocese of Bereina, PNG where he has lived and worked for almost thirty years:

I've just had a few stressful days working through appointment issues for our teachers appointed to Catholic Agency schools in the Tapini Area. It all has to do with false and misleading postings put up for teachers appointed to our schools. Originating from government officers overstepping their authority. Their are only two appointment authorities under the Education Act 1983: the agency being the recommending authority and the PEB being the appointment authority (acting on the recommendation of the agency).

The appointments posted at Konedobu for Goilala schools contained multiple errors, not reflecting the recommendation of the Agency or a decision of the PEB. Most telling were the so called tenure appointments put forward without the recommendation of the Agency that were all rejected by TSC and returned to the Province. WHO IN THE DIVISION OF EDUCATION OR GOILALA DISTRICT EDUCATION IS DOING THIS? ...NOT THAT WE DON'T KNOW!

Moreover to stage a signing of resumption forms on mass at the Granville Hotel yesterday, rather than in the district, is a total disgrace. The DEC, School Inspectors, Appointment officers and whoever else on the government side of things with education responsible for this should be charged. The Granville is where you buy beer, not resume duty as teachers! This gathering was orchestrated through the bugle call of phone messaging (largely done by black listed teachers with the agency) trying to pull teachers into a resumption activity contrary to the lawful instruction given by the Agency through the CES. This is confusing to our young teaching officers, who are left questioning what is going on. Things are hard enough given the situation in Goilala. Government officers with your own agenda, back off and respect the role of the Agency. Stop this corruption! CC, Governor, Member, Goilala CEO, PA, Education Adviser, Bishop.

Rochus Tatamai MSC was Bishop of Bereina in the past. He is now Archbishop of Rabaul.  He wrote:

Thank you Fr Brian Cahill MSC for raising this ongoing and chronic pandemic that undermines and destroys the mutual spirit of genuine partnership for the sake of the common good of our younger generations and for the promotion and enhancement of proper integral human development. As a major player in the development of this beautiful country, the state agencies responsible for delivering quality services. Education in this regard, there had been chronic disrespect and lack of commitment in the spirit of true partnership for the sake if the common god of our people. We will not sleep nor be silent until both the letter and the spirit of the Unified Education Act is restored and upheld to its full integrity and dignity.

Paul Guy MSC, Requiem Mass and Burial

Peter Guy  MSC with Rochus Tatamai MSC and confreres.

Reflection by Rochus Tatamai MSC, former Bishop of Bereina, now Archbishop of Rabaul.

There's a lot to reflect on and contemplate upon today as I personally recall Fr Paul Guy MSC, my elder brother in the faith, an MSC confrere in Religious Life, a brother priest sharing in the Priesthood of Jesus Christ, my mentor and Spiritual Director as pilgrims on earth, my confessor and Confidant in the discernment process searching out God's Divine will, my best friend and colleague in recreation and light moments, the person whom I fondly addressed as "my lord", even as a younger and inexperienced priest just beginning the initial steps going forward as an amateur shepherd in the vineyard of the Lord at St Joseph's Parish Boroko,(1990-1992) Port Moresby NCD. PNG.

Even when I prematurely resisted and pleaded earnestly against the then Provincial Superior late Fr Neville Dunne MSC not to be appointed to a city Parish let alone to be Assistant Parish Priest to Fr Paul Guy MSC at St Joseph Parish Boroko, Fr Neville Dunne's humble appeal to the young Rocky then 1989/1990 was " Rocky, please don't cross your bridges even before you in fact even crossed them". That response was an honest and challenging feedback that easily melted my hard-hearted heart to succumb to the prompting of the Holy Spirit "to swallow my personal pride and resistance and humbly accept my official appointment to St Joseph as Assistant Parish Priest and Vocations Director of the MSC PNG PROVINCE (a position I held from 1989 - 1997 @ 8 years in total).

During my years as a young priest especially 1990 - 1995, Fr Paul Guy MSC played a vital role as a companion and mentor who always respectfully and sometimes teasingly fondly would address me as "my lord" an address person to person we both mutually exchanged with respect and high regard.

Reverend Fr Paul Guy MSC you are surely a humble and most deserving "guy" of the highest recognition as the most unannounced deserving "monsignor" for your humble Pastoral care and personal sensitivity to all the half-cast mixed race population in Port Moresby, Bereina, Central Province and the rest of PNG.

And in your exact word, you reminiscently boasted that, "you (I) baptized them, you (I) heard their first sincere confessions, you (I) celebrated and gave them their First Holy Communion in their respective Parishes, you(I) prepared them for their solemn celebration of the Sacrament Confirmation, you(I) celebrated and joined them in Holy Matrimony, and surely you happily cried with them and buried them in their respective cemeteries in Hanuabada, Badili, Boroko, Gerehu, Hohola. 9mile, Bereina, etc, in all these Parishes, Churches, schools, institutions Cemeteries.

With thanks to John Walker MSC for screen shots of the Mass and graveside photos.