Message from Abzalon, Superior General. Beatifications. Latin America.

Two more candidates.  Sanctity is not competitive!!

NEXT BEATOS ADOLESCENTS, CENTRAL AMERICA MARTYRS

2 days after the Beatification of young Carlo Acutis.

Did you know that in Central America we have 2 teenagers who will also be beatified?

Here's a brief review of the lives of these young people who were martyred in times of armed conflict.

JUAN BARRERA: At 12, he was already a catechist in his parish, explained the catechism to the little ones and could be found carrying the Rosary before Mass. Belonging to a devoted Catholic Action family of his people, he had to live in the years of confrontation between the national army and the guerrillas. They took him to a place near a creek and there they started torturing him hurting him with knife cuts on the soles of his feet. Then they made him walk through the stones to subdue him in pain; finally, they cut his ears off, broke his legs, and finally riddled him with bullets.

NELSON RUTILIO LEMUS: Born in the Paisnal on November 10, 1960, he was 16 years old when he was murdered. He was the eldest of 12 children in the marriage of Jesus Lemus and Mary Evelia Chavez. He was an active member of the Christian community of El Paisnal and liked to collaborate with church celebrations. He was martyred alongside Father Rutilio Grande and Manuel Solórzano, who died riddled with bullets as they celebrated the Holy Eucharist.

May the sacrifice of these young men be an example to us.

Invitation.  2 forthcoming Webinars.

1.  An invitation from Chevalier Institute.

 Zoom Meeting ID 872 5413 6694

2.  Claude Mostowik MSC, MSC Justice and Peace, has sent this invitation.

Dear friends and colleagues, 

Palestine: A Turning Point?

A Public Forum with Dr Chandra Muzaffar

Sunday 18 October 2.00 pm - 3.30 pm 

Postscript:  A Da Vinci Zoom session.

From the letter to the province, Alison McKenzie.

The full letter appears in the recent issue of the MSC Magazine (which also appears on the website home page). After her initial reminiscence, Alison makes three points about the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, highlighting Heart Spirituality – and some wise observations about how we live in a wounded church today.

My initial encounter with the MSC family occurred in 1976, when, as a very young woman, I picked up Tony Bolt as he walked along a country road near Toowoomba, after his car had broken down. That led to meeting the Downlands MSC community in the late 70s, later to the MSC community home for Vietnamese refugees, followed by many years of teaching at Chevalier College and finally, to the Institute and the International Council of the Laity of the Chevalier Family. They have been blessed years and, if I had my life over again, I don’t think I would change a thing.

Firstly – I would like to say to each and every one of you how much your lives have mattered. You are deeply valued, respected and appreciated by so many. Your lives are unremarkable in many ways, but in that ordinariness, outstandingly remarkable, because we can relate to you as human beings and see in your lives and work, and hear in your words, a way of being that is a remedy for the ills of our time. Please know that it would be a rare person whose personal and professional lives are not better for seeing and hearing Spirituality of the Heart in you and from you and through you. You have deepened our humanity and we are grateful. Thank you.

Secondly – thank you, during these tumultuous post-Vatican years, for your struggle to find language that expressed often incomprehensible, high-end theology and scriptural interpretation into words and concepts we could understand. You have pointed us towards the life of Jesus of Nazareth, with a constant reminder that Jesus way of living and loving reveals the source of his spirit – a God who is Love. You have not burdened us with rules and dictates. Your God is not to be feared but rather to be sought. You never said that belief was a starting point. You reminded us, if we too want to live like Jesus, we simply had to be present and open to our hearts and we would find there that same source of life. And, for so many of us, what you said has taken root and our spirituality has been deepened and we say thank you.

Thirdly – in these very challenging times for the institution of Catholicism, you are showing us how we can, with integrity and authenticity, belong to a flawed and damaged human institution, respecting and drawing from the wisdom and treasures about human living and loving that are contained deep within, while retaining our right to think for ourselves and to express our own opinion on matters of importance. You have shown us how to carry our collective shame and to be disappointed and critical of our structures and even of our leaders, while still belonging to the family. We have such a rich tradition within our Catholic heritage and when it does not shackle us, it can offer deep and timeless wisdom that can shed light on troubled times. Thank you for finding ways to be faithful and showing us how we too can belong but not to be burdened and how we can draw deeply but not be shackled. I want you to know that the people you have so gently nurtured over the years of your ministry are now standing beside you as we see your collective reputations besmirched and mocked. We are beginning to find a voice to wear our Catholicity with pride and to point to you and our shared spirit on examples of ‘good religion’.

Saturday October 10^th 2020, a beatification by Pope Francis in Assisi, Carlo Acutis.

In the 21^st century, what is the story, what is the image of a contemporary saint?

Carlo Acutis (3 May 1991 - 12 October 2006) was an Italian Roman Catholic teenager. He was best known for documenting Eucharistic miracles around the world and cataloging them all onto a website that he himself created in the months before his death from leukemia.

Some excerpts from articles on Carlo Acutis.

EVEN SAINTS CAN WEAR NIKE and BE TECHY!

Presenting to you the preview of the altar tomb of the soon to be beatified VENERABLE CARLO ACUTIS (3 May 1991 - 12 October 2006) ! These fresh photos are taken from the Diocese of Asissi in preparation of his upcoming beatification ceremonies - the sacred remains of Ven. Carlo will be open for veneration until October 17.

WHO IS CARLO ACUTIS?

Carlo Acutis died at the age of 15 of a galloping leukaemia, leaving in the memory of all those who knew him a great feeling of emptiness and great admiration for his brief but intense testimony of authentic Christian life.

From the day he received his First Communion at the age of 7, he never missed an appointment with daily Holy Mass. He always tried, either before or after the Eucharistic celebration, to pause before the Tabernacle to adore the Lord, always truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. Our Lady was his great confidant and he never failed to honour her by reciting the Holy Rosary every day. Carlo’s modern and up-to-date ways combined perfectly with his profound Eucharistic life and Marian devotion, which helped to make him that very special boy whom everyone admires and loves.

To quote Carlo’s own words: “Our goal must be the infinite and not the finite. The Infinity is our homeland. We are always expected in Heaven”. Another phrase of his was: “All people are born as originals but many die as photocopies”. To move towards this goal and not “die as photocopies” Carlo said that our compass must be the Word of God, that we have to measure up to constantly. But to reach such a lofty goal very special measures are necessary: the Sacraments and prayer. In particular, Carlo placed the Sacrament of the Eucharist at the centre of his life and he called it “my highway to Heaven”.

Holiness and computers

Carlo was very gifted with everything related to the world of computers so that both his friends and adults with computer engineering degrees considered him a genius. Everyone was amazed at his ability to understand the secrets of computers that are normally only accessible to those who have specialized university degrees. Carlo’s interests involved computer programming, film editing, website creation, editing and laying out small publications, to helping those most in need especially children and the elderly.

This young believer of the Diocese of Milan was a mystery, who before he died was able to offer his suffering up for the Pope and the Church.

An ordinary kid?

Carlo, like many adolescents of our time was busy at school, with his friends, and for his young age was an expert in computers. In the midst of all his commitments he encountered Jesus Christ.

This teenager sociologically similar to his school mates, was an authentic witness that the Gospel can be lived fully even by a teenager.

In his short life, oriented to that encounter with Jesus, was like a light not only to shine on the path of those who knew him, but also of those who will come to know his story. I am sure that this first biography of Carlo Acutis, edited by Nicola Gori, with his well-known ability to involve the reader, will help today’s adolescents, so problematic and so conditioned by the Mass Media, to reflect on the meaning of life and on the Gospel values to realize it fully.

"Carlo Acutis had a PlayStation. He made ridiculous videos of his dogs where he pretended to talk for them. He played soccer. If he were alive today, he'd be 28. And he's going to be beatified soon.

Carlo's mom doesn't know how he knew Jesus. His family never went to church, but as a pre-schooler Carlo began to beg to stop in and visit Jesus. So they did. And as Carlo grew in holiness, he dragged his mother with him. "He was like a little savior to me," she said.

After Carlo made his first communion, he never missed a day of Mass again. His parents didn't go, but he did, an 8-year-old boy walking through the streets of Milan alone to go visit Jesus.

As he got older, Carlo began to realize how few people went to Mass. He knew that if they understood that Jesus was really present in the Eucharist, they wouldn't be able to stay away. So Carlo began to research Eucharistic miracles. He'd started reading college computer programming textbooks when he was 9 or 10, so he built a website to share what he'd learned with the world.

Carlo was an ordinary kid. He had to figure out how to use the internet for good. He had to balance screen time with real life (he allowed himself an hour of video games a week--his rule, not his parents'). He lived in the same world we live in--he's younger than many of us--and he figured out how to become a Saint.

And now a welcome.  Bridget Hawthorne, new Assistant to the Provincial.

Bridget writes:

I have just recently joined you all, as Assistant to Chris McPhee here in Coogee.

I come after 5 and a half years working at St Ignatius’ College, Riverview.

I have a long history and family connections with The Loreto Sisters, and The Jesuits and am really looking forward to learning more about The Missionaries of The Sacred Heart.

I have a Design background, and a love of Conservation and Heritage buildings, so consider myself very lucky to be working in beautiful Treand House.

 Irish MSC, 70 years in South Africa

On July 6th, 1950, the first group of MSCs arrived in Northern Transvaal, working in an area now recognised as the Limpopo Province. Here, they immediately took responsibility for mission areas in Louis Trichardt (today known as Makhado) and Messia (now known as Musina). By 1953, our sister congregation, the Daughters of our Lady of the Sacred Heart, had also arrived in Musina, where they began to provide aid and support to patients and their families in the local mine hospital.

This area has now developed into the present-day diocese of Tzaneen, and MSCs from the Irish Province continue to travel to Africa to contribute to the growing community here.

The scope of the African mission

The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart currently run several missions across Africa, with local MSC members working in Senegal, Namibia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Africa. One of our main objectives as MSCs is not just to provide aid, but to teach people to be self-sufficient through our schools, our agricultural training, and the formation programmes we offer in our pastoral and spiritual centres.

OUR NEW MISSION FIELD

Alan Whelan MSC, Archivist

Our readers and benefactors are well aware that many of our Irish priests and sisters have been engaged in Missionary work in the faraway islands of the South Seas for a score of years. This mission which includes New Britain, New Ireland and several of the smaller islands has become dear to all our hearts and the fact that the Apostolic Vicariate of Rabaul (this is the ecclesiastical title for this particular mission) holds the mortal remains of four of our stalwart priests will always make us look with pride and gratitude to God for the blessings bestowed on these far-flung islands. A large contingent of our young men are helping the German Fathers of our Society, the Society of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, to rebuild this mission which was so completely devastated during the recent war. We are pleased to be able to help the present Bishop, Most Rev Lea Scharmach, MSC, in the tremendous task of rebuilding his mission and thereby be instrumental in holding for Christ those natives already converted as well as winning over to Catholicism countless more thousands from the darkness of paganism. It is indeed Missionary work of the first order.

But now the time has come when the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart has decided to break new ground and to assume complete responsibility for its own mission territory, that is to say, a region or district where Irish priests and brothers of our Society, as well as the daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart from Ballybay and Glendore, and helped by the generosity of our loyal friends here at home, will toil and pray for the conversion of the thousands of pagan souls confined to our care. This is another landmark in the history of our Irish Province and we rejoice that the Lord has directed our steps to Africa. Very soon the first contingent of Missionary Priests will leave for the North Eastern Transvaal. Here, the Apostolic Delegate to South Africa, His Excellency Most Rev Dr Lucas, SVD, with the cooperation of the Abbot-Bishop of Pieterburg, Most Rev Dr Osterrath, OSB, and the Benedictine Father, has offered us approximately half of the Abbey Nullius of Pietersburg, namely the districts of Zoutpansberg and Letaba, an area of over 20,000 square miles. The Limpopo river separates this territory from Southern Rhodesia, the Olifants river from its southern boundary, while Portuguese East Africa is on the eastern side. With the approval of our Very Rev Fr General and his Council, we have accepted this territory.

In all humility we accept the new burdens which this mission territory necessarily entail for our Province, but putting our hope and trust in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we place the North-Eastern Transvaal under the protection of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, knowing that under her maternal guidance all will be well. Our old friends will rally round now more than ever before, new friends and helpers will be enlisted and our united efforts will ensure that before long the name of Jesus Christ will be praised and blessed in all corners of that vast area of over 20,000 square miles what has been given over to our care.

Up to now there has been only two resident priests in this territory. Can you imagine two priests in an area about two-thirds the size of Ireland? It sounds incredible but such is the position. It is up to us to ensure that before long this position will be remedied, that large number of priests will be sent out who will preach the Gospel and administer the Sacraments to those thousands of natives who know nothing of the Redemption of mankind by Jesus Christ.

Meet Fr Bill Brady msc

Today’s MSC Update reminded us that 4^th October is Bill Brady’s 75^th birthday. On December 13^th, he will be 45 years ordained. He has just experienced some surgery and is recovering.

This article first appeared earlier this year in the OLSH Randwick Parish Bulletin – Bill is now stationed in Randwick. The other photos are from the celebrations when the MSC withdrew from Hindmarsh parish, Adelaide. Bill was the last parish priest.

“Fr Bill Brady has served 8 parishes and 3 schools in his 44 years of priesthood. In mid 2019, he was appointed to our parish.

Fr Brady tells an interesting story about how he joined the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. ’It was 1969. I had been thinking of become a priest - a missionary one -   when I read an article in the Catholic Weekly about the MSCs. I had not heard of them, so I replied to the advertisement and by late that year, at age 24 I had started my pre- novitiate training at the Late Vocation Centre at the Kensington Monastery'.

He had left school, Woodlawn College Lismore, in 1962 and started work at the Rural Bank of NSW (coincidentally the present Provincial, Fr Chris McPhee also worked in a bank pre-ordination). His name was in the ballot for National Service in 1966 and he spent the next two years in the Army during which time he spent 6 months in Malaysia (MaIacca).There never was any real thought of priesthood at this time.

Bill Brady, end left. MSC in Adelaide 2019

‘I was ordained on 13 December 1975 and said my first Mass at St Patrick’s Smithtown, a small town on the North Coast near Kempsey. This was the parish I grew up in. My first appointment was to St Peter Chanel College Ulapia, New Britain in Papua New Guinea. Those first three years of Priesthood were probably the most difficult. The climate, the disease-carrying mosquitoes, the cultural differences, the expectations and lack of resources, but worst of all I contracted an illness that  bedeviled me for 8 years’.

As part of recuperation he spent 3 months at OLSH Randwick in 1978. ‘I liked it then, and that hasn’t changed’. For the next few years he held appointments at a number of MSC Colleges (Bowral, DownIands, and St Johns Darwin) found time to complete a University degree and in 1995 was appointed Parish Priest at St Paul’s Nightcliffe, Darwin. Apart from being an assistant priest at Kippax in ACT in 1982 this was his first real experience of Parish life.

Parts of the parish were in a fairly low socio-economic area and there was petty crime around and about. The parishioners were laid back but open to change.

Example? ’Moving the altar was a big ask of these parishioners but by consulting them, offering them some options meant that the decision was theirs as much as mine. It taught me that involving the laity will make changes in today’s church possible’ he added. ‘(I notice in the latest MSC Bulletin the altar is now back in the more traditional position)’.

Most of us can remember where we were on 9/11, the Twin Towers attack in New York. Fr Bill had been on a sabbatical, had visited Issoudon in France where the MSCs were founded and he was in the main street of Dublin when he watched it on TV. The return trip home met with some discomfort at Heathrow as the Americans now unable to return for security reasons occupied all the seats, catching up on sleep. He had to stand for seven hours at the airport waiting to board the plane to bring him home.

Quite a number of appointments followed, notably Henley Beach, Adelaide, four others while on loan to Townsville Diocese over a 5 year period and in 2010 he was appointed Parish Priest of Hindmarsh. Here he experienced both wonderful and sad times. It had been an MSC parish for 105 years, cared for 5 Catholic schools in the area and was one of two South Australian MSC parishes. But with no MSC priests available the parish became a diocesan one. Sadly the number of active MSC priests is declining. And replacements are not forthcoming. At one stage there were none joining the Order for six years although there’s a trickle now in training.

‘I was reminded’, he said, ‘as he bid Hindmarsh farewell of the Book of Ecclesiastes, ‘A time for everything under heaven’ and so it was a time to say goodbye. It was a parish strong on community much like the community we have here at OLSH.’

But he remains hopeful. Vatican 11 for him was the lightning rod for change. Religious life became different and better. The change from the monastic life to a more open engagement with the laity was very significant. Latin was replaced by English especially for Scripture Readings at Masses and priests facing the congregation were also significant changes.

He welcomes many of the liturgical changes but is not a big fan of the new liturgy. Something went wrong, the language in parts is stilted and some words are foreign to all of us in their meaning (consubstantial comes to mind).

He is strongly supportive of increasing the role of the laity, not an easy ask involving some loosening of the role of church leaders and the need for more consulting with the laity. ‘We’re all equal because of our Baptism’ he says ‘it’s just there are differing roles for clergy and laity. The world is changing and some of our practices need changing too’.

Difficult he says but he is hopeful that meaningful changes will take place. He has great admiration for Pope Francis as he strives to modernise the church especially in the area of social justice.

Regrets? ‘I’d like better health but being a priest has given me much joy and I hope that I have helped those many good people I have met along the way’.

Rochus Tatamai MSC, Installation, Rabaul – report, homily, photos.

The ceremony of Installation of the 8th Archbishop of Rabaul, Abp Rochus Josef Tatamai MSC, was a great gathering of well over hundreds of priests, nuns, the Apostolic Nuncio, Sir John Cardinal Ribat, 15 archbishops and bishops, as well as many, many parishioners.

The date was set for 29th of September, the Patron Saint of PNG, Archangel Michael. More importantly, it was also the date when, 138 years ago, the first three MSC missionaries arrived on Matupit Island. Today’s celebration featured a glorious liturgy, angelic singing, inspiring speeches and testimonies expressing appreciation for the work of the missionaries. Many praises were spoken about the work of the outgoing Abp. Francesco Panfilo SDB and we thanked him deeply for his work among us. Pope Francis and the Nuncio were thanked and blessed for appointing a true son of this land to the new role of Archbishop of Rabaul.

After the formal celebrations a colorful, lively and powerful presentation of cultural groups took place. It is always amazing to see the richness of PNG culture which is absolutely unique in the world. Congratulations to Abp. Rochus J. Tatamai, MSC and the people of ENB for the amazing day of celebrations in the history of The Catholic Church and PNG.

                                                   ________________________________________________________________________

            Vunapope, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, 29 September 2020 -- A grand Installation Mass of the first local and 8th Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Rabaul, His Grace Rochus Josef Tatamai MSC was held on Tuesday 29th September, at the Vunapope Sacred Heart Cathedral, East New Britain Province. 29th September is the feast day of the Archangels and St Michael is the patron saint of Papua New Guinea.

            The Installation had as its theme: “God Wantaim Yumi”. Archbishop Rochus Tatamai was the main celebrant. Concelebrating with him were 14 bishops. Amongst them were the Apostolic Nuncio to PNGSI, Archbishop Kurian Mathew Vayalunkal; Sir John Cardinal Ribat MSC; Archbishop Emeritus, Francesco Panfilo SDB; and a large number of priests. Also present were religious, seminarians, family and friends and the people of the Archdiocese of Rabual and the other dioceses.

            Abp Tatamai served the Diocese of Bereina for eleven years since 2007, the diocese of Kavieng for two years since 2018, before his appointment as the Archbishop of Rabaul. He is a direct descendant of Blessed Peter ToRot.

            In his homily Abp Rochus gave thanks to God for the years and experience as Bishop of the dioceses of Bereina and Kavieng. He compared his return to Rabaul similar to that of Jesus’ return to Nazareth. “Jesus returned to Nazareth and was judged by the people for what he did. There will be those who will judge and question my decisions, but all I ask for is your cooperation and patience as you allow me to lead as your new Shephard,” he said.

            He reminded the people to continue to support the Church in their efforts to drive forward the Province and its people. He urged parents to pray and encourage their children to live a Holy Life in the Church. “Pray for our children, that they become people of faith and remain in the service of the Church as Catechists, Seminarians and as Religious,” he said. He highlighted not only quantity but quality of vocations.

            He stressed the need for the archdiocese to become more inclusive in its efforts of improving its quality to effectively deliver its diocesan pastoral plan among its people. He thanked Archbishop Panfilo for his inclusive thrust of reaching out in a special way to the people in Pomio, where he established 7 new parishes. He thanked him for his stress on education, youth ministry, family ministry, vocations and the different social issues faced by the people. He thanked Archbishop Karl Hesse who stabilized the archdiocese after the volcanic eruption.

            At the start of the celebration, the Apostolic Letter of Pope Francis, was read and displayed to all. Thousands of Catholic faithful from the three deaneries of Rabaul, Pomio and Kokopo were present together with many who travelled from as far as the Dioceses of Kavieng, Kimbe and other dioceses of Papua New Guinea to be present for the celebration. The Vunapope parish choir led the singing and the dances were by the Diocese of Kavieng and the Vunadirdir parish.

            After the Eucharistic celebration speeches and a variety of items were presented. These included a march past by the students and Vunapope Catholic Women, traditional dance performances from the Baining and Pomio areas of Rabaul, and a variety of dances from the Dioceses of Kavieng and Kimbe.

            Several amongst the gathering thanked Archbishop Panfilo and spoke joyfully of the new archbishop. Patricia Novena, a housekeeping maiden, with joyful tears in her eyes said that the installation of the first local Archbishop was not just a milestone for the Church but for the people of ENB Province. “I am grateful for the grace and power of God. I am blessed to be part of this generation witnessing this significant event for the Archdiocese,” she said.

            Allister Tavtavun, from Rabaul, described the installation as ‘historic’ as this was the first time a local was appointed to such a prestigious role in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. “The previous seven Archbishops were expatriate missionaries and this is the first time that one of our own, born and raised up here, has taken up this elevated position of the Church,” he said.

            The Catholic church was established 138 years ago on Matupit island. Many missionaries lived and proclaimed the faith. Several died of exhaustion, malaria and were even martyred for their faith.

                                                                    _______________________________________________

Rabaul (Agenzia Fides) - "I thank God for the years passed and the pastoral experience in the dioceses of Bereina and Kavieng. I return to Rabaul as Jesus returned to Nazareth: here he was judged by the people for what he had done. There will be those who will judge and will question my decisions, but all I ask is your collaboration and patience to allow me to lead the community, with the light and grace of God, as your new Pastor": with these words Mgr. Rochus Josef Tatamai MSC, new Archbishop of Rabaul, addressed the faithful at the solemn inauguration Mass as the eighth Pastor of the archdiocese. As reported to Fides by the Communications Office of the Bishops' Conference, the local community warmly greeted and welcomed the first local Archbishop at the solemn celebration, held on September 29, in the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Vunapope, in the province of Eastern New Britain. The Apostolic Nuncio in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, Archbishop Kurian Mathew Vayalunkal, Cardinal John Ribat, MSC, Archbishop Emeritus Francesco Panfilo, SDB, and a large number of priests, religious and lay faithful who came from different dioceses and provinces were present.

Archbishop Tatamai, who served the diocese of Bereina for eleven years and the diocese of Kavieng for two years, since 2018, is a direct descendant of Blessed Peter ToRot, catechist and martyr, a reference figure for the Catholic community in Papua.

Addressing the families, the Archbishop urged parents to pray and encourage their children to "live a holy life in the Church". "Pray for your children, so that they become people of faith and remain at the service of the Church as catechists, seminarians and religious".

He then underlined the need for the archdiocese to become more inclusive in its efforts to improve the quality of the apostolate and pastoral action. Thanking his predecessor, Archbishop Panfilo, former ordinary, especially for the evangelizing action in the area of Pomio, where he founded 7 new parishes, recalled his commitment to education, youth ministry, family ministry , pastoral care for vocations and the various social issues addressed.
People particularly appreciated the fact that the community has, for the first time, an Archbishop from the same area. "The installation of the first local Archbishop was not only a milestone for the Church, but for the whole province. It is a very important and significant step. We are grateful to God for this gift", said Patricia, a lay Catholic present. The previous seven Archbishops were missionaries, while "this is the first time that one of us, born and raised here, is called to lead the Church", he noted.

During the celebration dances of local cultures were carried out and there was a tribute to the missionaries who founded the first mission, 138 years ago, on the island of Matupit. Many missionaries lived and proclaimed the faith. Many died of malaria or were martyred for their faith.
Papua New Guinea has 6 million inhabitants and is a "Christian country", as is written in the Constitution, born after independence: 95% of Papuans are baptized in the many Christian Churches present, of different denominations. Catholics are about 27%.

Chevalier Family; Justice and Peace and First Friday intentions

The focus for October is Peace – and the challenge to us in our daily lives of commitment to non-violence

and remembering those who lived (and died) for non-violence.

Beginning our eighth covid lockdown month, October.  Some mind-alerting moments.

Some months ago, this cartoon appeared – 'The Official Mascot for 2020' reminding us of how clever anagrams can be.

For example: Take Chris McPhee, for instance. Monkeying with the letters we get:

Chimps cheer or Chimp cheers!

This set was published earlier in the year:

ANAGRAMS

Also one I heard on the radio this morning : coronavirus - carnivorous.....