MSC Magazine | Issue 4 | Summer 2020

Page 33| Missionaries of the Sacred Heart 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 pre- sent together with many who travelled from as far as the Dioceses of Kavieng, Kimbe and other dio- ceses 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 Ka- vieng and the Vunadirdir parish. After the Eucharistic celebration speeches and a variety of items were presented. These in- cluded a march past by the students and Vun- apope Catholic Women, traditional dance perfor- mances from the Baining and Pomio areas of Ra- baul, 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 gen- eration witnessing this significant event for the Arch- diocese,” 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 po- sition 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 ex- haustion, malaria and were even martyred for their faith. Rabaul (Agenzia Fides) - "I thank God for the years passed and the pastoral experience in the dioces- es of Bereina and Kavieng. I return to Rabaul as Je- sus 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 Arch- bishop of Rabaul, addressed the faithful at the sol- emn inauguration Mass as the eighth Pastor of the archdiocese. As reported to Fides by the Communi- cations 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.