By Cl. Jeevan Lewis, SDB

Vunabosco, Papua New Guinea, 21 May 2019 -- How do we seek out Salesian vocations in Papua New Guinea, where we arrived just 40 years ago and until now we have only 7 local Salesians?

Vunabosco community (Archdiocese of Rabaul) with four Salesians (Rector Fr Casper Charles, Fr Valeriano Barbero and Fr Moise Paluku with one practical trainee from India) together with two Salesian Lay Missioners (USA) is journeying each year with a group of young men, called the Valdocco experience.

Our possible candidates come from different backgrounds, two of them are Bosconians, the other seven are from Vanimo diocese (far West of PNG) and they already graduated in year 12 (last year of secondary school in PNG), more than 20 years old and are being prepared to enrol next year (God willing) in the Don Bosco Technological Institute in Port Moresby.

Their life program is intertwined with prayers, work, study and acquiring basic skills for Youth Ministry. During the week they are also involved in the construction of the new dormitory for the Vunabosco technical secondary school students (200 beds) and on weekends they are involved in groups of three in the Oratorian experience around the chapels of our incoming parish (Mary Help of Christians) in nearby villages.

Who is Don Bosco for you? What is the Salesian vocation? Why do you like to become a Salesian? How to know listen to the voice - call of God? How to open our hearts to God and to our guide(s) - Salesians? These and other questions emerged in the open forum on 20 May.

Each Salesian province has its own approach to vocation culture and vocation promotion. Some kind of 'Come and See' or some kind of 'Aspirantate' where our candidates are welcome and accompanied on their vocation journey. In PNG we are still searching for the right ways. We entrust our Valdocco boys to Mary Help of Christians, who brought also them to our house!

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