austraLasia

?

Shortcut

PrevPrev Article

NextNext Article

Larger Font Smaller Font Up Down Go comment Print Attachment
Views 1237 Comment 0
ALA_5266

20191204_PGS.jpg

A Korean Salesian reflects

By Br. Philip Neri Hwang Bokman


Araimiri, Papua New Guinea, 3 December 2109 -- Br. Philip Neri Hwang Bokman is not very young in chronological terms but his heart is full of enthusiasm and missionary zeal. He has already an extensive experience in Salesian missionary life. Through an agreement between the Provincials of KOR and PGS he recently went for a missionary experience in Papua New Guinea in November 2019. He shares his reflections after his missionary experience.


“When I arrived in Port Moresby I was welcomed by the confreres from the Provincial house. My arrival was a reason for a simple family celebration with the confreres who happened to be in the Provincial house. Then I was given a few days cultural orientation by the Provincial, Fr. Alfred Maravilla, so that I could understand the Melanesian culture and help me through my initial cultural shock.


On the fourth day after my arrival I was on my way to Araimiri, the first Salesian presence in PNG. After 8 hours by very rough road, we reached Kerema, the Provincial centre of the Gulf Province. Then we had to cross the Bay for a 20 minute dinghy ride. On the other side of the shore we had to ride again on the truck for 45 minutes through bush track until we reached Don Bosco Araimiri. I noticed that the truck was marked as a gift of the John Lee Foundation.


Araimiri is a station where we have a Secondary School with around 200 boys and girls, many come from remote villages, and the parish which is a few kilometers away through bush track. The community of 5 Salesians and 3 MSI Sisters work together to serve the young and the people of the area. I was able to visit the villages of Ovaa, Akapiru and Herehere, with their own chapels and learning centres. I also saw the plaque in the chapel of Herehere remembering the Mission Office of the SDB Korean Province for sponsoring its construction.


After almost a month of sharing the life of the confreres, my experience made me recall how in the early days, in my childhood, my whole family had to walk even for more than an hour to go for mass to our parish, just like the people in Araimiri. In Araimiri life is tough. Confreres do not have the conveniences of daily life we now take for granted like the internet, phone coverage and electricity, except when the generator is on from 6-10 pm. But there we have time to deepen our fraternal and prayer life. This simplicity of life was what I once experienced as a young religious when we were not yet industrialised and technologically advanced as we are today in Korea. Indeed, I am very happy I came to PGS for this missionary experience.


Before I left I made a wooden tabernacle for the Church of Araimiri. I came to know later that the old tabernacle that needed replacement was actually built by another Salesian brother 40 years ago, Br. Joseph Kramar. I think like the tabernacle, we missionaries ought to be ‘where’ people can meet Jesus!”



20191204_PGS1.jpg


20191204_PGS2.jpg


20191204_PGS3.jpg


20191204_PGS4.jpg


Attach

Drag and drop your files here, or Click attach files button.

Maximum File Size : 0MB (Allowed extentsions : *.*)

0 file(s) attached ( / )

  1. 5975(VI)_Don Bosco Parish Fiji Youth Gathering

    By Falefa Elia Nasinu (Suva) Fiji, 28 April 2023 -- The Catholic Youth Gathering at Don Bosco Parish in Fiji was a resounding success, bringing together young Catholics from all over the country to strengthen their companionship and faith i...
    Date2023.04.28 CategoryPac. Reply0 Views304 file
    Read More
  2. 5975(V)_Father Provincial Barnabas meets Dalat Community Cooperators

    By Viet SC Don Bosco Da Lat, Vietnam, 28 April 2023 -- On the evening of April 26, during the visit to the Don Rua Community (Don Bosco Da Lat), Father Barnabas Le An Phong had a meeting with Cooperators of the Mother Help of Christians Cen...
    Date2023.04.28 CategoryASC Reply0 Views287 file
    Read More
  3. 5975(IV)_Rector Major’s visit to Brunswick Community

    The future is in good hands.” By Afia Enosa SDB Brunswick (Melbourne), Australia, 27 April 2023 -- Within his very tight schedule for the Centenary celebrations, the Rector Major, Father Ángel Fernández Artime made a sho...
    Date2023.04.28 CategoryAUL Reply0 Views271 file
    Read More
  4. 5975(III)_Witnessing to constant vocational and charismatic growth - ASC Korea

    By Salesian Cooperators Provincial Council KOR Seoul, South Korea, 28 April 2023 -- Six years after the previous EAO regional congress in Tokyo (May 2017) each of the 8 Salesian ASC provinces in the East Asia - Oceania Region is preparing f...
    Date2023.04.28 CategoryASC Reply0 Views279 file
    Read More
  5. 5975(II)_“Realising Don Bosco’s Dream for Oceania”

    PGS Vice-Province expanding to Vanuatu By Ms. Isabella Saleu Don Bosco Past Pupil-PNG Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 27 Aprril 2023 -- The first Salesians had arrived in Papua New Guinea on June 14, 1980. The presence of Fr. Valeriano Barb...
    Date2023.04.28 CategoryPGS Reply0 Views392 file
    Read More
  6. 5975(I)_Philippines ADMA National Council and Foundation Day Celebration

    By Maria Junifer Makati, Manila, Philippines, 28 April 2023 -- On 23 April 2023, ADMA members in the Philippines convened for the General Council Meeting and celebration of ADMA's Foundation Day. This was held in Roozen Hall, St. John B...
    Date2023.04.28 CategoryFIN Reply0 Views229 file
    Read More
  7. 5974(III)_Emmaus Journey with a difference! The Rector Major at St Marys Parish and Youth Centre

    By Fr. Will Matthews St Mary's, Western Sydney, Australia, 24 April 2023 -- The third day of Rector-Major Fr Ángel Fernández Artime’s visit to Australia saw him travel to St Mary’s an extremely diverse suburb l...
    Date2023.04.24 CategoryAUL Reply0 Views409 file
    Read More
  8. 5974(II)_English-speaking Salesian Family Delegates meet in Turin

    By Br. Clarence Watts SDB (AFM) Colle Don Bosco, Turin, Italy, 24 April 2023 -- On Friday 14 April, the Salesian Family Delegates [31 in total] from the English-speaking provinces gathered at Colle Don Bosco to begin their course on various...
    Date2023.04.24 CategoryWorld Reply0 Views336 file
    Read More
  9. 5974(I)_ADMA in the Southern Philippines - dynamic ongoing animation brings fruits

    By Fr. Godofredo Atienza, SDB Spiritual animator ADMA Cebu, Philippines, 24 April 2023 -- Maayung buntag sa tanan! Happy Easter from Cebu! ADMA in the FIS province is growing through patient, enthusiastic and ongoing animation. We would jus...
    Date2023.04.24 CategoryFIS Reply0 Views376 file
    Read More
  10. 5973(III)_Day Two: Fr Ángel then took it upon himself to entertain the crowd!

    Engadine, Sydney, Australia, 23 April 2023 -- Day two of the Rector Major Fr Ángel Fernández Artime’s visit to Australia began with a tour of the Don Bosco Shrine, or St John Bosco Parish Church, guided by Fr Frank Berta...
    Date2023.04.23 CategoryAUL Reply0 Views449 file
    Read More
List
Board Pagination Prev 1 ... 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 ... 533 Next
/ 533