Port Moresby, PNG, 15 September 2016 -- A Thanksgiving Mass at the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, Don Bosco Technological Institute campus was held to celebrate the birthday of Fr. Peter Baquero sdb, Provincial of the newly formed PGS province. Present for the Eucharistic celebration were the Salesian communities in Port Moresby, the FMA Sisters, SSJ Sisters, Caritas Sisters of Jesus, male boarders, some members of the staff and other church-goers of the daily Mass.
“Woman behold your son; Son behold your Mother,” said Fr. Peter in his homily, as he reminded all present to be in constant union with Jesus.
Later, the whole student body assembled in the gymnasium to wish and and sing for for Fr. Provincial. In speaking to the gathering he recalled his early years. He started his missionary work in Don Bosco Technical School, Gabutu as a Salesian Brother when he was 22 years old.
“We need Salesians who are generous and available,” encouraging words of Fr. Valeriano Barbero sdb, pioneer of the Salesian Mission in PNG, have kept him happy and contented in his years of apostolic ministry with the young in the country. He urged the students to be ‘generous and available’ in the different workplace setting they will be in the future. “God can bring out the best in you if you are generous and available to the people around you,” he added.
On behalf of the student body, Francis Ngihal, BED-ELX/MAT and SRC President presented a gift for Fr. Peter.
On Wednesday, the institute celebrated the 41st Independence Day of PNG in advance. Dressed in PNG Contemporary attire, students and staff decided to have this as a Mufti Day. Buildings and roads were decorated with PNG artifacts and the newly-carved and painted totem poles. “They have been the gift of benefactors to beautify the institute”, said Fr. Louie Castañeda, SDB who together with the maintenance workers completed them for the occasion.
