Port Moresby,PNG, 25 September 2016 -- September 24-25 was the first Salesian Family Day of the new Salesian Province of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. The members of the Salesian Cooperators from Kokopo and Port Moresby, the ADMA, the Past Pupils’ Association, the Caritas Sisters, the FMA Sisters and the Salesians gathered at the DBTI ‘Grand Papua hall’ to have their formation session, fellowship, recreation and celebrate the Eucharist. Fr. Peter Baquero sdb, the Provincial led a core group of the Salesian Family members to organize the event and realize this endeavor for the seventy participants present.
Dwelling on the present realities of the family, resource person Fr. Philip Lazatin, SDB presented the topic “Some Family Challenges and our Salesian Response.” The participants were led to revisit one’s childhood experience in their family and dwell on the influence of one’s behavior and reactions to adult situations. Every participant was led to understand the four different roles and identify his or her particular role or roles as situations changed. Fr. Philip also shared the possible triggers and how to deal with it. He clearly stated that addiction can be cured with family connection. Discussions is groups followed. It gave the participants the occasion to reflect on their personal lives and family situations. The session was much appreciated by all the participants. Fr. Provincial then presided over the concelebrated Eucharistic celebration. While he thanked the Lord, he invited all to understand our human realities and enjoy lives in our families.
The next day, participants joined the Sunday Eucharist celebration at the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians. The Apostolic Nuncio, Kurian Mathew Vayalunkal, together with 16 bishops of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, several priests, religious and people thanked the Lord for the church in Papua New Guinea. The Nuncio highlighted the beauty and richness of the land, the Golden Jubilee of the Dioceses in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands and appreciated the presence of the Missionaries of Charity paying special tribute to recently canonized saint Mother Teresa of Kolkata.
The Salesian Family then regrouped to celebrate an appreciation of each one’s identity as individuals and as groups working together for evangelization and education of youth. Games, items and a fellowship meal followed. Each one now returns home after the two-day celebration with the call of the Rector Major reiterated by Fr. Peter Baquero to the members: ‘Grow deeper in the Salesian charism and reach out to others more by growing in numbers’.
