Rapolo, PNG, 24 November 2020 -- On the weekend of 20-21 November, the parish of Mary Help of Christians, Rapolo in PNG, organized a formation for its lay mission partners. These are known as Catechists of the sub-parishes namely: Ramale, Tobera, Nordup, Malagunan, Palnakaur, Bitagalip, Don Bosco, Asing and Livuan. The formation took place in Rabaul in Haus Sekan, a spiritual Centre run by the FMI sisters and it was facilitated by the Parish Priest and Rector, Fr. Moise Paluku, SDB.
The facilitator introduced Salesian Youth Ministry to the catechists, but mostly the apostolate in “the Parishes and Shrines entrusted to the Salesians” as described in the Frame of Reference. Aware that the leaders and animators of the parish are new to the charism of Don Bosco, the Parish priest oriented them to what is the spirituality of the Salesians of Don Bosco, with the need to reach out to youth active in the parish. The parish has just celebrated its first anniversary, so the Parish needs a formation of its lay partners in the spirit of Don Bosco. The Catechists were also instructed on the structure of Church, the Salesian Family, the concept of the Educative and Pastoral Community to which they now belong.
The last day of the formation was spent in a thorough evaluation of each Chapel’s activities and the statistics. The head catechist, Mr. Nicholas Kukup, thanked the Salesians for their openness to the people and the missionary work of evangelization they are undertaking in various community.
