Silver Jubilee of the parish of Mary Help of Christians, Sabama
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 18 August 2019 -- The parish of Mary Help of Christians, Sabama celebrated its Silver Jubilee on the 18th August at Don Bosco Church, Gabutu. It had as its theme: Growing, Serving and Renewing.
Sir John Cardinal Ribat, Archbishop of Port Moresby was the main celebrant at the Thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration. He was joined by Bp Peter Baquero, Bishop of Kerema; Fr Ivo Coelho, Councillor for Formation; Fr Alfred Maravilla, Provincial of the vice-province of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands; Fr Jacek Pinocy, Secretary to the Apostolic Nuncio of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands and seven other priests.
Hon Justin Tachenko, Mr and Mrs Leena and Hidajat Hanafi, religious brothers and sisters, the Parish Pastoral Council, members of the Liklik Kristen Komuniti, different ministries and groups and nearly two thousand people filled the church for the celebration.
The Eucharistic celebration was in Pidgin and had a variety of cultural dances from the different communities. They young people of Sabama with other members of the parish led the liturgy and the choir.
In his homily, Cardinal Ribat highlighted the virtues of Our Blessed mother and invited the people to imitate her. He implored her blessings on the parishioners, that they can be a beacon of light to the people in the settlements and that vice and crime can be rooted out from the community.
A unique aspect of the entertainment was the decoration of the Salesians, priests and other VIPs with the traditional ‘bilas’of the different groups. This was in appreciation of the ongoing efforts made by the Salesians to be part of the life and culture of the people.
In his speech, Fr Angel Sanchez, acting parish priest spoke of the situation and history of the parish over the past 25 years. He thanked the former parish priests; the people present and all those responsible for the celebration.
The parishioners are striving to respond to the call of God to grow, serve and be renewed as they build themselves in the Catholic Faith.
