austraLasia

?

Shortcut

PrevPrev Article

NextNext Article

Larger Font Smaller Font Up Down Go comment Print Attachment
ALA_5435

20200731_PGS.jpg

Personal sharing of Fr Ambrose Pereira sdb, Vice Province of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands


Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 31 July 2020 --


Islands lost in time

Isolated and cut off as they are from development, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea are islands lost in time. They lack the basics of water, shelter and clothing. Health and education are limited and as the fourth world they lack the connectivity so much needed in our ‘Digital Age’.


Solomon Islands, ‘Pearl of the Pacific’ has nature at its best in its 992 mountainous islands and coral atolls with a variety of flora and fauna, exquisite and abundant fruits, vegetables, crystal clear water, unique sea creatures. Time stands still as one encounters groups of people, young and old, under the shade of the huge trees, sheltering themselves from the equatorial heat. Regular rainfall over several months of the year, brings a gentle, cool and refreshing breeze.


‘Land of the Unexpected’ is Papua New Guinea, a country inhabited by over 8 million people, 800 tribes and an equal number of languages. A country rich in natural resources, culture and tradition that are passed on orally from one generation to the next. Sadly, the country rates extremely high in violence and in the abuse of the weaker sex.


However, despite its isolation and lack of connectivity, Hollywood and Bollywood action movies are regular forms of entertainment in remote villages of the isolated islands. Gradually these movies are shaping young minds and changing ingrained attitudes, encouraging an abusive lifestyle and encouraging a violent and dominant behaviour.


A mission to our people


Spending nearly two decades of enjoyable mission work, enriching moments of interaction with simple people and adventurous years in the ‘Hapi Isles’ and in the ‘Land of the Unexpected’, indeed a small-time frame for a missionary in the South Pacific, I look back and reflect. Several of the dedicated and brave Marist, SVD and MSC priests, brothers and sisters, have celebrated their ‘Golden Jubilees’ in Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. They have planted the church with great love and sacrifice, blood and tears in these damp and moist islands that are insect prone. Malaria, caused by widely prevalent mosquitoes carrying Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, weakens the individual necessitating rest.


Over the years, I have learnt to appreciate the people. Their knowledge of mother nature and their ability to manage with the minimum is deeply ingrained in them. “You have a high IQ and are able to perceive, read and understand situations and people. Once you build on your ‘rhythm of life’, you will do excellently anywhere in the world”, was my constant refrain to the students during the Good Morning and night talks.


Missionary activity is something that breaks through our customary models and ways of thinking. (Maximum Illud). It means that as I strive to bring about an authentic missionary encounter with this unique culture, I must strive to divest myself of my own culture. This is no easy task, as I constantly want to return to my food habits, the way I dress and my learned ways of doing things. “Take off your sandals” (Ex 3:5) is a reminder that only then can I be a source of life-giving power of God over the power of death.


My mission was Social Communications and Youth Ministry for the Catholic Church in the Solomon Islands. With an experience of youth ministry in Mumbai, I realized that young people have a lot to do with the media. We need to harness the talent, zeal and energy of our young people and get them involved in the positive aspects of the media. This is not only to their advantage but to the benefit of all in the community.


Part 2 to follow shortly.



20200731_PGS1.jpg


20200731_PGS2.jpg


20200731_PGS3.jpg


20200731_PGS4.jpg


Attach

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

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

0 file(s) attached ( / )
  • Quyn Stuart 2020.12.29 22:25

    

    Thanks for your quick and easy to make recipe of this sweet berry Christmas. Your marketing assignmment help for sharing this recipe is also so concise which can saves both the reader and the writer time. Keep sharing some more delicious and easy to cook techniques.

  1. 5437(III)_SYM “Huddle” for the “New Normal”

    ALA_5437 By Mr. Stephen Borja Makati City, the Philippines, 2 August 2020 -- Some 74 Salesians, lay animators, and youth leaders participated in the “SYM Huddle,” an online forum on youth group animation amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Are ...
    Date2020.08.03 CategoryFIN Reply0 Views437 file
    Read More
  2. 5437(II)_“Your statutes are my heritage forever” (Ps 119:111)

    ALA_5437 Ordinations to the Priesthood in the Salesian Province of Vietnam By Br. Pham hong Phuoc, SDB Xuan Hiep, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 01 August 2020 -- On Saturday 01 August 2020, at 8 am, in the church of Don Bosco Xuan Hiep parish...
    Date2020.08.03 CategoryVIE Reply0 Views449 file
    Read More
  3. 5437(I)_Living Fraternity and Family Spirit in Happiness

    ALA_5437 Provincial Community Day, Vietnam By Br. Pham hong Phuoc, SDB Xuan Hiep, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam, 31 July 2020 -- On Friday 31 July 2020, at 8 am, in the church of Don Bosco Xuan Hiep parish, the Vietnam province's provincial co...
    Date2020.08.03 CategoryVIE Reply0 Views654 file
    Read More
  4. 5436(III)_Don Bosco with his Globe and Salesians with the World Map

    ALA_5436 RMG, Sacro Cuore, Italy, 1 August 2020 -- As in other years, this year too we can lay our hands on an updated digital version of the 'Salesian World Map' for 2020. This wonderful animation tool has been available since 2012, avail...
    Date2020.08.02 CategoryRMG Reply0 Views607 file
    Read More
  5. 5436(II)_Time of Blessing amidst the Covid Pandemic in Anisakan

    ALA_5436 By Fr. Bosco Zeya Aung (Nyi Nyi) Nazareth House - Anisakan Myanmar, 2 August 2020 -- Here in Anisakan, Salesian Community of Nazareth House, all of us are fine. Reflecting upon these past few months, Covid pandemic, while it bring...
    Date2020.08.02 CategoryMYM Reply0 Views511 file
    Read More
  6. 5436(I)_Myanmar - First steps in Lay Mission Partners formation

    ALA_5436 By Fr. Mark Cin Vum Khan, SDB Myitkyina Don Bosco - Kachin State, 1 August 2020 -- Nothing could ever separate us from loving Jesus Christ and our founder Don Bosco. We are grateful to the Good Lord for giving us the strength and ...
    Date2020.08.02 CategoryMYM Reply0 Views603 file
    Read More
  7. 5435(II)_Empowering young people through Media Education - Part 1

    ALA_5435 Personal sharing of Fr Ambrose Pereira sdb, Vice Province of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 31 July 2020 -- Islands lost in time Isolated and cut off as they are from development, the Solomo...
    Date2020.07.31 CategoryPGS Reply1 Views644 file
    Read More
  8. 5435(I)_“Walking together with Jesus Christ through the spirit of Don Bosco”

    ALA_5435 Annual retreat of the Thailand Salesian Aspirants in Hua Hin By Fr. Anusit Chanphen Hua Hin, Thailand, 29 July 2020 -- Fr. John Somchart SDB, rector of Nazareth House, organised the 2020 annual spiritual retreat for the Salesian a...
    Date2020.07.31 CategoryTHA Reply0 Views626 file
    Read More
  9. 5434(III)_Life given to the Gypsy mission: Fr. Peter Bešenyei, SDB

    ALA_5434 By our own correspondent Slovakia, 30 July 2020 -- The small country of Slovakia with 5.3 million people has about an 8-9% Gypsy (Roma) minority, in 4th place in Europe where a significant portion of about 10 million Roma-Sinti et...
    Date2020.07.30 CategoryWorld Reply0 Views731 file
    Read More
  10. 5434(II)_When we serve, we become like Jesus!

    ALA_5434 First profession of two Salesians in Hong Kong By Cl. Andrew Chan and Cl. Thomas Li Newly professed Salesians Salesian Missionary House, Hong Kong, China, 30 July 2020 -- The 12 novices for 2020-2021 in Lawaan - Cebu (FIS), Novice...
    Date2020.07.30 CategoryCIN Reply0 Views755 file
    Read More
List
Board Pagination Prev 1 ... 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 ... 533 Next
/ 533