By Fr. Arjuna Lamapaha, SDB
Salesian Priest recently ordained as priest on 7 October 2020
He hails from the vice-province of Indonesia (INA), belongs to the 151st Missionary Expedition
He is sent on Mission Ad Gentes to the vice-province of PGS

       Port Moresby, PNG, 28 June 2021 -- One of the wonderful dreams of Don Bosco is the dream about Oceania. “Come and Help Us” is the invitation addressed to Don Bosco in the dream. They are the voices of young people of Oceania including the youth of Papua New Guinea and of the Solomon Islands. Today, this dream has come true for me in my life. The Salesians of Don Bosco together with the various groups in the Salesian Family have had a long journey of helping, educating and accompanying the youth of Oceania for over 40 years.

       I’m writing this simple reflection on the seventh day of freedom after being quarantined for 14 days due to the covid19 protocols of the country. Within these seven days of freedom, I have visited some Salesian communities in Port Moresby and even in the Gulf Province (the community of Don Bosco Araimiri) in the Diocese of Kerema. I saw the works of the Salesians, the young people and the mission which has given me a first impression that the Mission here in PGS is not an easy one.

       The situation of the people and all the things that I have seen in these few days make me ask a personal reflective question: What am I going to do here? I found out that this simple question is a challenge for me in my Mission. Personally, I have a very positive vision of the Salesian Mission here in the vice-province. I can feel the spirit of Don Bosco working among the young, for the young and with the young. Like Don Bosco, the Salesians are doing their best for the progress of the Mission. I have this excitement that I will be joining this huge and yet wonderful work of the Salesians here in the Mission.

       I see the Mission here in the vice-province of PGS as a fulfillment of the dream of Don Bosco and therefore, I believe that all the works here were also in the mind of Don Bosco. He wanted his Salesians to work here. On my part, I see myself as a Salesian dreamt by Don Bosco to work here in the PGS Mission. In line with the theme of the Strenna 2021 of the Rector Major Fr. Angel Fernandez, SDB “Moved by Hope”, I would say that my assignment here is greatly moved by Hope. I hope that the question of “What I am going to do here?” will be answered in my missionary life based on and moved by the Hope of the Congregation and the will of God. I pray and hope that God will make use of me in one way or another to bring out the best in the young and share in the Mission of ‘making all things new’. I am delighted and willingly give myself for the Mission.

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