Rousing welcome to Cardinal Parolin
-
Fr Ambrose Pereira sdb
Port Moresby:‘Gut moning long yupela olgeta,’ said Cardinal Pietro Parolin to a rousing welcome as he greeted the people this morning at the Jackson International Airport. He spoke of his joy at being able to be amongst the people of Papua New Guinea. “I come as Secretary of State of His Holiness Pope Francis and I know that your welcome is also a sign of your affection for him. The Holy Father asked me to assure you of his closeness and of his prayers for your country. Let us hope we can share in these days a good experience of the love of God.”
Cardinal Parolin was welcomed by Archbishop KurianMathew Vayalunkal, Apostolic Nuncio to PNG and SI and Cardinal John Ribat, Archbishop of Port Moresby as he disembarked from the aircraft at 6.15am, Wednesday, April 11, 2018.
Bishop Rochus Tatamai MSC, President of CBC PNGSI and Bishop of Bereina, Fr Victor Roche svd, General Secretary of CBC PNGSI, Bishop Charles Drennan, Palmerston North, NZL, Mr. James Van Schie, Executive Secretary NZCBC, Bp Anton Bal, Bishop of Kundiawa, PNG, Msgr. Josef Sayer, Fr. Ambrose Pereira sdb and several others welcomed the Cardinal who was accompanied by Msgr. Seamus Patrick Horgan.
Professor Ottar Georg Edenhofer, one of the speakers for the Assembly arrived on the same flight.
Despite the rain, over 300 people, religious and lay faithful made their way to the airport to welcome the Secretary of State in the early hours of the morning. Fr. Victor welcomed the cardinal for the FCBCO Assembly at which he will be the keynote speaker.
Gifts of betel-nut, and a live chicken were presented to him by Papuan dancers group from the St. Charles Lwauga parish.
The FCBCO conference will have the presence of 72 bishops from the four different Conferences to meet and discuss issues that are of importance to Oceania and the region.
The Cardinal also visits Papua New Guinea to meet and celebrate with the religious and the lay faithful. Their joyful and enthusiastic presence filled him with immense joy and gratitude. The Cardinal will celebrate the Opening Mass at Caritas Secondary School on the 12th April at 4pm.
A mass for the religious will be celebrated at St Joseph’s Parish on the 13thApril at 2.30pm. A mass and conference for the laity will be celebrated at the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, Boroko on 14thApril at 7.30am. The Cardinal returns to Rome later that day.
Media Conference on 11th April
11th April, 2018 - Media Conference at 11.15 am at the CBC Conference Hall -
Present:
Fr Victor Roche svd
Bp Rochus Tatamai MSC
Bp John Dew, Wellington, NZL
Prof Ottmar Edenhoffer
Msgr. Josef Sayer
Fr Victor welcomed the media to the Press Conference.
Bp Rochus Tatamai MSC, CBC President welcomed Cardinal Pietro Parolin, (who arrived earlier that morning), and the Bishops of the 4 conferences. He said that it is a time of fraternal sharing and an opportunity for the bishops to share on issues that concern our common home. “It is our responsibility to leave the world in a better place”, he said.
Cardinal John Dew, Wellington, NZ, recalled the hospitality and welcome 16 years ago for the FCBCO meeting in Rabaul. “The awareness of climate change which was just a session has now turned into an entire conference. The 4 individual conferences need to take little steps, to influence individuals and government”, he said.
Prof Ottmar Edenhoffer,as scientist, highlighted that the Paris Agreement is not on track. He congratulated the Holy Father on Laudato Si, and said that it has been appreciated by Catholics and non-Catholics. “The rich countries have the responsibility to ensure that the future for mankind is enhanced”, he said.
Questions to the panel then followed.
The Media are invited to cover the following FCBCO Assembly sessions -
1. 12th April @ 8.45am - 10.30am - Welcome and Keynote Address.
2. 17th April @ 6.30am - 8.30 am - Mass and Handover to the new President.
A summary will be sent at the end of each day -
The Media is invited for -
12th @ 4pm - Opening Eucharistic celebration @ CARITAS Secondary technical School, Boroko
13th @ 2.30pm - Mass for the Religious @ St. Josephs Boroko
14th @ 7.30am - Mass for the Laity @ the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, Boroko.
15th April - Masses in 14 parishes across Port Moresby that will be attended by a few bishops.
16th @ 9am Mass with People Differently Abled and Street Kids @ St Charles Lwanga Parish, Gerhu Stage 2 then to La Salle Technical College, Hohola
A Press Conference is scheduled for the 11th April at 11am at CBC Conference Hall.
Media Conference on 9th April
9th April, 2018 - Media Conference at 11.15 am at the CBC Conference Hall -
Present:
Cardinal John Ribat MSC
Fr Victor Roche svd
Bp Charles Drennan, Palmerston North, NZL
Msgr. Josef Sayer
Fr Victor opened the conference thanking the media for their presence and welcoming the participants who have already arrived.
Papua New Guinea is privileged to have Cardinal Pietro Parolin for the FCBCO Assembly. He is the Secretary of State to His Holiness Pope Francis. He celebrates a mass with the Religious on the 13th April, at St. Josephs, Boroko and one with the Laity at Emmaus Conference Centre, Boroko on the 14th April.
Cardinal Ribat spoke on the issues of the region that will be dealt with at the FCBCO Assembly. He commented on the eruption of the volcano and the recent earthquakes. He also mentioned that the following will be discussed - Deep Sea Mining, Refugees, Asylum Seekers of Manus and Nauru. He highlighted the need for the church to care for the young and deal with the issues they face.
Bp Charles Drennan expressed his joy at the welcome received and the venue for the Assembly. He spoke on the need to care for the land and sea, while providing possibilities for work for our people.
Msgr Josef Sayer has visited the pacific on several occasions and commented on Climate Change and its effects.
The Media are invited to cover the following FCBCO Assembly sessions -
1. 12th April @ 8.45am - 10.30am - Welcome and Keynote Address.
2. 17th April @ 6.30am - 8.30 am - Mass and Handover to the new President.
A summary will be sent at the end of each day -
The Media is cordially invited for -
11th @ 4.50am - Arrival and welcome - Cardinal Parolin @ International Airport
12th @ 4pm - Opening Eucharistic celebration @ CARITAS
13th @ 2.30pm - Mass for the Religious @ St. Josephs Boroko
14th @ 7.30am - Mass for the Laity @ the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, Boroko.
15th April - Masses in 14 parishes across Port Moresby that will be attended by a few bishops.
16th @ 9am Mass with People Differently Abled and Street Kids @ St Charles Lwanga Parish, Gerhu Stage 2 then to La Salle Technical College, Hohola
A Press Conference is scheduled for the 11th April at 11am at CBC Conference Hall.