FCBCO Assembly visits CBC

-Abigail Seta

 

Gordons, Port Moresby: Delegates of the FCBCO Assembly took a tour on Sunday, 15th April to the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

 

The purpose of the visit was to bless CBC’s new conference room that is currently under construction. 

Cardinal Soane Mafi of Tonga did the honour of blessing the building where he blessed it with Holy Water.   

 

Present at the reception was the FCBCO delegates, CBC Staff together with Bp Rochus Tatamai MSC, CBC’s President and Cardinal John Ribat. 

 

They were warmly welcomed by two staff representatives dressed in traditional attire while the rest of the staff welcomed the Assembly with a song. 

 

Bp Rochus Tatamai MSC opened the reception with a word of prayer and after the opening, a presentation on the brief history of CBC PNG and SI was given by Fr Victor Roche, CBC’s General Secretary and Demoti Magini, CBC’s CCDF Officer. 

 

Light refreshments were served.

 

Earlier the Bishops celebrated Mass at 14 different parishes in Port Moresby.  The celebrations were well prepared and the congregations were delighted to have several bishops at their local parish.  On the other hand the bishops were impressed by the lively singing which was accompanied by processions and traditional dances. 

 

Abp Mark Coleridge, Archdiocese of Brisbane; Bp Dairusz, Diocese of Goroka; Bp Otto Separy, Diocese of Aitape and Msgr Gerard Burns, Vicar General of Wellington and President of Caritas Oceania celebrated the Eucharist in the parish of Mary Help of Christians, Sabama.  The mass was held at Don Bosco, Gabutu.  It was also the launching of the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the parish, which brought together the four outstations for the celebration.