Dedication Eucharist Celebration of the Catholic Professionals, Port Moresby Chapter with the Outgoing Apostolic Nuncio to PNG & Solomon Islands
- Mr Paul Harricknen, President of the Catholic Professionals Society
The Catholic Professionals Society, Port Moresby Chapter celebrated their 2021 Dedication and Opening Eucharist at the St Peter Chanel, Erima Parish on Saturday 13 February 2021.
The Holy Eucharist was presided by the guest of honour His Excellency the Apostolic Nuncio to PNG and Solomon Islands, Archbishop Kurian Mathew Vayalunkal. Concelebrants at the Mass were Fr. Michael Polszczyca, SVD, parish priest of St Peter’s Erima and Fr. Ambrose Pereira, SDB, Spiritual Director of the Catholic Professionals. The Mass was broadcasted on Radio Maria and streamed live by Fr. Martin Ween, priest Director of Radio Maria PNG.
The Mass was attended by a strong turn out of Catholic Professionals and the laity in general especially from the St Peter’s Erima parish community. In attendance also were staff from the CBC, religious and Archdiocese of Port Moresby including Sr. Josepha the pastoral Vicar for the Port Moresby Archdiocese and Ms. Eva Wangihama, the CBC Laity Commission Secretary. In his homily the Apostolic Nuncio expressed gratitude to the work of the Catholic Professionals and encouraged them to continue to be “a light that illuminates and the voice that proclaims the gospel message of Christ” to the world. The CPS 2021 annual plan of activities and events was also blessed during the Mass.
The occasion was also a farewell to the Nuncio by the Catholic Professionals. President, Paul Harricknen expressed words of gratitude to the Nuncio for his open friendship and interest in the work of the Catholic Professionals. The Nuncio was such a close and true friend personally to many, spiritually as a true shepherd who reached out to the flock even to the peripheries as he visited most of the dioceses in PNG and Solomon Islands. He was also a professional friend who did not hesitate to offer counsel and exchange information on pastoral, socio-economic and political issues of national and international concerns and interests, said Mr. Harricknen.
The Nuncio later gave a special address to the Catholic Professionals and the laity at the parish community hall. Quoting Pope Francis words during the assembly of the Pontifical Council for the laity on June 17, 2016 where His Holiness said, “We need well-formed lay people, animated by a sincere and clear faith, whose life has been touched by the personal and merciful love of Jesus Christ”, the Nuncio encouraged the Catholic Professionals to be “an evangelizing community that knows how to take the initiative without fear, to reach out to others, to seek out those who are distant and to reach out to crossroads, to invite in the excluded.”
He challenged the lay people to be holy, formed, and remain faithful to the Church and her teachings and to live out the faith witnessing and evangelizing in the world. While commending the Catholic Bishops Conference of PNGSI for recognizing the importance of the laity in the Church by declaring three years (2019-2021) to the laity with the theme, “Holy, Formed and Sent for Mission”, the Nuncio challenged the laity to strive for holiness and sacramental lives. The laity has an important role to play in the church and in the world in solidarity and commitment, the Nuncio said. This also means for the laity to be effectively engaged in the political, social and economic life of the society ushering in the gospel values and principles to the overtly secular world.
The occasion ended with food, drinks and social mingling and discussions among members and friends who attended the event.
The CPS Port Moresby Chapter thanks Fr. Michael, Peter & Cathy Yarong and the St Peter’s Erima parish youths for preparing and hosting the occasion with liturgy of the Holy Eucharist and the beautiful singing and the readings. Appreciation also to Fr. Martin Ween of Radio Maria PNG, and Camillus Liaia and his Tolai community for providing colour to the Mass with the entrance, offertory and recessional processions. The CPS is also grateful to all those CPS family members who assisted with food preparations, contributions and decorations of the church. To God be glory!
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