A day with the bishops

By ABIGAIL SETA

BISHOPS and cardinals from the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania (FCBCO) visited and spent time with students at the La Salle Technical College, Hohola, Port Moresby on Monday.
With enthusiasm and vigour, the students welcomed the visitors to their school as Motuan dancers in traditional attire led them to the school hall.
Principal of La Salle Technical College, Brother Rick Gaffney welcomed each of the guests.
“Your visit today is a great support to our college community. As a Catholic agency school, the interest you have shown us has affirmed us in our endeavours for education, training and formation of young Christian men and women.”
Gaffney gave a brief history of the college and shared with the bishops on the courses that are taken at the school.
Also speaking to the bishops were two student representatives, school captains, Lamasapom Eddie and Gorethy Turbarat who are both in Grade 11.
School captain Eddie gave an insight on the background of the students and the many challenges that they faced.
“Many of us live in settlements and villages near Port Moresby and we face challenges which make it hard for us to learn,” he said.
“The school helps students in many ways and it is a privilege for me to be a student here at La Salle Technical College.”
He thanked the Catholic Church for creating a college that gives each of the students’ great opportunities in their lives.
Turbarat did the school proud as she said, “La Salle Technical College provides us with amazing opportunities to fulfil our hopes and dreams. We leave this school not only as good Christians and Lasallians but also have skilled and competent workers and technicians to go out and serve the people of our beautiful country Papua New Guinea”.
The FCBCO participants were then given a tour of the final year trade classes and were treated to a farewell procession by the Motuan dancers.
The bishops appreciated the students’ discipline and ability to interact very warmly and with confidence.
Earlier the bishops celebrated mass at St Charles Lwanga parish in Gerehu. Present for the celebration were several people who are differently abled and street kids. It was one more sign of the church reaching out to people on the periphery.
Bishop John Bosco Baremes, was the main celebrant at the Eucharistic celebration. The message at the homily by Fr Eteuati Lapa was for the young people.
He invited them to repeat – “Jesus loves me. Jesus died for me. Jesus calls me to carry on his mission to love others”.
The bishops were led to the altar by the Southern region dancers. The offertory dance was by the youth of St Charles Lwanga Parish and the choir was led by Gideon Giyovadulu. The mass was coordinated by Eric Kumasan.
The FCBCO Assembly held their concluding Eucharistic celebration on Tuesday at the Airways Hotel at 6.30am.
The bishops and cardinals were in Port Moresby this week for their meeting. The special guest at the meeting was the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

•  Abigail Seta is a journalist with the Catholic Bishops Conference of PNG and Solomon Islands.