Alexishafen’s history threatened by encroaching sea
HISTORY
By WENCESLAUS MAGUN
AN urgent drive to raise funds to build a 500-meter seawall at Alexishafen Catholic Station, located approximately 25km northwest of Madang town is currently underway.
This project aims to address the ongoing issues related to coastal erosion and protect the station from the adverse effects of rising sea levels and extreme weather events.
“I am really worried that if nothing is done to prevent the sea from washing away the land that houses the retreat and conference centers and the other buildings here in Alexishafen, these historical buildings will soon be washed away”, said Fr George Ryfa, SVD, Alexishafen retreat and conference center manager.
Project overview
The proposed project entails the construction of a robust and sustainable 500km seawall along the coastal area of Alexishafen station. The seawall will provide essential protection against erosion, storm surges, and tidal fluctuations, safeguarding the station’s infrastructure, land and inhabitants.
The primary objectives of this project are as follows:
a. Mitigate coastal erosion: The seawall will act as a barrier, preventing further erosion of the coastal land.
b. Protect infrastructure: The construction of a seawall will safeguard critical infrastructure, including buildings, roads, and utilities, from damage caused by rising sea levels and storm surges.
c. Preserve the environment: The proposed seawall design will incorporate environmentally friendly materials and construction practices to minimize any negative impact on the surrounding ecosystem.
d. Enhance community resilience: By providing a protective barrier, the seawall will enhance the resilience of the Alexishafen Catholic Station community against climate change and its associated risks.
“We believe that the construction of a seawall at Alexishafen Catholic Station is crucial to protect the station, its infrastructure, and the surrounding community from the adverse effects of coastal erosion and climate change,” reiterated Fr George. He said his team of experienced professionals are committed to delivering a high-quality seawall project that meets any keen donor’s requirements and ensures the long-term sustainability of the seawall.
Contact details
Fr George and his team are delighted to discuss this project further and answer any questions or concerns from anyone who may have any queries about it. Please feel free to contact Fr George at [email protected] or mobile 72037533
Background
Alexishafen is located in Latitude 5° 4’ 60S and Longtitude 145° 48’ 0E in Papua New Guinea (Wikipedia). “Alexishafen”, is named after a Russian duke by some Russians who surveyed the New Guinea coastline in the early 1800s. It is situated eight nautical miles (25km) to the north of Madang town.
On Aug 13, 1896, the first six missionaries from the congregation of the Societas Verbi Divini (SVD) or the Divine Word Missionaries led by their first SVD superior, Fr Eberhard Limbrock, 36, arrived in Friedrich-Wilhemshafen (Madang town) in obedience to their founder Fr Arnold Janssen (now Saint Arnold Janssen).
They came intending to establish their first mission post in Friedrich Wilhemshafen (Madang town) in New Guinea. After arriving in Madang they were not cordially welcomed by the Lutherans (Rhenish Mission Society) nor did the German New Guinea Company Neuguinea-Kampegnte, who were administering Madang back then, who failed to give them a 10-hectare land promised to them. This forced Fr Limbrock and his five companions, Fr Franz Vormann, Fr Joseph Edweg, Brothers Canisius Hautkappe (a mechanic), Eustochius Tigges (a carpenter and cabinet maker) and Theoducph Schmidt (a cook and tailor) to move six weeks later to Tumleo Island, 450 km northwest of Madang in current West Sepik Province, where they established their first mission station in 1886 after buying a plantation from Neuguinea-Kampegnte.
Before moving to Tumleo, Fr Limbrock, stricken by malaria stayed back in Friedrich-Wilhemshafen (Madang town) and in September 1896 visited Alexishafen for the first time and was impressed by the site. He was accompanied by Brothers Eustochius and Theodulph who later went to Tumleo from Alexishafen to join their companions.
Whilst, staying in Madang town, he sent Fathers Vormann and Edweg and Brothers Canisius ahead to Tumleo to establish their first SVD Catholic mission station there. They were later joined by the first Holy Spirit Sisters (SSpS) in 1899.
In 1904 Fr Limbrock returned to Madang town and went to Alexishafen again, where he bought 160 hectares of land and established their second mission station in New Guinea.
In June 1904, a contract of sale was closed with the owner of the property, Mr Futol who was the inhabitant of Sek an island which lies opposite to the entrance of the harbour. Fr Limbrock was joined by Br Canisius Hautkappe (a mechanic), and Br. Sylvester Litzenberger. After settling in at Alexishafen, Fr Limbrock celebrated his first Mass on March 23, 1905.
Work began in cleaning and clearing up the 160 hectares of land. Local labourers helped the early missionaries in clearing the station. They also helped plant coconuts and rubber as well as look after pigs, and cattle so the early missionaries could sustain their activities, and lives and not rely heavily on their Mother House in Germany or Europe for supplies.
By the 1930s the construction and development of Alexishafen reached its peak under Bishop Francis Wolf, the first SVD bishop of East New Guinea with the completion of the majestic St Michael’s Cathedral in 1939.
More priests and brothers arrived from Europe which strengthened the growth of the mission activities. Remote areas were reached by small planes and boats which continued their services until the 1980s.
From 1926 to 1939 mission work spread far and wide from Alexishafen into the hinterlands, coastal regions, far flung islands and eventually into the highlands of New Guinea.
One outstanding structure built during the reign of Bishop Francis Wolf, SVD, bishop of East New Guinea, was the St Michael’s Cathedral. History says the cathedral was believed to be the biggest and the best in PNG and the Pacific at that time.
St Michael the archangel’s statue was brought to Alexishafen from Germany in 1939 and was planned to be placed in the cathedral’s niche high up on the façade. Unfortunately, this did not eventuate.
The allied forces who were hunting for the Japanese soldiers who arrived early in the morning on Dec 23, 1942 in barges, and forcefully occupied St Michael’s Alexishafen, raided Alexishafen on Sept 1, 1943 and flattened it including the majestic cathedral.
Under the Japanese occupation, the Japanese Army developed the Alexishafen area into a base and airfield area expanding to Danip and building a runway to the south for bombers. It was known as Alexishafen Airfield.
Allied aircraft bombed, flattened the area, and neutralised the airfields from late 1942 until 1944.
From Dec 18, 1942 up until April 15, 1944, the Allies occupied Alexishafen. The US Navy also established its base in Alexishafen on June 13, 1944, as a base to support their war operations after capturing many Japanese supply dumps and abandoned equipment. They closed it on Jan 28, 1945.
Fortunately, St Michael’s statue was not destroyed during the Allied raids as it was stored on the verandah of the brothers’ house which was not bombed. The statue now rests in the SVD ouse at Divine Word University.
The early missionaries including Bishop Francis Wolf were held captive by the Japanese soldiers who took them to the hills of Gayaba (Gayava in local dialect) and later walked them to Bogia. From Bogia they sailed to Manam Island and joined other Lutheran missionaries.
As they were sailing from Manam en route Hollandia (present-day Jayapura in West Papua), on a Japanese ship Yorishime Maru, the American war planes sighted the ship at day time and bombed it near Wewak harbour, killing many on board. Those who survived and were brought to the Wewak hospital for treatment also died, including Bishop Wolf. His remains were later brought back to Alexishafen and buried in the chapel which has replaced the majestic cathedral he once built.
Gayaba is now respected by the Catholics in Madang. Pilgrims visit Gayaba for spiritual enrichment annually. This sacred site is now known as Maria Helpim in Tok Pisin or Mary, Our Lady of Perpetua Help.
Prior to and after the war, Alexishafen grew into the epicenter of the Catholic Church in East New Guinea. SVD and SSpS mission services continued after the Second World War using mission boats and planes.
The SVD and SSpS missionaries and lay people provided shipbuilding and maintenance, carpentry and joinery, mechanical and machining, electrical, butchery, and plumbing services, as well as built health centers and schools and provided medicines, doctors, nurses and teachers to run these institutions.
They also established the first Doilon post office, a catechist training school at Gayaba, a domestic girls school in Alexishafen which has now become a technical vocational educational training (TVET) school and a railroad (known as Bonny Railway or donkey railway) connecting Alexishafen and Gayaba catechist training center.
The SVDs and SSpS also helped establish St Michael’s Primary School, a shoe shop, printing house, and sawmill and created job opportunities for many local and expatriate men and women.
Many of these services have been closed after the SVD handed the property over to the Madang Archdiocese in 1994/95.
Under the reign of Archbishop Adolf Noser, founder of the St Theresa’s Sisters, a local congregation, the Catholic Church in Madang established the SVD High School which transited to Divine Word Institute in 1979 and later became Divine Word University in 1996.
Alexishafen currently houses the conference and retreat centers, Holy Spirit Sisters (SSpS), St Theresa Sisters Convent, Meri Safe House, St Michael’s Primary School, Alexishafen Hospital, a catechist training centre, St Anna’s TVET scjpp;, a teaching congregation of sisters from India, the Assisi Sisters of Immaculate Conception who are currently teaching at St Jacinta Day High School, at Maren, residential houses for teachers, nurses, nuns and other workmen for the station.
Alexishafen also has a cemetery that has become the safe home for the deceased missionaries and lay people.
Many of the war relics and the historical buildings built in Alexishafen by the pioneer missionaries, including the main wharf and jetty with the newly built structures today face the eminent threat from erosion, storm surges, and tidal fluctuations.
In addition, the existing RD wharf and fishing facilities which are been taken over by the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) and the establishment of the special economic zone (SEZ) opposite Alexishafen pause imminent marine and social threats to the livelihoods of the inhabitants in the surrounding areas. These corporate entities and the State have a social corporate responsibility to support the locals and the Catholic Church in Madang.
- Wenceslaus Magun is a freelance writer.