Cluny Sisters celebrating 50 years of service in country

THE Cluny Sisters of the Catholic Church are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their work in the country, beginning in Kerema, Gulf, where they began their missionary work.
Region leader Sr Rachel Arputham said it also coincided with the Year of St Joseph, the patron saint of the congregation.
“As we celebrate the 50 years of our presence here in PNG, we give glory to God for the wonders He has done through us for our people and we thank all those who have been part of this faith journey,” she said.
The congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny has around 2,600 sisters in 57 countries, 30 provinces, and 418 communities in five continents, working in education, health, evangelisation and social action.
The sisters will celebrate a two-day event on Jan 23 in Gulf and the second on Sunday at the St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Boroko, Port Moresby.
The Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny are missionary disciples follow in the footsteps of their foundress Bl. Anne Marie Javouhey.
In 1971, Sister Josephine O’Kelly and Sister Gwen Daw made their first journey to Kanabea village on a mountainside in Gulf at the request of the then Archbishop of Melbourne Bishop Knox.
They were later joined by Sr Bernadette Gauthier that same year.
Today, a small group of Sisters from Australia, India, Philippines and PNG are serving the people of Kamina, Kotidanga and Kaintiba in the mountains of Gulf.