Family’s faith opens parish

National

THE Lae Catholic diocese opened a new sub-parish, initiated by a family at Tanam in Wampar, Huon Gulf, last Thursday.
The St Benedict Catholic sub-parish Tanam was opened by Bishop Rozario Menezes and joined 18 other local churches and 21 Catholic parishes in the diocese.
It is a sub-parish of the Sacred Heart parish of Erap.
The diocese, under late bishop Christian Blouin, gave approval in 2016 and construction begin in 2017 and carried into last year.
The church was initially started as a small fellowship centre under the house of late Benedict and Regina Gyovadulu.
When the Gyovadulu’s and their 10 children settled in Tanam in 2006 after purchasing a piece of land from Tanam landowners, there was no church.
The family conducted prayer meetings, community fellowships and sponsored the parish’s Sunday liturgies.
The St Benedict Catholic community was established as a basic Catholic community (BCC) of the Erap parish in 2007.
The BCC grew and maintained their faith at Gyovadulu’s residence.
The woman behind the family and church establishment, Regina passed in 2016 and husband Benedict passed last August.
Son Rex continues his parents’ legacy with support from his other siblings.