For God and country – The National

By KEVIN PAMBA
FINAL year students of Divine Word University were urged to be exemplary agents of positive change in Papua New Guinea as products of a Catholic university.
The call came from the Ambassador of Pope Francis to PNG, Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Kurian Mathew Vayalunkal during the 11th Missioning Ceremony of the Madang campus last Friday.
Archbishop Vayalunkal in his Homily (sermon) in the Missioning Mass reminded the students:
“You will walk into the future with great hope and concrete dreams and aspirations.
“But, let me tell you, my dear friends, you being graduates from this Catholic University should stand out and be different from others.
“You and I know that you are to be a light to the world, and therefore, it is important that you should look like, sound like, act like, and dress like true graduates of this Divine Word University.”
The Apostolic Nuncio reminded the outgoing students the emphasis the Catholic Church places on education as serving God and country:
“My dear brothers and sisters, the Catholic Church believes that the education of the young generations should be pro Deo et Patria – for God and Country. My fervent wish for all those will be “missioned” is that they will contribute to the future of Papua New Guinea with honesty, generosity and commitment, helping to strengthen the Catholic and Christian values, which are essential parts of its society and culture. The Church needs you to be the messengers of God’s truth, hope and love in the world ruled by fear and despair.
The Apostolic Nuncio shared his wise counsel with the students, staff, parents and others based around two Bible readings from Galatians 6:14-16 and Luke 10:1-9.
“The celebration of the Missioning is a great occasion to invoke divine assistance on the students and staff of this prestigious institution,” said Archbishop Vayalunkal.
“It is a time to thank God for the many blessings showered upon us and to ask for further blessings as these young graduates start a new chapter in their life.
“Today is not just about looking backward with gratitude; it is about looking ahead and exploring the various roads that are open to you.”
Archbishop Vayalunkal told the students that the Gospel passage in Luke 10:1-9 where Jesus commissions the disciplines to “go” into the world and spread the Good News is fitting for the Missioning Ceremony in DWU.
“So, my dear young friends, you too will be sent out to this world with a great mission,” said Archbishop Vayalunkal.
“Your parents sacrificed a great deal to give you a quality education.
“This University and your teachers educated you by imparting knowledge.
“Now, after finishing your course, you will leave this place.
“No, I would like to say, after completing your course, you will be sent out to the world.
“You will walk into the future with great hope and concrete dreams and aspirations,” the Apostolic Nuncio said.
He said while individual student has her or his own identity with personal dreams and ambitions all them ought to be part of the much-needed transformative solutions for PNG.
“You have your own identity, and you are called to strive for something big, something grand, something majestic.
“You must become part of the greatest challenge of transforming your beloved nation Papua New Guinea; you must be part of the greatest cause of transforming this Country.
“Like St Paul, we pray that ‘your love may increase and never stop improving your knowledge and deepening your perception so that you can always recognize what is best’” said the Apostolic Nuncio.
“Friends, very soon, you will be exposed to the world outside.
“Being aware of the dangers of this world, let me tell you that you will be sent out like lambs among the wolves.
“But I promise you that the Lord Jesus will be with you always,” said the Apostolic Nuncio.
He quoted the words of Pope Francis expressed in his latest Apostolic Exhortation, Christus Vivit or Christ is alive: “‘Christ is alive, and he wants you to be alive!’ because, ‘he is in you, he is with you, and he never abandons you’ and ‘he will always be there to restore your strength and your hope.’ Just trust in him fully.”
The Apostolic Nuncio was accompanied to the Missioning Mass by the Archbishop of Madang Stephen Reichert OFM Cap and the Superior of the Society of Divine Word Missionary’s PNG Province Fr Josef Maciolek SVD among other priests.
The Apostolic Nuncio shared similar sentiments in his keynote address after the Mass.
The Missioning ceremony in the Madang and other DWU campuses around the country fulfills the spiritual side of the graduation process. Each outgoing student is given a small cross as a sign of his or her missioning into the world as a young Christian professional ready to be an agent of positive change.

Dr Kevin Pamba PhD is based in Divine Word University, Madang.