Gatherings symbolise importance of Easter

**People, inside the Universal church, waiting to receive food and clothing on March 30. – Nationalpic by HANNAH NERO**

By STAFF REPORTERS
CHRISTIANS throughout the country celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ by attending Easter mass at their various churches on Easter Sunday.
For Catholics in Madang’s Malala parish, Fr Benjamin Seda called for unity and to forgive one another.
“Easter is a time to reflect, to forgive and to live peacefully with everyone around you, especially family,” he said in his Easter message on the Easter Virgil celebrations at the Malala Catholic Secondary School chapel.
He said the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was to save us, the sinners, from our wrong-doing and Easter was a great time for self-reflection.
“If there was no Good Friday, then there will be no salvation so, as Christians, we have to walk the part of Jesus in all that we do in this journey of life. The pain and sacrifices of Jesus on the cross shows his life for us so we can live freely on earth,” he said.
Fr Benjamin told the people of Malala to live a happy life and have faith in Christ.
At the Hohola Sacred Heart Catholic parish in Port Moresby, 15 children were baptised on Easter Sunday.
Parish Priest Fr Chris Hifo, during baptism, said; “We also celebrate blessings and fullness of a renewed life in Christ as he is risen as promised and death did not hold him captive. We give this to the sacrament of baptism which we offer to our new members of the church today.”
Parents were encouraged as godly guardians to support and nourish the faith of the child and take the responsibility seriously as role models.
Fr Chris added: “Parents are encouraged to guide the children in the church and ensure they play a major role in the spiritual upbringing of each of these children.”
Don Bosco Technical School (DBTS) students in Gabutu, Port Moresby, were urged by the school rector, Fr Pedro Sachitula, to continue the spirit of prayer and to manifest the love they experience.
Fr Pedro made this call after the students and staff staged the Way of the Cross procession which reflected Jesus’ suffering and death at the school premises on March 28.
“It was a meaningful and an eye-opening experience, a time of true reflection and realisation,” Gr 11 student Benjamin Malu said.
Lae Diocesan Youths chaplin Fr Jomi Chanebarambil urged Christians to understand the importance of the Easter Triduum in deepening one’s faith during the Good Friday walk, which started at the St Therese parish Kamkumung and ended at the Diocesan Hall at Eriku.
The way of the cross was led by Bishop Dr Rozario Menezes of the Lae Catholic diocese and included other denominations.
On March 30, at least more than 1,000 people turned up to receive food and clothes donated by the Universal church at Gordon in Port Moresby to mark Easter with the theme” “Remember Me”.
Pr Cacio Oscar dos Santos said: “This is our project as a church to help those who are in need, an activity that happens many times in one year. Also, we ask the support of those who have more or extra and feel they want to share with those who have less can also be a part of these donations.

**Catholics of Moro, Rurunut and Agua village in Malala, Madang, walking with the Station of the Cross on Good Friday. – Nationalpic by GEORGINA KOREI**

“We also have nurses and doctors here who conduct free health checks and other things for people who need it.” A stall was also set for free grooming which included haircuts.