Hela people challenged to love, respect others

Faith

THE apostolic nuncio archbishop Kurian Mathew Vayalunkal has challenged the people of Hela to love and respect mankind.
Vayalunkal was at the declaration of a Catholic parish at Hedemari in South-Koroba local level government in the Koroba-Kopiago electorate.
He said the people must become children of God and live as brothers and sisters and love each other.
He said: “If you are children of God, how can you hate someone? How can you kill someone who is considered to be your brother or sister in Christ?
“How can you consider him or her as you enemy?
“No, there is no enemy, only friends, no strangers, only brothers and sisters.
“Love each other and forgive each other. Reconcile with everyone.
“In this way, we can tear down the walls of hatred and violence, and we can build together the bridge of friendship, brotherhood and love.”
The Vatican envoy urged families to change and create a new way of life, a way of life that rejects violence and the killings.
“This is my humble advice to you all: We have to cultivate in our families, in our village, in our society in our parish, in our diocese and even in our country a new way of life where violence is rejected and the human person is respected, protected and loved,” he said.
“Very often we are living with a culture of dispute which leads to damages and even loss of life.
“We have to encourage a culture of dialogue, a culture of listening,” the pope’s representative said in his address to the people of Hela.
Vayalunkal donated US$100,000 (K337,000) to help in the restoration of the 7.5 magnitude earthquake that hit part of the province last year.