K1.2m raised for church building

MEMBERS of the Catholic faith in Port Moresby have raised more than K1.2 million to build a new church to accommodate the increasing number of people attending church services, an official says.
Mary Queen, of the Pacific Parish, church building committee chairman Mathias Lasia said the church members did fundraising with a major raffle draw over the last 12 months to raise funds for the reconstruction of the church building, which was built in 1970s.
“The church raised over K650,000 through the draw with participants throughout the country, Australia and the United States,” he said.
Lasia, who was also the raffle draw event taskforce chairman, said prizes for the raffle included K200 shopping voucher, mobile phones, laptops, furniture, television set, washing machine and two vehicles, a Toyota Land Cruiser and Nissan sedan.
He said the church spent about K250,000 to buy prices for the lucky winners, most of whom were members of the church.
Martin Kirara, a church member who won two prizes out of the 20, was happy to participate to help extend the Kingdom and Gospel of Jesus Christ.
He won a hand-mower from draw 14 and a camping tent, a table and four chairs from draw 11.
“My main intension to buy the ticket was to help contribute to build the new church, so I spent K4,000 to buy four books with each of them consisting 1,000 receipts,” he said.
The East New Britain native said, however, he was blessed with housing furniture and thank the Lord for blessing him.
Meanwhile, Lasia and Kirara thanked everyone including National Parliament, National Fisheries Authority, business houses and stakeholders who took part to ensure a successful event.