Local priest ordained in Enga

By JAMES APA GUMUNO
WANEPAP Catholic parish church in Laiagam district, Enga, was packed to capacity for the ordination of a local priest.
Hundreds of people flocked to Laiagam to witness the ordination of Kenneth Kaimalan as a priest last Wednesday.
Among the celebrants were two bishops and 40 priests who travelled from the neighbouring highlands provinces and Vanimo in West Sepik.
The Bishop of Vanimo Cersare Bonivanto attended the ordination of the new priest, who did pastoral work for him in the West Sepik diocese.
Kimalan, the only son in a family of three, was ordained by the Bishop of Wabag Arnold Orowae.
His parents, Catherine and Thaddeus Kaimalan, along with his two sisters shed tears of joy while escorting Kimalan to the grandstand for the ordination.
He completed his secondary education at Wabag Secondary School in 2004 and was selected for social science studies at the University of PNG but a strong conviction of entering the priesthood stopped him from pursuing a professional career.
Bishop Orowae acknowledged the firm faith of the Kaimalan family for overcoming all odds in bringing their only son to be a servant of God.
He told the young priest that he was chosen by God to be his servant and to lead the people to his kingdom.
Bishop Bonivanto said that Kaimalan had a long relationship with the religious and Christian community of Vanimo during his pastoral period.
 He said the Vanimo Catholic community were full of praise for the new priest.
Bishop Bonivanto also urged the young people to develop strong faith in God from the early stage of development because the work of Christ was not always easy
Fr Kaimalan joined the congregation of Michaelite and will serve in Kindeng parish in Jiwaka.