Parishioners urged to be united

Parishioners of Mary Help of Christians Catholic Parish in Sabama, Port Moresby have been urged to be united.
Catholic priest Fr Albert Swer issued this encouragement during a Liklik Kristen Komuniti (LKK) Leaders retreat at the Sivarai Namona Pastoral Centre (SNPC) in Bomana from March 8-9.
In his homily, Fr. Albert stressed the importance of unity within the parish and expressed joy in seeing leaders come together for prayer and reflection, stating: “This exhibits a vibrant parish in action.”
A beautiful missionary rosary, a gift from Vietnam was given to every participant at the conclusion of the Eucharistic celebration. Fr Albert also expressed his happiness in celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation with the parishioners.
During the retreat, Mary Help of Christians Parish priest Fr. Ambrose Pereira, emphasised the importance of focus on the three Cs which are Christ, Community and Church. He added that continuous formation for children, young adults, and the elderly is an essential component of a vibrant parish.
In one of the sessions, participants were led by Abraham Kolako. He led them into the next session entitled: “A Vibrant Parish’.
Together with Christopher Abau, they outlined what a vibrant parish should look, sound, and act like. Their presentation emphasised the importance of participation from parishioners, obedience to the call of service, and practicing what one preaches in order to foster vibrancy within the parish. With much to ponder, the participants had a restful sleep that night.