Priest appeals for help to save oldest church in Highlands

By MARTHA DERUAGE
A CATHOLIC priest is appealing to people to help save the oldest Catholic church building in the Highlands because it is about to fall apart and needs urgent repair.
Fr Cosmas Kombla said the Mingende Catholic church, in Chimbu, was completed in 1952 after work on it started in 1948 and it has provided religious, health and education services to people, schools and institutions in Mingende.
“The church is about 73 years old and the roof, walls and foundations of the church are falling apart,” he said.
“The church provides religious, education and health services to the Mingende Primary School, Kondiu Rosary Secondary School, Mingende Technical School, Mingende Rural Hospital, Mingende Callan Services and pastoral centre.”
The church was built by the Divine Word missionaries.
“It (the church) has served many people who have attended those schools and institutions, including those in the surrounding communities, and still continues to provide services despite its deteriorating state,” Fr Cosmas said.
He appealed to those who had benefited from the church and its services in local institutions, as well as those in the surrounding community, and business houses, to assist with funds to help renovate the church.
Fr Cosmas said the cost of renovation was estimated to be between K500,000 and K1 million.
“We are receiving some donations and are fundraising at the moment as well,” he said.
“But the Catholic church has never asked the Government for help and never will even though we are partners.
“We still need a lot of money and we kindly ask those with a good heart to help so that the church can continue to extend its services.”