Society sees talents, gifts as key

CATHOLIC Professionals Society (CPS) members have been urged to harness their talents and gifts.
Spiritual director for CPS Fr Ambrose Pereira gave this encouragement at the opening mass for the CPS at Christ the King Parish in Badili, Port Moresby, on Feb 10.
He elaborated on the significance of spiritual maturity, emphasising that it empowers individuals to harness their talents and gifts for the collective betterment.
“It invites us to bring forth the gifts that each of us possesses, to be blessed and shared,” Fr Ambrose reiterated.
“This, in turn, will bring joy, happiness and peace.”
During the mass, prayers were offered for Catholic professionals to serve as beacons of light and voices of change, dispelling the darkness of sin, violence, destruction and abuse.
Michael Varapik, a member of the CPS executive committee, provided a brief overview of recent CPS activities.
He highlighted the establishment of functioning chapters in Lae, Alotau, and Madang, with others, including Mt Hagen, currently in the works.
Varapik also announced CPS’s ongoing recruitment drive for new members, emphasising the diverse membership categories available. He noted the positive progress in recruitment, with many new and younger members joining the society.
Additionally, Varapik unveiled CPS’s newly-developed booklet on the Rule of Life, offering guidelines for members on conducting themselves as Catholic professionals, alongside outlining the objectives and mission of the CPS.
This booklet will be distributed to all CPS members.
He further highlighted CPS’s active engagement on several national issues of importance.
CPS president Paul Harricknen has been vocal against government attempts to alter the National Constitution for political purposes, expressed grave concerns regarding the rule of law following the recent Black Wednesday uprising in Port Moresby.
He criticised the recent appointment of a Minister for Constitutional Offices by the Prime Minister, which directly undermines the independence and authority of Constitutional Offices in the country.
Established formally by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands in 2014, CPS has been planning its future since 2017, including convening a planning workshop in December 2018.
While planning activities have been ongoing, CPS has also been involved in addressing ongoing community, national and Church concerns through advocacy and awareness programmes.