PAPUA NEW GUINEA CLUSTER COMMUNICATION 2015

PNG CLUSTER PARTICIPANTS WITH SR. MILAGROS MARAVILLA, SSJ (PROVINCIAL COORDINATOR) AND CECILIA TELIWA

Our hearts are full of joy, thanksgiving and praises to God who allowed us to celebrate our 8^th SSJ PNG CLUSTER ASSEMBLY from the 9^th to the 13^th of December. It is an assembly filled with blessings such as the presence and accompaniment of Sr. Milagros Maravilla, SSJ (Provincial Coordinator) whom we value deeply; the conducive and homey venue at the new Chancery Building, which we have been offered by Archbishop John Ribat and Fr. Rodrigo, the Chancellor, and the daily lived experience of sisterly relations among us in the Cluster characterized by openness, spontaneity, joyful self-giving and sincerity.

SR. MILAGROS  ACCOMPANYING THE PNG CLUSTER PARTICIPANTS

SISTERS ENJOYING THE MUMU MEAL, TYPICAL & SPECIAL  FOOD IN PNG

The Opening Mass with Fr. Peter Baquero, SDB Delegate to PNG, led us to enter into our assembly drawing everything from the very Source of our call and mission, speaking of the centrality Jesus! He gave good points in line with our theme: Wake Up the World... SSJ in PNG on the Move!

The resource persons invited to share on various topics posed relevant challenges and invitations to us, personally and as a Cluster:

·        Sr. Alessandra, MSI presented a recap of her experience in Rome for the gathering of 1500 religious men and women from 120 countries and 500 Congregations for the Year of Consecrated Life. The challenge is for the religious communities to be wineskins and to rediscover the foundation of community life in the Trinity (Phil. 2: 5-11).

·        Cecilia Teliwa, a Lay Josephine, made a representation of her LJ companions in PNG as she honestly shared with us their present realities and the challenges the LJ & SSJ are called to respond to.

·        Bishop Rochus Tatamai, MSC of Bereina Diocese laid before us the richness of the Melanesian cultures with their key values of life. community, relationships and exchange. He said that Melanesians are biocosmic rather than animistic. Exchange comes in when relationships are broken- to make things right. Exchange establishes back relationship, which is for them gutpela sindaun –fullness of life- that includes relationships with land…with water and the environment.

SSJ SISTERS WITH BISHOP ROCHUS

·        Wendy Wuluk, resident of Loreto Hostel and a public servant, pointed out the declining economy of PNG; the participation of women in the government; budget deficit with budget cuts to the government agencies; non-delivery of funds to the districts; drought; existing debts with the World Bank; street children and youth neglected by parents; rapid-paced development with lack of assessment; and the over-all decline in governance, law and order.

SSJ SISTERS WITH WENDY WULUK

All these, with our CAP and OMG Evaluation, the whole day’s sharing on the Bolivia Encounter by Rossel, Minerva and Concepcion and the rich communications/updates on the life and mission of other communities-taller, Commissions and Clusters by Milagros, enhanced our connectedness to other circles in the Province and Congregation and sharpened our sensitivity to the pressing realities not only in PNG but globally.

The sharing of the lived experiences of the Year of the Poor, Year of Consecrated Life and the Year of Butinyà urged us to continuously make our responses creative and relevant. The call of Pope Francis in his encyclical, Laudato Si, to act now for Climate Justice created a deep impact on the Cluster.

We had our thanksgiving Mass, on Gaudete Sunday, presided by Fr. Justin, SM, who affirmed and encouraged the call to radiate the Spirit of Joy in our life and mission as Siervas de San Jose.

FR. JUSTIN, SM- CLOSING/THANKSGIVING MASS PRESIDER

As we move on, we want to continue to sow seeds of hope amidst the seemingly bleak situation we are in.  In this journey, we are assured and strengthened by your nearness and prayers and our collaborators’ support and assistance expressed in many ways during these past days.

THE SISTERS VIEWING THE CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES FROM THEIR SISTERS IN THE DIFFERENT CLUSTERS

THANK YOU SO MUCH AND MAY GOD BE BLESSED IN EVERYTHING!