3229 Mary, Our Help Ladies Dormitory
austraLasia #3229

 

Mary, Our Help Ladies Dormitory: 
A REAL BLESSING … OF A DWELLING!

BOROKO-PNG: 4 June 2013 --  At 10 a.m. on 31st May 2013, the Don Bosco Technical Institute (PNG) Ladies Dormitory was blessed by His Excellency Archbishop John Ribat, MSC, DD, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Port Moresby. The Salesians Fr. Rafael Galve, SDB Salesian Delegate, Fr. Louie Castañeda, SDB Rector of DBTI and Fr. Valeriano Barbero, SDB simultaneously blessed the other buildings to assist the Archbishop.
 
His Excellency Grand Chief Sir Michael Ogio, GCM, GCMG, KStJ and Lady Esmie Ogio led the dignitaries present. The ambassadors of France His Excellency Alain Waquet and Korea His Excellency Whiejin Lee also came. They were welcomed by Rev. Fr. Rafael Galve, the Salesian Delegate to PNG-SI, Sr. Sarah Garcia, the Provincial Superior Phil-PNG, Fr. Louie Castaneda, DBTI Rector, and Mr. Noel Guillermo, the Principal and ushered by the cultural group from Central Province from the gate of the new ladies dormitory to the stage of honor. They were greeted by all the other guests, staff and students.

Fr. Valeriano Barbero, SDB, the Project Coordinator, welcomed all the guests, acknowledged and thanked the PNG Government through the Department of National Planning and Monitoring for providing the 4.7 million kina to finance the construction of the Ladies Dormitory. He also extended "Thank You" to PNG Sustainable Development Program for contributing K200,000.
 
The welcome of all the guests was completed by the singing of boarders’ welcome song originally composed by one of the MOH Boarders.

The Chairman of the Commission of Higher Education, Mr. Simon Kenehe who is also a member of the Governing Board of DBTI, introduced His Excellency Governor General  before the latter’s keynote speech.  The Grand Chief expressed his joy of being very much part of this project from the beginning of the ground breaking to the blessing now of Mary Help of Christians Ladies Dormitory. He said that the completion of this impressive edifice signifies DBTI’s deep commitment to make the National Government’s Gender Equity in Education Policy objectives realized.  At the end of his speech, Sr. Sarah Garcia presented him a token of gratitude and a remembrance also of the occasion to Lady Esmie Ogio.
 
 The Palm Tree planting followed.   His Excellency Grand Chief Sir Michael Ogio enthusiastically planted the first palm of Faith and assisted all the rest in tree planting.  His Excellency Archbishop John Ribat, MSC, DD, planted the second palm of Hope, Fr. Rafael Galve, Delegate of the Salesians PNG-SI planted the palm tree of Love, Sr. Sarah Garcia, planted the palm tree of  Peace, Ms. Tania Kaumas, a third year bachelor student and the vice-dorm captain, planted  the palm tree of Joy while Sr. Lyn Grace Palanca (representing all FMA missionaries), planted the palm tree of Commitment.

Then followed the cutting of the ribbon by the Grand Chief, assisted by Sr. Sarah Garcia.  Immediately after this, the Mary our Help Ladies Dormitory boarders concluded the blessing with their Thank You song.

In her speech, Sr. Sarah Garcia expressed her gratitude to all the people who made this great blessing of having useful and practical buildings, “a dream home” for the DBTI ladies, come to reality.  Then a group of boarders performed a Buka dance to thank everyone for being part of this celebration. 

“Give thanks to the Lord, acclaim His name!” (Is. 12:4)