of the bay, eating sea weeds, collecting
colorful starfish and walking on white
sands. The children had very good time
catching fish, picking shells and
swimming. The picnic was very joyous and
it was an occasion for building up
friendship with Jesus and one another.
Above: Fr. Sonny at Wappi
The next day all the missionaries working
in the parish took a day off from the
routine work and had a picnic on the island
of the spirits which is called ‘Tuma’. There
is a traditional belief among the Trobriands
that after the death and judgment of a
person they would retire to this island for
their peaceful living. Most of the Trobriand
islanders visit this island and pay due
respect to the spirits and hear their cries
and joys. It was very relaxing day.
The feast of the Holy Family was
celebrated with special Novena for nine
days, with solemn high mass for the
families presided over by Fr. Sunny. It was
also a special occasion for the parish of
Gusaweta to wish him farewell.
The New Year celebrations began with
night mass, Eucharist and thanksgiving
that lasted until midnight in the Wapipi and
Gusaweta parishes. At 12’O clock the
church bell rang and the young people
sang their traditional songs to welcome the
New Year with joy and serenity. After
wishing each other a happy and prosperous
new year all retired to their own families.
On 3rd January, Sr. Nathaniel of the
Reparation sisters (who looks after the
altar boys and girls) held an outing to an
uninhabited island called Bwemapu. We
paddled for two hours in a dinghy, singing
gospel songs, enjoying the shallow waters
I call this island ‘the miracle of love’. The
children in the island of love are like the
multiplication of loaves. You can see them
everywhere like red ants. They are very
friendly, smiling and lovable. Every tiny
tot wants to shake hand with us and feel
the touch of the priest. Whenever we pass
through the village we could hear them
greeting us, ‘bwena kaukwau’(good
morning), ‘bwena lalai’ (good day) ‘bwena
kwayai’ (good afternoon) and ‘bwena bogi
(good night) father’. I think this is one of
the best Christian practices in the whole of
the island handed over by the early
missionaries.
The sisters of the Reparation and MSI
involve themselves in the parish and
village apostolate and health care. Their
work is extended to the primary and high
schools and hospitals of Kiriwina. The
young people of the island need much care
and health education since the rate of
sexually transmitted diseases is very high.
People tend to become sexually active at a
very young age and many are getting
married when they are teenagers. There is
a great need for personal help and
increased awareness of the health and
human development issues for these young
people.
It is a missed opportunity for those who
have not visited this place. We will miss
the star filled skies, the chirping of the
birds and above all the beautiful, friendly
and loving people of Kiriwina. May the
good Lord bless the people of the
Trobriand Islands.
Fr. Robinson Parappilly and Fr. Sonny at
Wappi. The people and children of Wappi
A Picture of Peace
There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist
who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists
tried. The King looked at all the pictures, but there were
only two he really liked and he had to choose between
them.
Author Unknown
- Submitted by René Ciofani
peaceful at all. But when the King looked, he saw behind
the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In
the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the
midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on
her nest... perfect peace.
One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect Which picture do you think won
mirror, for peaceful towering mountains were all around it. the prize?
Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who The King chose the second
saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of
picture. Do you know why?
peace.
"Because,"explained the King,
"peace does not mean to be in a
The other picture had mountains too. But these were
place where there is no noise,
rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain trouble, or hard work. Peace
fell and in which lightening played. Down the side of the means to be in the midst of all those things and still be
mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace."
TAVUR
-‐
The
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5
