261 PNG: Salesians head up youth activity in central highlands

Subject: 'austraLasia' #261

PNG: SALESIANS HEAD UP YOUTH ACTIVITY IN CENTRAL HIGHLANDS

Dennis Meim

KUNDIAWA: 5th Nov -- (Note: if you want the e-pic it should be attached as a

BMP file. I haven't tried broadcasting pics before so let's see how it

goes for you).

e-pic:(background: plenary assembly of the youth leaders and coordinators of

kundiawa diocese; inset, top to bottom: Bishop William Kurtz presides over

the concluding eucharistic celebration with priests working in the Diocese,

Fr. John Garia proclaims the Good News; John Daba from Koge Parish presents

a summary of their group discussion; Seminarian Lazarus and his discussion

group prepare a poster of their group deliberations.)

The Salesians at Don Bosco Kumgi are very much involved in the work of the

Diocese of Kundiawa. Apart from the technical training they conduct and

helping the parish priests reach out to different out-satations on the

weekend, they offer a hand in animating the youth of the diocese. Members

of the community (Fr Vester Casaclang, Fr Dennis Meim) have in the last two

years been designated chaplain of the youth of the diocese. For a time, the

late Fr Joseph Savina had been chaplain of Rosary Secondary High School at

Kondiu.

This week the Diocese of Kundiawa fulfilled a directive of the last diocesan

assembly of 1997 to conduct an assembly for the youth by the youth. Thus,

on this first week of November, fifty young people representing the youth of

the different parishes gathered together with Bishop William Kurtz, the

parish priests and pastoral workers to discuss the concerns of the young and

to map out a programme for the new millennium.

Among the salient points of the discussions were the fact that in these past

two years, the young have become more aware of their place and role in the

church and are eager to be more involved in its life of prayer, study,

fellowship and service.

They have asked their pastors and elders for their support in transforming

their aspirations into living manifestations of their commitment to Christ

and to the Church.

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