Alive @ 25, and a rough trip by canoe and truck to Araimiri!

Rector Major in PNG – Silver Jubilee celebrations at Don Bosco Araimiri, Gulf Province

ARAIMIRI: 11th September 2005 -- Don Bosco’s memory is alive in PNG ! …. and forever it shall be ! … words of the theme song now ringing in the hearts and the minds of all who attended the Don Bosco Silver Jubilee celebrations in Papua New Guinea on 11 September 2005, at Don Bosco Araimiri Secondary School, Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea.

     Fr. Pascual Chavez, Rector Major, Bishop Panfilo Francesco sdb, Bishop of Alotau, Fr. Luciano Odorico, PNG-SI delegate; Fr. Klement Vaclav, Regional EAO, Fr. Rolo Alcasid, FIN vice-provincial, Fr. Valeriano Barbero, pioneer of the Salesian work in Papua New Guinea, beginning with Araimiri, Sr. Florentina Cho csm, and Salesians were all welcomed by Bishop Paul Marx msc, Bishop of Kerema, at Kerema airport.  They were treated to a hearty breakfast by the Governor Chris Haiveta and other civil authorities.  The Rector Major presented Bishop Paul and Governor Chris with a statue and medal of Don Bosco as a token of thanks for the support they have rendered the Salesians.  “We have received much from the Salesians” said the Bishop who had words of praise for all the Salesians do for the young; while Governor Chris stated that he and his staff would continue to provide Fr. Peter Baquero, Rector and Principal, and the Salesians whatever support and help they require to assist them in their work. 

     A rough ride by canoe and truck took the group deep into the bush where the School and boarding is located.  In familiar chiefly tradition, Fr. Pascual Chavez was decorated and carried by a group of boys while traditional dancers of the Lise Oalai and the Moveave tribes dressed in their colourful traditional costumes danced and sang their welcome songs.  The Eucharist was a lively liturgy with the students singing joyfully to the music accompaniment of hymns composed by Practical Trainee, Bro. Angel Sanchez. 

    In his homily the Rector Major gave thanks to God, Mary Help of Christians and Don Bosco for the 25 years of development in the different houses all over Papua New Guinea.  “The Silver Jubilee is an opportunity to look to the past with gratitude, to face the present with trust and to dream of the future with daring”, he said. He thanked the missionaries who came in from different countries bringing with them Don Bosco’s charism: a love for the young highlighted "through education: helping them to develop their talents and preparing them to face life with confidence, discovering the meaning of life and their own vocation in the world and in the Church".  He thanked the people who welcomed the Salesians with open hearts and made special mention of the boys and girls, "who are the best gift that the Lord has given us, they are our mission".  “Education” he reminded all, “is to make human beings more human”..Dream of a PNG capable of taking in hand the reins of its own history, without having to depend on those outside but on its own resources - material but especially human”,  he encouraged his listeners.  "Work for a better world, that builds on a family spirit – seedbeds for vocations and with a deep and fruitful spiritual life….. My wish is that through our Salesian presence in Papua New Guinea the Church will become a true instrument of peace, harmony and reconciliation”, he concluded.