Don Bosco Araimiri, Gulf Province, PNG 27 May 2021 -- ‘I do believe that Mary the Mother of God is the Help of Christians.’ This was the sentiment shared by the students of Don Bosco, Araimiri, in Gulf Province, as they celebrated the Feast of Mary Help of Christians.

The Feast which falls on 24 May began with a Eucharistic Mass celebration, celebrated by the Rector, Fr. Pankaj Xalxo sdb and Fr. Tinh sdb, administrator of the school, as concelebrant.

A melodious liturgy was animated by male students from the boarding house who were assisted by Br Conrad Valimat sdb and Noah, an aspirant of the Salesians, accompanied the Mass celebration following very lively entrance and offertory processions led by the students of East and West Kerema.

Fr. Pankaj, during his homily challenged and encouraged the students to establish a relationship with God as that was the most important relationship one could ever have and one that could stand through the storms of life. “Each of you must have a relationship with God, even through difficult times”, he stressed.

A Marian quiz then followed the Mass celebration, where a class representative was tested on their knowledge of the life of our Blessed Mother. Students were given questions and answers which they studied prior to the Feast Day. This year’s quiz champions were the senior students of grade 12.

Organized by teachers Mr. Willie and Mr. Finel, the second part of the program saw students in a sea of red, blue, green and yellow sports t-shirts. They battled it out in ball games as well as fun games which left them panting for breath as they fought to take home victory for their house colors promoting the ‘Run, jump, make noise but do not sin’ lifestyle that St. John Bosco taught his boys 200 years ago in Turin.

Lauren Iwa, a grade 11 student in her account of the day’s events shared her enjoyment saying she had a marvelous time. “The Eucharistic celebration was very wonderful as it really inspired me. The games were so much fun but even though very exhausting I still pushed through when I remembered a quote of Don Bosco ‘An empty mind is the devil’s workshop’. I am looking forward to more celebrations”, she expressed.

The day concluded with a combined delicious dinner. Everyone indulged themselves in delicious pork meat as they watched the night programs that had Marian dramas and songs that depicted Mary the mother of Jesus and our mother too.