From the PNG Sector Co-ordinator

Letter of Br. Thomas Yapo

PNG Sector Coordinator De La Salle Brothers

Dear Lasallians,

Welcome to this edition of our Lasallian Mambu Magazine. This year is very special for us in PNG in our Lasallian story. I do hope that you enjoy and be inspired with the stories and experiences shared in these pages.

The iconic world leader Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. The Lasallian Mission is about changing people, so that they can make a positive impact in their lives, in their communities and in the world. The Lasallian mission in has contributed greatly to the change and progress of Papua New Guinea.

This year marks the 75th Anniversary of the first arrival of the De La Salle Brothers from Australia in PNG. When we include our earlier connection with the German Brothers from 1914, this year would mark over a century - 107 years. That’s how long the Lasallian Spirituality has been present in PNG.

Brothers Patrick Howard (Director), Anthony Broderick, Lucian Thorpe and Celsus Maguire arrived at Bomana at the request of Bishop de Boismenu through Br Benignus who was the Visitor at the time. These four courageous, generous and adventurous men were the first missionaries of the then Australian District. The four pioneer Brothers arrived with the seed of hope which they planted and has grown with firm roots in this beautiful “Land of the Unexpected” over 75 years. The seed of Lasallian Christian education is still growing, alive and vibrant, because there are manyvisionary people like those first four Brothers who willingly continue to nurture it. Lasallian and Christian education has contributed widely to the development of this country. Since its embryonic stages in 1946 until today, the Lasallian Mission continues to grow far and wide. Thousands have graduated from our Lasallian schools and colleges, and are contributing profitably to the growth of this country. Lasallian teachers will stand proud and continue to produce some of the finest, who will take this country into the future, making it a better place for all.

As we celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Lasallian Mission in PNG, I sincerely thank many Brothers who, since the beginning, have come to serve in PNG selflessly. Many of them are gone before us while others are still around, who continue to share their transformative stories. Your individual and collective contributions have touched many hearts, transformed countless number of lives, and brought a spark of hope for the future in PNG. You made a difference in the development and growth of PNG, and those who were entrusted to your care will remember you for eternity. On your shoulders, and from those firm foundations, the Lasallian Mission in PNG will continue to grow.

I thank the staff and students of our schools in Australia, New Zealand and other schools and institutions around the Institute for contributing significantly towards projects in PNG, previously through the Mission Fund and later through the Lasallian Foundation. PNG continues to benefit significantly from the initiatives through the Lasallian Foundation.

Thank you to manyLasallian Partners, friends and family members of the Brothers, former students and countless number of people who contribute resources, and come to PNG as teachers and volunteers, with a range of skills making a difference. Without your generous support, many projects in PNG would not have been possible for the poor and the marginalized in our schools and colleges. Your good will and the good will of those countless people who continue to donate resources, has helped build meaningful learning environments for our young people and the Lasallians in PNG. For that we will be eternally grateful.

A heartfelt gratitude to the Brother Visitors (including the Brother Visitors and Presidents of the other Districts and Delegates whose Brothers have served in PNG) over the 75 years since the arrival of the first Brothers. You always had a heart for PNG. It is not easy to ask the Brothers to fulfil the roles in PNG at different places, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, you have decided in the best interest for PNG. Thank you for your courage, the confidence in those you led, and being visionary for the Mission in PNG. May those who have gone before us rest in eternal peace and those still alive be kept in good health and renewed strength.

The Lasallian presence in PNG expanded with the courage shown by many Brothers who were willing to serve in the following locations for some time around the country. Central Province (Yule Island, Tapini, Mainohana), Mount Hagen (Holy Trinity Teachers College, Mun and YC Rebiamul), National Capital District (Bomana, Hohola Youth Development Center, Jubilee Catholic Secondary School, Sacred Heart Teachers’ College), Goroka, Jiwaka (Banz Minor Seminary) Chimbu, (Kondiu Secondary School) SHP (Kagua), Madang (St Fidelis Minor Seminary) and Rabaul (Vuvu Formation House).

The Brothers bravely took up the challenge to administer Lasallian education at these very different locations, many times with countless difficulties and with sacrifices. I pay tribute and honour those Brothers who have gone before us serving in PNG under difficult circumstances. Your determination, willingness and sacrifice has built the Mission in PNG. Thank you for being you, and thank you to your families, friends and relations for their undivided support over the years.

Being part of an international organisation, we are called to go beyond our boundaries and become ‘Brothers Without Borders’. I pay respect to the Brothers who travelled far and wide to come to PNG and served/serve with much humility and dedication. Brothers came from the following countries both past and present: the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Great Britain, USA, Pakistan, Singapore and Malaysia. Sometimes PNG does not make welcoming news headlines on the international media; it scares holiday makers and tourists, fearful for their dear lives, but you had the courage to stay on. You are the champions in touching hearts and transforming lives.

You all have left something in PNG which continues to grow and that is the Lasallian spirit. You have brought hope to many, and among those you taught and instructed, are people who still remember your name and something good, wonderful or nice about you. Thank you for making a young Papua New Guinean young man or woman proud with a smile on the face.

The amount of time, effort, energy and resources both material and intellectual you have invested in and out of the classroom in the years that you have served in PNG helped many to shoot for the stars. Thank you for making them proud of who they are, and leading them to discover the goodness in themselves. Each of you have left an imprint in the hearts of those you’ve led, instructed, guided, inspired and taught. That imprint is the Lasallian hope.

That hope inspires and empowers a person to look beyond the horizon, to make a difference, and break the cycles of struggle in society by changing mind-sets, which changes societies. Thank you for generously giving a part of your life for the betterment of the people of Papua New Guinea.

This year we will be counting towards 100 years of Lasallian presence in PNG. To reach 75 years it was the work of four courageous men who started it in unwelcoming environments, and left a great legacy for us to celebrate, learn and build on. To reach 100 years, the four pioneer Brothers’ initiatives have multiplied 100-fold and we have more than four thousand Lasallians in PNG including current and former students. We need to harness that number so that the Mission continues to grow through together and by association.

Much of the evangelizing work lies in the hands of all Lasallians in this country through collaboration. We must be proud that we have now established the PNG Lasallian Family, The Lasallian Alumni Association, PNG Lasallian Women of Hope, Lasallian Youth and the Lasallian Volunteers. These are significant advances we have made in the recent past, and they are our future catalysts for change. The vibrancy of these groups and their collaboration is a great indication that the future of the Lasallian Mission is progressively growing. We have a future full of hope, a future in the hands of people with hope. In 1946, the four pioneer brothers took it upon themselves to establish the Mission. Today the language and the thinking is taking a different form, with the idea that collaboration holds a prominent place in our efforts.

PNG still faces many challenges most of which are beyond our control. Many of these challenges are systematic, and need greater creative thinking by all leaders to change and improve them.

We Lasallians can make positive contributions towards changing that system by educating the young men and women entrusted to our care to say no to corruption, and live according to their right conscience, and to decide on what is better for the common good.

I admire, respect and salute each of our principals, the deputies, the teachers (both in our Lasallian schools and others), support staff, students (current and past), the PNG Lasallian Family, The Alumni, Volunteers and Youths, our family members and friends, for your commitment towards the educational welfare of PNG, and becoming part of the 75 years of the PNG Lasallian Story. May God bless each of you and let’s continue the story into the future.

“God has chosen you to do His work.” St John Baptist De La Salle.

Live Jesus in our Hearts. Forever.