Stories from the Highlands Region

STORIES FROM AROUND PNG HIGHLANDS REGION

THE HOBE LASALLIAN FAMILY

By Karen Mondo

Hobe Christ the King Primary School is located in a remote part of Simbu Province in the Karamui District where there is no road excess and almost three quarters of the people mostly children have never seen a car in their life.

After so many years of hearing negative stories about this place I decided to go there. So I applied and was posted there.

We travel there by plane for thirty five minutes to an airstrip and walk with our cargo for four hours to get to the school. The place and the people, especially the children has really changed my life and the way I think. I wasn’t the one touching their hearts but they touched mine. The food that they eat, the clothes they wear, their behaviour and the things they do to survive have changed me.

The people there are not exposed to the life that we know. They don’t know how to dress up. They don’t eat some of the food from the stores and most of them don’t speak English and Tok pisin well. They still eat and drink from bamboo and leaf. The school children bring their lunch in bamboo. The children really love coming to school. Most of the children live far away from the school and they have to cross rivers, walk through muddy tracks and swamps to get to school. Despite the distance and the weather most students don’t miss a day in class. This is what makes me so emotional when I look at their faces in the classroom. There are more than 500 students in Hobe Primary School and 10 teachers. All the teachers are not Lasallians and I am so happy to be among them. I introduced the Lasallian Family to them and gave an In-service on the life of St. John Baptist De La Salle. They all want to join the family now. All of us are working so hard to educate the children and the community. The children are slow in learning but I believe that with God’s help and this prayer of St John Baptist De La Salle , we can make a difference. With that I would like to ask my LaSallian family to pray for me and the people around me and most especially for the children here.

Live Jesus in Our Hearts.

LASALLIANS IN ENGA

Photo by Aileen Saleu

Lasallians in Enga met for the first time after the SOE on the 4th of July. It was a small and quiet meeting but it was a relief to finally meet up with fellow Lasallians in the area. Meeting was organised by Aileen Saleu and Elizabeth Wia.

Prayers for the Lasallian family in Enga.

STORIES FROM AROUND PNG HIGHLANDS REGION

LASALLIAN FAMILY IN SIMBU

Photos courtesy of Peter Daka & Keran Mondo

Lasallians in Simbu met for their first meeting on Saturday 8th February at Rosary Secondary School. Meeting was organised by Keran Mondo, Area Coordinator and assistant Peter Daka. The lasallians were warmly received by Kondiu’s Principal, Ms. Maria Dama

Simbu Lasallians meet for their third

Meeting on the 4th of July. The meeting was organised by the assistant coordinator Peter Daka of Angil

Primary School.

CATHOLIC TEACHERS’ DAY IN JIWAKA

Photo courtesy of Bestina Weldon

On May 15, a significant event happened at Fatima Jiwaka, where teachers from three big educationa institutions met to commemorate Catholic Teachers’ Day; Fatima Primary School, Fatima Secondary School and Fatima TVET.

The program took place in the evening, where Lasallians led by the area coordinator Bestina Weldon gave a Lasallian Reflection highlighting the significance of May 15th to Lasallians. The event ended with dinner and an opportunity to meet and greet.

Happy Catholic Teachers’ Day, Happy Founders Day.

STORIES FROM AROUND PNG HIGHLANDS REGION

LASALLIAN INDUCTION FOR NEW MEMBERS IN GOROKA

Photo courtesy of Caspar Ruarry

The Lasallian leaders in Eastern Highlands gathered 22 new Lasallians for a Lasallian weekend retreat at Kefamo Pastoral centre in June. Among them were student teachers from the University of Goroka. Fr. Peter concluded the retreat with a Mass. The weekend induction was facilitated by Margaret Saial, Michel Natapol, Dominic Talamin and Caspar Ruarry.

Welcome to the Lasallian Family PNG.

Lasallians in Eastern Highlands meet to prepare for the Induction weekend

BISHOP ANTON BAL PRIMARY SCHOOL IN SALT-NOMANE, SIMBU

Photo courtesy of Mr Junior Kawage

Students in FSC group presented prayers and poems of De la Salle to parents and community at a parent and community meeting.