7 minute read
Highlands Region
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By Flora Teng
Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This year taught me a lot. I came to understand the meaning of one of our common Catholic hymns and especially this line; “In your pain you will discover me”. I did discover. Thank you God for what had happened. Father knows best. Thank you ABBA Father. I invite Lasallians / readers to sing prayerfully and meditatively with me as they read:
When you know sorrow within your life I will come I will embrace your heart In your pain you will discover me Strong and constant is my love, Strong and constant is my love.
If you had some challenges as I did, I believe the magnetic love of our good God had attracted everything to him. He carried all our challenges and burdens. We are free indeed even with tears in our eyes. In God’s goodness this year, at Holy Trinity Teachers’ College, we formed the first Catholic Students’ Association (CSA) on campus, since the establishment of the College in 1959. We now have our first blessing of the CSA students and leaders on the 4th of October 2020. All glory to God.
Having CSA in Catholic schools and government schools is now an idea of the Pontifical Mission Societies or Commission for New Evangelisation for PNG/SI. In CSA we could have more Lasallians, Rosarians and other spiritually groups to strengthen our Catholic faith. Through CSA our Lasallian spirituality can continue to live on and be shared with others.
We have lost many young people especially young Catholics to other churches. The CSA is one way our schools can keep them in the Church. You can have CSA in your schools too in 2021.
Congratulations to those who already have CSA in schools.
I wish God’s blessings for Holy Trinity Teachers’ College CSA and the CSA throughout PNG and SI in many different institutions.
Let Jesus live in our hearts forever. Amen.
Catholic Students Association at Holy Trinity Teachers’ College, Mt Hagen
HIGHLANDS REGION
By Caspar Ruarry
The Eastern Highlands Province Lasallians initiated two inductions in 2020. his was due to the growing interest among the field teachers and the student teachers at the University of Goroka.
The first induction happened on the weekend of July 17th to 19th. There were both experienced teachers and student teachers from Katagu Teachers’ College and the University of Goroka. We had a variety of experiences coming together during these two inductions.
The weekend retreats were interesting because the facilitators (Lasallian teachers) used their Lasallian stories and knitted it with stories shared by the experienced teachers (field teachers). The student teachers were helped by this experience, as it prepared them to face the realities of teaching life that lies ahead of them.
The second induction was specifically for the University of Goroka students. It was held on the weekend before the repentance day in August. They were more than 30 young pre-service student teachers and two in-service teachers. This second weekend was another successful encounter between new and old teachers.
Thank you to the retreat team in Goroka and the wider Eastern Highlands Lasallian family for assisting in hosting these two retreats.
Live Jesus in Our Heart. Forever!
Newly inductees from UOG with EHP Lasallian Family members
A Special Visitor for Hobe Primary School on International Teachers’ Day
By Karen Mondo
Peter Daka, the Simbu Assistant Area Coordinator came to visit Hobe Primary School on behalf of Grace Wrakia on the 4th of October.
The teachers, students and I were so excited to have him at our school. Peter landed at the airstrip with cargoes from Goroka. He was still in shock when he got out of the plane because it was his first time to fly in a small plane to a remote place like this. He didn’t say much. I had tears of joy in my eyes because I have always been a lone Lasallian in that area. I was so happy to have him join me to see what I was going through in that part of Simbu.
Some of the teachers and students were there to welcome him. We got all the cargoes and started the two hours walk back to school. Since it was Peter’s first time, we did three hours walk instead. We left the airstrip at 5pm and arrived at the Hobe Primary School at 8pm.
Peter’s visit was a very special one because it fell right on International Teachers’ Day. I invited the teachers from another primary school near our school to come and join us to celebrate the special day. The teachers there were so excited to join for this Lasallian In-service on Teachers’ Day. They walked for an hour to reach Hobe.
Peter gave an in-service on the life of St. John Baptist De La Salle and introduced the Lasallian Family to the teachers. After the in-service, we had a light refreshment and ended the day. All the teachers were really interested to know about this great saint and wanted to join the Family.
The next day, Peter spent the morning with the students. He spoke to them about the life of St. John Baptist de La Salle and showed them some videos.
HIGHLANDS REGION
After that, we gathered the girls to distribute the sanitary pads, the underwear and soaps. The girls were overjoyed at receiving the sanitary supplies. Their heartfelt thank you to the Lasallian Women of Hope PNG and its donors- Lasalle International Foundation and “yourtown”, for giving such necessities, which they cannot afford or get in a place like Karamui.
Peter also brought some stationaries like exercise books and biros for the students plus a volleyball and a net for the students to play with.
All the students were so excited about what they heard and received from Peter.
After his program with the students, he had half an hour talk with the local community. Most of them do not speak tok pisin well, so someone had to translate Peter’s message to them.
In the afternoon, we left Hobe and walked for 1 and a half day to visit some teachers at the Karamui station. We arrived at a village at 8pm. We were so cold and tired because we walked in the rain. We stopped at this village and spent the night. The next morning we started walking again at 6am and arrived at the Karamui station at 4:30pm. The deputy principal for Karamui High school, Ms Monica Kora accommodated us and prepared us a delicious dinner. At Karamui Station we met with teachers from 2 primary schools and 1 high school. All of them knew nothing about St. John Baptist De La Salle and they were all happy to know the life of the Patron Saint for Teachers and the Lasallian family. It was a blessing to have Peter by my side and I thanked God for that. We finished at 12:30pm and Peter was going to fly out the same day, but the weather was not fine and the flight was cancelled. I prayed in my heart that the Lord will give Peter peace to wait. The next day the plane came. I was so sad to see him fly away but managed to smile with tears in my eyes. After Peter left, we couldn’t walk back to Hobe the same day because it was already late so we stayed the night at the station. The next day, Mr Presly Ola, the four boys who escorted us and I started walking at 7am in the morning. We arrived at Hobe at 9pm in the night the same day.
I would like to thank Grace and the donors for the things that was brought here by Peter. You all have touched the hearts of the girls here. Thank you so much and the Lord will bless you all.
To Peter, thank you so much for what you did. I know it was painful but your coming here made a difference and you will be blessed.
Thank you St John Baptist de La Salle for always praying for and always being with me.
Live Jesus in Our Hearts… Forever.
Recipients of sanitary assistance from the Lasallian Women of Hope
