By Fr Savio Angel Sanchez, sdb

Don Bosco Simbu Technical College, Chimbu Province PNG, 19 May 2020 -- After the preventive lockdown due to the coronavirus, schools in Papua New Guinea re-opened on the 4th May 2020. Since May is the month dedicated to Mama Mary, various expressions of devotion have also been organised at Don Bosco Simbu Technical College in Kumgi at Chimbu, Papua New Guinea. The image of Mary Help of Christians has started to make Her rounds of the sections in the college. Her image is brought from one classroom to the other accompanied by singing. Each class put up her altar and nicely decorate it with flowers.

To help students to get to know more Mama Mary, Mrs. Dambe Kerenge prepares 10 questions on a weekly basis and these are put on the notice board of the School for the Marian Quiz. A box is placed outside the staff room for students to drop in their answers. At the end of the week, prizes are awarded to those who answered correctly.

On the evening of the 15th, the student-residents gathered at the Diocesan Shrine of Saint John Bosco to begin the Novena to Mary Help of Christians. Flowers were offered at the foot of Mama Mary’s statue. After every mystery of the rosary, the student-residents went in groups infront of Mama Mary’s image and serenaded Her with a hymn. After the Novena Prayer, the Salesians also rendered a hymn, “O Sanctissima,” each one taking a stanza while the Rector accompanied with the guitar. The evening capped off with the Good Night Talk of the Rector, Fr Angel Sanchez who reminded the community of the incident in the life of Saint John Bosco that took place on the 16th of May 1887 at the altar of Mary Help of Christians in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Rome. It was at that time when Don Bosco fully understood everything and that “Mary has done everything.” The Rector exhorted everyone to have the same confidence in Our Lady.

Fr Clifford Morais sees to it that each day of the Novena, something special is done in DBSTC to honour Mama Mary. On the 16th, a group of student-residents dressed up and portrayed the different mysteries of the rosary. On the 17th, Roberta Sape, a first year Machine Fitting student, and Mr. John Puk, one of the Electrical instructors gave their brief testimonies on Mary’s intercession. On the 18th, the students decorated Mama Mary’s grotto in front of the Salesian Residence where everyone gathered for the rosary and the novena. At the end, Sr. Iris Curan SCSA gave the Good Night Talk. She invited the Bosconians to see Mary "not only like a statue but a real Mother to us all.” She narrated some instances in the life of her family that proved the efficacy of Mary’s help and prayers.

Isabella Saleu, a third year Electrical student says: “Mother Mary’s obedience to and love for God impresses me. My personal favourite depiction of Her is at the foot of the Cross where we see Mother Mary’s strength to endure difficulties and trials. She was there and saw everything until Jesus’ last breath. Through our Marian devotions we are reminded of Her example and we ask Mother Mary to teach us to be like Her."

The succeeding days of the Novena and Her Feast which will be celebrated on the 25th this year, will certainly be avenues for Bosconians’ creative expressions of their heartfelt devotion to their heavenly Mother and Protectress.

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