PGS Province, 14 November 2023 - The Salesian story in Papua New Guinea (PNG) started from an idea, like a seed or a leaven, before 1980, when Fr. George Williams, the Councillor for the English speaking provinces, was invited by the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo upon the request of Archbishop Virgil Copas, MSC of Papua New Guinea, to consider opening a Salesian work to this country. This proposal was presented first to the Australian Province and then to the Philippine Province. Fr. Williams arrived in PNG to see the place and reached only Kerema. From the balcony of the Archbishop’s residence in Kerema, it was pointed to him the place in the Diocese where the Archbishop intended to entrust to the Salesians and the future Don Bosco Araimiri.
In November 1979, as a result of Fr. Williams’ visit, Fr. Jose Carbonell, the Provincial of the Philippine Province, enthusiastically went to Papua New Guinea, together with Fr. Valeriano Barbero, the Provincial Economer. They went to Kerema and to Araimiri to see the school known as St. Peter’s Extension School, which was under the guidance of some volunteers from England and Australia.
On the 13th of June 1980, the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Fr. Jose Carbonell, Fr. Valeriano Barbero, Bro. Joseph Kramar and Fr. Rolando Fernandez landed in Port Moresby in the cool morning of PNG with a warm welcome from the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Montezemolo. However, due to a lack of rooms in the nunciature, Fr. Barbero and Bro. Kramar had to fly, that same morning, to Kerema where they were welcomed by Archbishop Copas at the airstrip with some boys who honored them with the garlands. The following day, the 14th of June, they were joined by Fr. Carbonell and Fr. Fernandez, who arrived in Kerema from Port Moresby.
The 14th of June 1980 was the memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It was the day when the four Salesians arrived in Araimiri, like the yeast, to start and let grow the Salesian Presence in Papua New Guinea. On this day of the memorial of Mary, the first statue of Mary Help of Christians, which they brought with them, signified the loving and maternal presence of Mary who will guide them in their difficulties and failures. The chronicle of Fr. Valeriano describes beautifully their first experience of the mission as soon as they left Kerema to go to Araimiri:
“… urgent departure for Araimiri to take advantage of the low tide. We cross the bay, we recover an old red Suzuki and the four of us and one school student, Dominic, as a guide to go towards Araimiri. It’s getting late, the tide starts coming up to cover the beach and road. At the critical point, the Bluff, Fr. Carbonell, being the driver is forced to pass through the Michellod road, a road carved through the bush by the former MSC missionaries in case they were caught by the high tides. Bro. Kramar and I decided to walk on the stones and corals along the beach. Fr. Fernandez and Dominic go with Fr. Carbonell on the Suzuki. It takes them about one hour to drive on a 200-meter road because of the thick, deep, sticky mud! It is getting dark. Dominic advises us to use the ‘highway.’ Great idea: a highway! But when it turns out that the highway is an unmarked bush track, we opt to return to the beach, trying to win our way against the rising tide. The school is only about 10 minutes away. Then the Suzuki comes to a sudden stop; the engine dies, and the lights go off. We are in the middle of a creek already too deep to be crossed. Then we hear voices. The school boys who were waiting for our arrival came to our rescue. The volunteers and the students accompany us to our residence: an old, shaky house on high posts composed of two rooms, a small kitchen and with limited furniture: 3 beds, one table and six chairs. There is a kerosene lamp and one plastic bucket to be filled with rainwater for washing. The first improvement we think of is to build a toilet pit with a pole where to issue a symbolic flag to make people aware if the place is occupied”.
The chronicle is still rich with many simple and inspiring incidents of dedication, sacrifice, blessings and even miracles. And from these simple snippets or anecdotes, the years that have flowed since then have seen the growth, in particular, of the Salesian presence in Don Bosco Araimiri and throughout Papua New Guinea. To date, there are 3 Secondary Schools (including Don Bosco Araimiri), 2 Tertiary Schools, 3 Parishes, 1 Shrine, 1 Retreat Center, and 1 Aspirantate Seminary. Part of the leaven or “yeast” also helped the growth of the Salesian presence in the Solomon Islands, now with 2 TVET centers and a parish.
It is said that history will not remember us for our compromises but for the things we are willing to die for, for the values we stand for and for the pleasure we are willing to sacrifice for the sake of a vision and mission! Our memories were created by people with their beliefs, values, principles, and examples, in other words, by their very lives. And since their lives speak louder than their presence, we still remember them even in their absence. They are still present as a leaven, yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
