'AustraLasia' #80

PNG: CONGRATULATIONS ON 18 YEARS OF GROWTH!

by Port Moresby correspondent

PORT MORESBY: 13 June --. The first Salesians to take residence in Papua

New Guinea arrived on 13th June 1980 - Frs. Barbero and Fernandez, and

Bro. Kramer. They were soon followed by Bros. de la Cruz, Laniara and

Cordon. The initial work began in the difficult area of The Gulf

Province at Araimiri with a school and parish. One year later the

Salesians were invited to begin a work in Port Moresby itself - at

Gabutu. The Don Bosco Technical School, as it is known today, is the

only upper secondary technical school in the country, still. Typical of

and faithful to its Salesian origins, DBTS caters for the many drop-outs

who flock to the city from the Highlands and elsewhere.

In 1990 Vunabosco Agro-Technical School was opened near Rabaul in East

New Britain province. In 1993 Don Bosco Technical High School in Vanimo

was opened. In the meantime another parish was started in Lariao in the

Gulf Province. In 1994 the then Rector Major, Fr. Vigano, erected the

Provincial Delegation of Papua new Guinea with Fr. Barbero as Delegate.

On the same year the Don Bosco Institute of Technology was opened near

Kundiawa, Simbu Province. In 1995 a piece of land was acquired in East

Boroko (Port Moresby) where the Delegation Office is located as well as

the Savio House Aspirantate which houses 16 aspirants and 2 pre-novices.

Adjoining it and presently under construction is the Don Bosco

Technological Institute, a training College for secondary school

teachers.

33 Salesians from the Philippines, Italy, Spain, Slovenia and 1 Papua

New Guinean staff these works. The future is bright but the labourers

are few....