austraLasia #2398
Holy Week and Easter moments in Cambodia and PNG
PHNOM PENH: 13th April 2009 -- "Don Bosco Technical School Phnom Penh, Cambodia gave thanks to God on this Salesian Holy Year as we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the priestly ordination of Fr. Leo Ochoa, SDB and Fr. Ceferino Ledesma, SDB last April 9, 2009 with the members of the salesian family, lay mission partners, students and guests. The celebration commenced with a holy mass, thanking God for His faithfulness and love, followed by a tribute to Don Bosco through a Khmer blessing. The youth and mission partners organized a cultural program with varied presentations, and welcomed Bro. Martin Tai, a new missionary from Vietnam. The program ended with the giving of the gifts to Fr. Leo and Fr. Ceferino, and the awarding of tokens for service to the lay mission partners who have worked for five, ten and fifteen years in the institution. It was, indeed, an appropriate occasion to thank God for His faithfulness and love."
-----------
PORT MORESBY: "Good Friday—Thousands came on foot for the Archdiocesan Way of the Cross which ended in the compound of Don Bosco Technical School in Gabutu. After the Way of the Cross, the Archbishop of Port Moresby John Ribat, MSC, assisted by Fr. Roro Gueco, SDB (Rector of DBTS and Parish Priest of MHC Parish—Sabama) presided over the Good Friday Service. The Service was held in the Church at DBTS compound—the very same church where the late John Paul II was given an ecclesial welcome on the occasion of his 2nd pastoral visit to PNG where he also addressed the Catechists, Religious and Priests, and imparted his Apostolic blessings on January 16, 1995.
After the Good Friday Liturgy, the parishioners (especially the “mamas” i.e. the mothers dressed in black and with mud on their faces) of MHC Parish took turns in the “Haus Krai” put up just outside the Church. In PNG, the Haus Krai is a house for mourning over the death of someone. In this case, it was meant to be a place for mourning the death of Jesus. The parishioners placed a big crucifix in the make-shift shelter called Haus Krai. Mingled with their “cries of sorrow and mourning” are some songs chanted in honor of our Lord Jesus. This morning, after the Easter Sunday Mass, Fr. Roro, the Parish Priest led the ceremony of officially “dismantling’ the Haus Krai. Easter Chants in Pidgin were sung in honor of the Risen Lord. The “papas” (fathers) were the ones tasked to tear down the Haus Krai.
Quite a unique way of celebrating the Easter Triduum here in PNG…"
