austraLasia #3035
Assembly: Federation of Religious PNG-SI (FOR-PNGSI)
MADANG: 17 March 2012 -- From March 6-13, the Alexishafen Conference Center in Madang, Papua New Guinea, played host to more than fifty religious major superiors and delegates of the Federation of Religious from Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (FOR-PNGSI) for their Annual General Assembly. Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) and the Conference of Major Superiors of the Pacific Islands (CMSPI) also sent their respective representatives. Fr. Dominic Kachira was the delegate for the SDB while Sr. Alice Fulgencio and Sr. Annie Saligumba represented the FMA. The presence of Bishop Bill Fey, OFM Cap and Bishop Rolando Santos, CM, from the Catholic Bishops Conference of PNG-SI as bishops’ deputy for Religious confirmed the importance of this gathering.
The theme of this year’s encounter was Leadership for Communio. The workshop was facilitated by Br. Aengus Kavanagh, fsp, a Patrician Brother and Sr. Leone Pallisier, osu, an Ursuline Sister, both from Sydney. In the four-day workshop they helped the leaders see the importance of leadership from “inside-Out” for the strengthening of communion drawing from the framework of the Program Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. The contents of the workshop were presented keeping in mind the Melanesian context and the facilitators used a process which was both engaging and dynamic giving a chance for all to share experiences, express insights, bring out doubts and challenge the group to re-think processes, structures, etc. to reflect a more proactive stance and a planning mentality.
The synergy in the group was very much felt throughout the workshop and in the Federation’s deliberations of burning issues during the business meeting. The Socials night provided a welcome respite from the hard work of the past days and everyone with a talent in singing, dancing, drama, telling stories/jokes contributed to make the event an unforgettable one. Even the two bishops gamely joined in the fun.
The business meeting was a moment of crucial deliberation and decision-making on some issues and concerns of the Federation which have been dragging on for the past years. Foremost among these issues is the future of Xavier Institute, a Center for ongoing formation of women and men religious. The federation voted on the motion to keep the Center open and for the congregations to take turns in running and staffing the Center. Many other important decisions were reached which will have an impact not only for the Church but for the society as well.
In the concluding Eucharist, Bishop Rolando Santos pointed out the importance of going back to the source of our consecrated life, Jesus, in order that we may be prophetic in our witnessing and life-giving in the mission.
Assembly: Federation of Religious PNG-SI (FOR-PNGSI)
The theme of this year’s encounter was Leadership for Communio. The workshop was facilitated by Br. Aengus Kavanagh, fsp, a Patrician Brother and Sr. Leone Pallisier, osu, an Ursuline Sister, both from Sydney. In the four-day workshop they helped the leaders see the importance of leadership from “inside-Out” for the strengthening of communion drawing from the framework of the Program Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. The contents of the workshop were presented keeping in mind the Melanesian context and the facilitators used a process which was both engaging and dynamic giving a chance for all to share experiences, express insights, bring out doubts and challenge the group to re-think processes, structures, etc. to reflect a more proactive stance and a planning mentality.
The synergy in the group was very much felt throughout the workshop and in the Federation’s deliberations of burning issues during the business meeting. The Socials night provided a welcome respite from the hard work of the past days and everyone with a talent in singing, dancing, drama, telling stories/jokes contributed to make the event an unforgettable one. Even the two bishops gamely joined in the fun.
The business meeting was a moment of crucial deliberation and decision-making on some issues and concerns of the Federation which have been dragging on for the past years. Foremost among these issues is the future of Xavier Institute, a Center for ongoing formation of women and men religious. The federation voted on the motion to keep the Center open and for the congregations to take turns in running and staffing the Center. Many other important decisions were reached which will have an impact not only for the Church but for the society as well.
In the concluding Eucharist, Bishop Rolando Santos pointed out the importance of going back to the source of our consecrated life, Jesus, in order that we may be prophetic in our witnessing and life-giving in the mission.
