Araimiri and Port Moresby, PNG, 17 September 2020 -- Since 26 March, every day for the past half a year the Salesian 'COVID19 SOLIDARITY' centre in Rome has been daily gathering news about solidarity action not only from the 90 SDB provinces organized in 7 Regions (Europe Central-North, Mediterranean, Interamerica, America Southern Cone, South Asia, EAO and Africa-Madagascar) but also from any of the 32 groups of the large Salesian Family.
Yesterday, on 16 September, Papua New Guinea celebrated its 45th anniversary of independence, a National holiday. On 16 September 1975 PNG became an independent state, no longer under Australia, and PNG confreres celebrate this joyful occasion as far as Canlubang or Jerusalem. Beside many events and celebrations we share two small but very meaningful solidarity acts from this country.
In Araimiri (Gulf province) our parish priest, Fr Joseph Thanh, helps his parishioners in a simple but meaningful way: Fishers of fish, not necessarily fishers of men. Down-to-earth, practical aid to families. Seven more families of the parish of Mary Help of Christians have a new net to fish with. It is better to teach a man to fish rather than give him a fish to eat. Income-generating activities for people who have lost their earlier sources of income.
While in the city setting of Port Moresby (capital of PNG) the Don Bosco Technical school (Gabutu) boys under the guidance of their Rector, Fr. Pedro Sachitula, are busy harvesting first vegetables from their new garden just at the centre of the school compound - a small but much felt contribution to the self-sustainability of our work.
Yes, the pandemic times are far from over. It's a marathon. If you have any best practice, good story of solidarity, sustainability or simply assistance in your Salesian school, parish, youth center, boarding house - don't hesitate to share for the encouragement of many others!
And last, but not the least - all PGS confreres invite you to pray for the speedy arrival of their new provincial, Fr Greg Bicomong, in Port Moresby!
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