Spiritual Retreat for Parish Priests

By Fr Ambrose Pereira, SDB

Port Moresby, PNG, 12 July 2024 -- ‘Proclaiming the Good News and celebrating the Sacraments is at the heart of the Apostolic Mission of the Church. (Prayer PNGSI 2016). Together with Cardinal John Ribat MSC, the parish priests and chaplains of the Archdiocese of Port Moresby spent the week at Sivaria Namona, Bomana, from 7-12 July 2024, making their Spiritual Retreat. The Retreat was preached by Bp Dariusz Kaluza MSF, Bishop of Bougainville, who dwelt on Synodailty in the parish community.

Bp Dairusz represented the Catholic Bishops of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands together with Grace Wraki at the Synod of Synodality in 2023. It will have its concluding session in October 2024. Dwelling on the process followed at the Synod on Synodality; he invited the priests to follow the steps of the Synodal process. He highlighted encounter, listen, pray and discern where the Spirit is leading us. He encouraged all to see and recognize the Lord in ordinary events, in their brother priests, and in the community.

The mornings were spent in prayer, sessions and the Eucharistic celebration. The latter half of the day dwelt on ‘Conversations in the Spirit’, Adoration of the Blessed Eucharist, personal rosary and reflection. The ‘Conversations in the Spirit’ is what was used at the Synod of Synodality. It consists of listening, sharing, praying and discerning what the Spirit is inviting us to do. It was a time for each participant to get a grasp of the priesthood and a deeper understanding of the Church calling us to face the challenges we face in our ministry and in life.

“The retreat is a time of fraternity and a time for yourself,” emphasized the preacher. “It was a time and space for us to change our frame of mind as we rest and spend time in relaxed fraternity,” said Fr Emilio Soon, parish priest of Christ the King parish, Badili. The conversations in the Spirit dwelt on our vocation, life in community and our spirit of service and evangelical witness. “Listening to the vocation stories of my brother priests has enabled me to appreciate my vocation and the different avenues the Lord has led me through”, said Fr Novil Alex, Assistant parish priest at Borogaina.

The richness of the retreat was the interaction and the personal sharing of the priests of the archdiocese. There are 15 different congregations serving in the Archdiocese of Port Moresby, the majority are missionaries from Philippines, Indonesia, India, Fiji, Tonga, Australia and Africa.

At the concluding Eucharistic celebration, Bp Dariusz reminded the participants that they go out into a world where they will face opposition and persecution. After Holy Communion, Cardinal Ribat blessed and released the four-year Pastoral Plan of the Archdiocese.

Refreshed and relaxed, the priests return to their parishes to prepare their parishioners for the historic Papal Visit of Pope Francis scheduled from 6-9 September 2024. Thanks to the sisters and staff of Sivarai Namona for their kindness and for catering to the needs of the participants. Gratitude to Bp Daurisz for his prayerful animation and for directing us during the retreat days.

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