Many former PNG missionaries, especially those from Aitape, were present at the funeral of Bishop Tony Burgess which took place in Sydney on 30 October.
In the absence of Cardinal Pell, Archbishop Denis Hart of Melbourne was principal celebrant. There were also a good number of Australian Bishops present for the Requiem Mass. Priests from Sydney as well as those who came especially for the occasion joined in concelebrating the mass.
Among the PNG Bishops present were the Emeriti Archbishops Brian Barnes of Port Moresby, Austen Crapp of Aitape, Desmond Moore of Alotau – Sideia, Archbishop Douglas Young of Mt.Hagen, Bishops Otto Separy of Aitape, and Rochus J Tatamai of Bereina.
The Apostolic Nuncio of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands was also present and just before the beginning of the funeral Mass he read the condolence messages from Pope Francis and the Prefect of the Evangelisation of Peoples.
Among the Priests were Peter Artiken, Ben Fleming Paul Sire Lonot, who also organised the PNG Sydney community who sang during the offertory and later at Macquarie Park Cemetery. This community had representatives from all over PNG.
Source
- The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea
- Supplied – Giorgi Licini
- Supplied by