Pope Francis has named Archbishop Michael W. Banach the apostolic nuncio for Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Pope Benedict XVI had named Banach, a Vatican diplomat, to be an apostolic nuncio, which carries with it the title of archbishop, in February. He was born the son of Wallace and Jane Banach. He grew up Read more
When Grace L. Fabian forgave the man who murdered her husband, she was simply following her faith. She and her husband arrived in Papua New Guinea on the Fourth of July 1969 to work with Wycliff Bible Translators, producing literacy materials and translating the New Testament. They had four children, all born in Papua New Read more
A New Zealand born Catholic priest, Philip Gibbs, has been actively involved in trying to halt sorcery deaths in Papua New Guinea. Based in Mt Hagen, Gibbs, 65, said it was hard to work out what to say to congregations which included people who would have taken part in burning alleged witches. “If as an Read more
A study conducted by Sr. Gabriella Burgos from the National Family Life Apostolate and Br. Martin Tnines from the Melanesian Institute has identified unemployment, feelings of exclusion and a decline in parental influence as the driving forces behind alcohol and drug abuse. The research was conducted in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea. Catholic HIV and AIDS Services Incorporated (CHASI), Read more
The newly appointed National Catholic Education Secretary for Papua New Guinea has taken up his position and began by attending the First National Education Board meeting for 2013 as an observer. He replaces Mr. Sylvester Ganisi, from the diocese of Alotau, who for the past seven years has been National Catholic Education Secretary. In the Read more
Papua New Guinea is the new frontier for the expansion of Islam in Oceania says Fr. Franco Zocca SVD, a missionary in Goroka and scholar of Islam at the Melanesian Insitute. Islam arrived in Papua New Guinea about 35 years ago, when a mosque was opened near Kimbe, West New Britain. Islam was officially registered Read more
Rowan Williams, archevêque de Canterbury et chef de l’Église anglicane, a entamé ce week-end une visite officielle de cinq jours en Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée, en compagnie de son épouse Jane Williams, rapporte la radio nationale. Au cours de ce périple papou, ce dirigeant religieux devrait rencontrer les plus hautes autorités de l’État, dont le Gouverneur Général (représentant Read more
I can tell you the reason for the story of declining services, declining prosperity and the declining well-being of the people of PNG. It’s very simple. As coined by a group of Papua New Guinean intellectuals many years ago, the problem is the Melanesian Way. There. It’s been said. The big, sacred pig which has Read more
Papua New Guinea would favourably consider reopening an asylum seekers’ processing centre if asked by Australia according to Prime Minister Peter O’Neill. And in Nauru, the office of Dominic Tabuna, the Minister for Commerce, Industry and Environment, issued a statement saying that while Nauru stands ready to assist the Australian government, Nauru had “no say” Read more
Papua New Guinean Catholics and their Christian friends in Australia are organising a Special Holy Mass in English and Tok Pisin in honour of Blessed Peter ToRot in celebration of the 100th year of his birth. The mass will be held at St Vincent’s Catholic Church, 7 Bindel Street, Aranda in Canberra at 11am next Saturday and Read more