Melbourne Overseas Missions

Bishop Chris Prowse
with photographs by Dave Tacon

After clouds blocked his planned visit to missionary stations in the mountains of Kerema diocese in Papua New Guinea, Melbourne Auxiliary Bishop Christopher Prowse in PNGChristopher Prowse was forced to limit his pastoral visit to a lower altitude parish where he found much to impress him in the evangelising work of the Melbourne Overseas Mission.

Writing in the Melbourne diocesan publication Kairos, Bishop Prowse says that he had planned to visit Mgr John Flynn from Melbourne who “has served faithfully in the mountainous missionary stations of the Kerema Diocese in Papua New Guinea for many years, presently as the much loved parish priest of Kanabea”.

According to Bishop Prowse, “Fr John”, as he is known locally, is continuing a tradition of Melbourne Overseas Mission (MOM) contribution to Kanabea pastoral life that started in the late 1960s under former Melbourne Archbishop Cardinal James Knox.

“I was also keen to observe first hand the commitment of MOM to these regions,” Bishop Prowse writes.

“But the mission station had been covered in thick cloud for several months, and no aircraft was able to land at the station’s airstrip,” he added.

John Flynn in Kanabea, PNG Unable to visit Kanabea, Bishop Prowse was nevertheless able to speak to Fr John by radio. “Via others, I sent him some small gifts that included a letter from Archbishop Denis Hart, the Archbishop of Melbourne”.

Meanwhile, Bishop Prowse spent time at the parish of Bema lower down the mountain range.

“Bema also has strong links with the Archdiocese of Melbourne,” Bishop Prowse says.

A Melbourne priest Fr Patrick Harvey was parish priest for several years. Another Melbourne priest, Fr Peter Cullen died in an aircraft crash in the area in 1976, he writes.

“Bema has been the grateful recipient of generosity from Melbourne via MOM – many of the facilities that I inspected – schools, parish buildings, hydro-electrical equipment, tractor, and so forth – are all gifts from the organisation,” Bishop Prowse says.

Bishop Prowse – Kamina, PNG “Wherever we went, the simplicity of lifestyle, the friendliness of the shy parishioners, and the educational opportunities offered to an isolated culture were omnipresent, and so was the practical help of MOM!”

However, Bishop Prowse also noted the uncertain future that Papua New Guinea seems to face.

“Political inaction, corruption, and violence continue there unabated. I found this most evident in Port Moresby. The chilling advice of one local was that at night if one hears the sound of dogs barking and cars arriving at your residence, then you must remain in bed.

Kanabea, above the clouds, PNG “Under no circumstances ought one turn on lights or open doors. ‘Raskols’ roam certain streets with evil intent. Also, malaria and HIV-AIDS are national problems of the highest level,” he writes.

“Yet, the work of evangelisation continues. How happy I was to experience first-hand the Melbourne Archdiocese’s small but significant contribution in the Gulf Province of PNG and beyond!” Bishop Prowse concludes.

SOURCE
Visiting our MOM (Kairos, 1 October 2006)

[View with PicLens]

Everything in the room swayed and moved in different directions for about five minutes. This was our experience of the Tsunami that struck on 26th December 2004. Among the people were one month old babies and young mothers. They did not want to be separated from their families and refused to come into town where we could have given them better care. The crowd did not want to leave the Sisters either, even though the Government offered them their schools. They felt more secure with us.

Sr. Teresa with two Superiors of Karaikal and I went down the coast. We visited a good number of villages, talking to the victims. Some had lost as many as seven members of their families, many of them children or mothers who were trying to save their little ones. The men who were fishing elsewhere were saved. The wave came up so silently that people were hardly aware of the black water that engulfed them, churned them around and took them kilometers forward and then dragged them into the sea. The next wave brought them back on to the land dead or seriously injured. Some had the good fortune of clinging on to a tree or something else that turned out to be their lifeline. We went looking for orphans and found that mostly children had died.

In Nagappattinam, it was horrifying to see huge boats and ships sitting on verandahs, or even on roof tops. These boats can cost between one to 15 lakhs. The different types of nets for various fish cost about one lakh each. Those who have lost all cannot start life again without boats and equipment. Bodies are pinned under debris and the air smells foul. People are huddled together away from the coast.

We went on to Velangani, it was deserted. On 26th, the people had left the church after the Tamil Mass and gone down to the beach. Others entered for the Malayalam Mass. The first wave mixed the people with sheets of roofing, cutting them up. Photos of the dead look terrible and not all are exposed yet – many people are there for those who are searching for their loved ones. The water went up to the Church steps and then divided. Those who were in its way or ran out of the Church were swept out. They found more than 2000 bodies. Even after ten days, they found some bodies that had to be cremated because they were too highly decomposed. The brick shops in front of the church stand silent and empty. Nothing remains of all those on the shore. The water level has risen and there is no beach. We met a priest, an eyewitness who gave us gruesome details. We visited the Diocesan home for the aged – an absolute mess. It reminded me of Cheyur. They were able to save most of the inmates.

This evening there was a meeting with the Social Welfare Board, from Pondicherry. We will take in all the orphans below 10. At least they will be safe with us. We will also accept old people. The Sisters are doing their best to co-operate in the Relief work.

Sr. Bernadette Pinto
Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny

*Note : 1 Lakh =100,000 Rupees = Au$3027.32

In September 2004, 32 boxes of clothing, books, magazines and computer equipment were transported to Papua New Guinea. Sent to help the underprivileged.

FR. James Joseph Morova Holy Spirit Seminary serves the Kerema Diocese, which covers 12 parishes. So far, five locals have been ordained to the priesthood. Another is to be ordained next year. Paul Gabriel, from Kanabea Parish is a seminarian of the Holy Spirit, whose father, Gabriel Anamada, has been working as a catechist for the past 32 years. Paul is the second of the Kamea people to join the major seminary. He will be ordained in three years time. Fr. James Joseph Morova (pictured) was ordained in May 2003.