During the last six years, the Lord has granted me a huge grace: to be a missionary of the Religious Family of the Incarnate Word in one of our emblematic and most beautiful missions- Papua New Guinea. With this chronicle, I want to give thanks to the Lord for the many benefits and graces received and for the adventures I have lived. I would also like to share a bit about the mission with all of you, my dear religious family.
The Servidoras arrived to Vanimo in 2002 to help in the Pastoral Center of the Diocese, where we teach the catechists and prayer leaders, who are the ones who sustain the faith in the far away villages and prepare the people to receive the sacraments when a priest comes (which sometimes is only once a year). We also hold formation courses, spiritual exercises and retreats at the Pastoral Center. Thanks be to God, our apostolates have grown greatly in the last 23 years. We now have a refuge home for girls who come from difficult situations, such as running from a forced marriage, false accusations of being a sorcerer, grave illnesses, or just being abandoned. Lujan Home for Girls is a beautiful home full of grace, joy, love and the spirit of a family. In the 15 years of its existence, more than 120 girls have passed through it and now live independent lives and have the necessary skills to flourish. Many of them now have their own families, work as nurses, teachers, or in the government, and some are religious! This home is like the gem of the “last paradise” that is Papua New Guinea.
Of course, we also have apostolates in the parishes to help prepare children, youth, and adults to receive the sacraments, bring communion to the sick, and help the parish priest. Additionally, I must mention something very particular and special of this mission in Oceania: the work together with our IVE Priests. This is why we have seen our charism flourish with many fruits in recent years. First, thanks to the mercy of God, we have many male and female vocations. The education project has flourished and many of our dreams have come true. The “Queen of Paradise” Orchestra, which now has around 100 children who professionally plays all the stringed instruments and has a spectacular choir. This is also thanks to the magnanimity and missionary spirit of Maestro Jesús. Furthermore, now we have a functioning academy from first to ninth grade with over 720 students and the hope is that it will grow each year until it reaches twelfth grade. The challenge of opening the secondary school came with many difficulties, but with a vision of faith, and a lot of work alongside God’s grace, we have achieved something great, according to God’s will. I want to thank all the missionaries- priests, monks, religious, and laity- who have helped and collaborated with the hand of God to allow this mission territory to flourish.
A beautiful tradition of the people of PNG is to give food and fruits as a gift and offering- to God, to the missionaries, to teachers. That is why I received so many tropical fruits the week I said goodbye to the mission. Sometimes He allows us to see fruits from our apostolic work to strengthen us on the way. I can say that in PNG, I have seen many fruits. I appeal to you all- fathers, brothers, and sisters- to offer yourselves to help in this beautiful and fruitful garden because the harvest is ready, but the laborers are few. As our dear Father Buela said, “the cross makes fruitful all that it touches.” Therefore, the mission will only give fruit if we are united to Christ on the cross. “Neither Jesus without the cross, nor the cross without Jesus” (DS 144).
May Our Lady of Lujan, our patroness and loving mother, continue to bring many fruits from the mission in PNG and strengthen the missionaries there.
¡Viva la Virgen y viva la misión!
Sr. Mary Altar of Sacrifice
