Aid to the Church in Need: Papua New Guinea:

Papua New Guinea:

Posted by Project of the Week on 20/7/2009, 8:29 am
Board Administrator

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: A convent for religious sisters in Vanimo

Construction of a convent for the Handmaids of the Lord and the Blessed Virgin of Matara in Vanimo

Vanimo is the poorest and remotest diocese in Papua New Guinea. Since 2002 a group of religious sisters from South America have been working here. They are the Handmaids of the Lord and the Blessed Virgin of Matara, a congregation founded in 1998 in Argentina. Currently five sisters are working here. Having come here as missionaries, they are particularly at risk of malaria, and medical provisions are very poor. But they have not allowed themselves to be deterred. The sisters have many duties – for instance they are compiling a Catechism in Pidgin English, the language most widely used by the majority of the population. This is essential, so that the local culture can be truly penetrated by the spirit of the Gospel. They are also training catechists to help in the work of pastoral care in the jungle villages, where there is no permanent presence of a priest. At the same time the sisters are giving catechetical instruction to children, young people and adults in the jungle villages and helping the women as midwives.

But above all they are dedicated to the spiritual care of women and girls, helping to teach them to understand their own God-given dignity. The work of these sisters is of great importance in this culture, in which it is frowned on for male missionaries to teach women and girls. But at the same time it is especially important to provide the women with support, since as a rule they have no chance of gaining anything more than a minimal education and are often married off while still children. They are completely subject to their husbands and often mistreated, yet at the same time they bear the entire responsibility for the upbringing of the children and the support of their family, since the men are not accustomed to working. As Sister Maria explains, "Women tend to live in a state of oppression and neglect in this society, which does not respect their dignity". Their suffering is consequently great, and many of the girls are also victims of sexual abuse. The sisters therefore want to establish a home for girls and young women, where they can seek shelter and be protected from physical and psychological harm. Ideally, this should be in a house right next to the sisters' convent, but the problem is that the sisters themselves still have no permanent place to live.

The Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has promised a grant of over $50,000, so that they can live close to the most vulnerable of their charges and so be available to help them right round the clock.

To help this cause please contact the Australian office of ACN on (02) 9679-1929. e-mail: info@aidtochurch.org or write to Aid to the Church in Need PO Box 6245 Blacktown DC NSW 2148. Web: www.aidtochurch.org

One of the sisters giving catechetical instruction

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Aid to the Church in Need PO Box 6245 Blacktown DC NSW 2148 ABN: 62 418 911 594
Ph/Fax (02) 9679-1929 e-mail: info@aidtochurch.org web: www.aidtochurch.org