Papau New Guinea
PAPUA NEW GUINEA (bird of paradise) "May God bless Papua New Guinea. Pope John Paul Blessing at Jackson's Airport, May 7, 1984 RNDMs in Papua New Guinea There is now only one official RNDM community at Kagua, Southern Highlands Province. Marie Lawlor - lives intercongregationally with an American congregation of Franciscans. She is located in the Southern Highlands, also Mendi Diocese, in a place called Kagua, which would roughly be about 70-80kms from Mendi town, into the bush area of the region. From the time that the RNDMs began working, in Papua New Guinea (founded by our Australian Province), our Sisters have worked in Wiliame, Tari, Ialibu and Pangia, as well as Kagua in the Southern Highlands, and also in Port Moresby, in Boroko and Madang. MORE PHOTOS and information in: click Newsletter 1999#4, Newsletter 2000#4, Newsletter 2001#4, Newsletter 2003#3, and in Newsletter 2006#2 APOSTOLATES (WORKS) INVOLVED IN In the Southern Highlands: Kagua - Jubilee 2000 Gates. Every parish in this district built special gates to represent the Jubilee 2000 Report from Mendi, Papua-New Guinea Congratulations to Maureen Dwan, on her appointment to the Congregational Leadership Team based in Rome, 2002 - 2008. Maureen is a New Zealander who has served for many years in the Southern Highlands, alongside the Capuchin Fathers. In her early years she served in a number of different outposts in the Highlands. More recently she has been setting up a catechetical centre for the Southern Highlands and preparing material in Pidgin English for the catechists. Children of Papua New Guinea Big sister looking after the little ones. A seven year old carries the baby 
May his peace descend on your beautiful islands,
your great rivers, high mountains and deep valleys;
may it rest on your volcanoes and fill your blue seas.
And may the love of Christ abide in your hearts
and your homes, today and for ever."
Traditional Costume for a Sing-sing
Working and accompanying a Diocesan Local Religious Congregation of Sisters - mainly in Pastoral ministry and assisting in Vocation Promotion Skills for their congregation.
Being engaged in Women's Groups and various levels of Literacy
Living intercongregationally and witnessing to community and working alongside both male and female co-workers from various communities and cultures.
Photo : Holy Doors. A Bible Seminar group has just finished their programme during 2000 and gathers at the Jubilee Gate at the entrance to the church.
This photo was taken at the celebration of Marie Lawlor's Golden Jubilee in June 2001, and captures the willingness of the local people to support and thank the Sisters who work amongst them.
Blessed Peter ToRot
The main ministry of the sisters in PNG over the years has been enabling the local church to stand on its own feet (sanap long lek bilong ol yet).
The recent Assembly of the Church in PNG/Solomon Islands has looked at the role of the laity and the ministry of local men and women. One such example is that of Blessed Pita ToRot, a catechist martyred by the Japanese for continuing his ministry during the occupation. The closing of the Assembly will be held in July 2004 in Rabaul, East New Britain - the home place of Pita.
This is a painting of Pita as catechist, in the relic chapel in Rabaul.