March saw the long-awaited arrival of the pioneering missionaries of the Congregation of Holy Cross to the Diocese of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea. Seven of the eight have arrived, with the eighth set to join the Holy Family Mission later this year after completing his graduate studies. Their arrival officially opens the newest mission for Holy Cross in the world.
The first missionaries to depart were the three from India: Fr. Thomas John, C.S.C., Superior of the Holy Family Mission, Fr. Amalraj A., C.S.C., and Fr. Boneventure Lobo, C.S.C. The three gathered in Bangalore, Karnataka, where on 10 March a special sendoff and blessing were held at Museum Road. The gathering drew together Holy Cross religious from the local area. Fr. Lawrence D’Almeida, C.S.C., Superior of the Province of South India, and Br. PJ Santhosh, C.S.C., Superior of the St. André Province, and both offered words of encouragement and blessing.
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Fr. Thomas, Fr. Amalraj, and Fr. Boneventure then departed from India on 11 March and arrived the following day in Port Moresby, where they stopped for two days and were able to establish important connections for the future with the Catholic Bishops Conference and the Society of Divine Word.
On 15 March, after taking the morning flight out of Port Moresby, they arrived in Buka, Bougainville, at midday. They were warmly and joyfully greeted by the Most Rev. Dariusz Piotr Kałuża, M.S.F., Bishop of the Diocese of Bougainville, and many lay faithful from the town parish in Buka, led by their pastor Fr. Biljohn. The greeting included local rituals and songs. That evening, Bishop Dariusz held a special dinner in his residence to welcome the new missionaries.
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By that time, the three missionaries from Africa were readying themselves for their departure. On 14 March, the Province of West Africa held a sendoff for Br. Francis Afeletey, C.S.C., and Br. John Agyemang Amponsah, C.S.C., at the Province Centre, Brafoyaw in Cape Coast, Ghana. The prayer service was led by Br. John Affum, C.S.C., Superior of the Province of West Africa.
Four days later, on 18 March, the Province of East Africa, led by Fr. Caxton Peter Mayanja, C.S.C., Superior of the Province of East Africa, held a small, but beautiful Mass to ask for God’s blessing upon Fr. Emmanuel Agaba, C.S.C. The Mass was held at the Bishop McCauley Provincial House in Kampala, Uganda.
Br. Francis, Br. John, and Fr. Emmanuel journeyed forth from Ghana and Uganda on 20 March, arriving the following evening in Manila in the Philippines, where they were warmly welcomed by Fr. Wilson Thoppilan, C.S.C., Superior and Director of Family Rosary Crusade, and the local Holy Cross community.
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On 24 March, Br. Francis, Br. John, and Fr. Emmanuel continued on to Bougainville, arriving midday on 25 March, where they were greeted by Bishop Dariusz, members of the diocesan offices led by Mrs. Beverley Gulaseni, and their confreres.
The last missionary to depart was Br. James Walters, C.S.C., who flew out from Boston on 26 March following a beautiful send-off Mass in the Chapel of Mary at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts. Fr. Tony Szakaly, C.S.C., Director of Campus Ministry, presided at the Mass, which was also attended by Fr. John Denning, C.S.C., President of Stonehill College. The local Holy Cross community also had a special prayer service and meal before Br. James’ departure.
Like the three missionaries from Africa, Br. James also broke up the long trip to Papua New Guinea with a layover in Manila, where he was also received by the local Holy Cross community. The community in Manila is the closest Holy Cross community to the new mission in Bougainville.
Br. James touched down in Buka on 29 March, where once again Bishop Dariusz and the local Church rolled out the welcome mat.
The pioneering missionaries to Bougainville have kept busy during their first days in Bougainville. They have already visited both of the Congregation's parishes in Tinputz and Hantoa, connecting with parishioners, visiting some of the schools, and touring the facilities. They have also been helping out with various liturgies in the area on Feast Days and Sundays, both at local parishes and with communities of religious sisters.
From 1-3 April, the missionaries are joining the priests and religious of the Diocese of Bougainville for a day of recollection and adoration and then two days of meetings. Afterward, the seven will divide into two groups for their orientation and integration program, which will be held with different parishes and communities in the diocese.