Papua New Guinea has been a constitutional,
parliamentary democracy since 16th September 1975. It has 20 provinces
and 89 districts. The Population of the country is around 5.5 million;
consisting of 52.3 % male and 47.7 % female; 81.9 % of the total population
live in Villages, 12.2 % live in Towns and 5.8 %. Other: The median
age of the people is estimated at 18 years. Life expectancy for women
is around 51 years and for men 49 years. The total land area is 4,
62, 840 square km; The Sea area covers 19, 00, 000 square km; It has
got more than 1,400 islands. It is ten hours ahead of Greenwich Mean
Time (London). The island is situated at 14° South, 141 - 160°
East, a distance of 2100nkm. Its neighbouring countries are the Federated
States of Micronesia to the north, the Nauru and Solomon Islands to
the east and Australia and west-Indonesia to the south.
SHORT HISTORY OF THE INSTITUTE IN PNG
The German Link In 1914 a group of
5 De La Salle Brothers from the German District arrived
in Rabaul to take charge of a school for mixed race
boys. The connection with the German District was obvious
at the time. Rabaul formed the centre for the Administration
of German New Guinea. Within months of their arrival
at the outbreak of World War I and the occupation of
Rabaul by Australian forces these Brothers became aliens
in occupied territory.
However, they were able to proceed with their
work of educating the young boys of mixed race origin. For
the most part these were the children of marriages or liaisons
between German or European plantation managers and staff and
women from New Britain and New Ireland. The school was a boarding
school and from all accounts was successful and the Brothers
were popular with their students.
When World War I ended in 1918 the Brothers in Rabaul sought
the opportunity for home leave or repatriation and the possibility
of others coming to replace them or to augment their numbers.
Back home in Germany the thought was more specifically to
'recall the Brothers working in German New Guinea in order
to boost the number of Brothers needed to maintain the works
in the home District.
A protracted series of correspondence ensued and it was not
until 1921 that consent was finally given for the Brothers
to return to their home District. No replacements were sent
and so the first work of the De La Salle Brothers in Papua
New Guinea came to a close.
Following the end of
World War II, Bishop de Boismenu again made approaches
to have Brothers come to his Mission, this time through
the Brothers in Australia. Correspondence was exchanged
in an encouraging way and by the time that permission
to explore the possibility of a foundation had been
given to Br Benignus, the then Provincial, Bishop de
Boismenu's resignation had been accepted by the Vatican
and Fr Andre Sorin had been named as Pro-Vicar Apostolic.
He too had been an ex-student of the Brothers in France
and was similarly keen to obtain their services.
After a personal visit to assess the situation on the Mission
Br Benignus gave a good report and permission to establish
a community in Papua was granted. The pioneer Australian Brothers
were to be Brothers Patrick Howard (Director), Anthony Broderick,
Lucian Thorpe and Celsus Maguire. They arrived in Port Moresby
on January 19th, 1946. The purpose of the school was to prepare
young men to be catechist-teachers in village schools throughout
the Mission.
YEAR AND THE PLACES OF THE BROTHERS ARRIVAL
IN PNG
1914-5 Rabaul -German Brothers
1946-7 Bomana -(Australian District)
1948-71 Yule Island
1958-95 Mainohana
1964-2000 Bomana -Secondary Boarding School
1969-2002 Kondiu -Secondary Boarding
1978-83 Goroka'
1979-Mt Hagen
1982-Kagua
1986-94 Tapini
1994-Hohola Youth DC
1999-2000 Mun
2001-2 Rabaul ..
Towards Greater heights … Indian
Brothers in PNG
What a great day it is! It is a historic day! The
first three Indian Missionaries have been commissioned to go and
work in PNG. A great collaboration with the District of Australia
New Zealand Papua New Guinea! Three of our best men have been chosen
and they have accepted it whole-heartedly. It is the land of 'unexpected
things'. Trusting God's providence and having faith in the Brothers
there, they have offered themselves to go and work in PNG
It is a sign of maturity for the Delegation of India. A great sign
of growth and development! It is also the beginning of a new cha
pter in the Delegation History. This will give hope to the PARC
in a special way. For all these years we have been blessed with
missionary Brothers from Sri Lanka, Spain, France, England, Ireland,
United States and Australia. Their spirit is still hovering over.
That same great missionary spirit blesses these Brothers too.
The commitment that our three Brothers show in their service is
highly commendable; the embrace of their mission is cheerful and
with full of energy. Their inculturation process has well begun.
Their happiness in their self-sacrifice is of great excellence.
Their popularity among the students is simply remarkable.
The Brothers are engaged in teaching.
Br. Antony Swamy teaches History to 9th and 11th students. He prepares
his classes very carefully. He practices all the good things that
one learns in B.Ed. He is very popular among the students for his
teaching and in the evening, he coaches basketball.
Br. Jeyaseelan takes care of the English classes for 9th and 11th.
Having seen him, doing so well there is a demand for him to take
12th also. The students themselves ask for him.
Br. Xavier Raja is playing a pivotal role there. He heads the Department
of Religion - thanks to ISFA (so says he) - and assists in Guidance
and Counseling department.
