Bulletin for the Week of August 18, 2013 - and the Pastor's Corner

The Pastor’s Corner 

This week, Fr. Andrew Moses from the Diocese of Daru-Kiunga in Papua New Guinea will be speaking at all masses here at St. Landry. Fr. Jose is seeking support for his diocese as a part of our diocesan mission program. We recall in our generosity towards our brothers and sisters in need that we are a Universal Church and remain in solidarity with Catholics all across the world, especially in our works of charity. This weekend we welcome Fr. Jose and open our hearts to the support of the work that he does! Below please find information on the mission provided by Fr. Jose.

           God Bless!

           Father James Brady

DIOCESE OF DARU-KIUNGA IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

The country of Papua New Guinea is a cluster of islands located south of the equator to the north of Australia and to the east of Indonesia. The Diocese of Daru-Kiunga is one of the 18 Catholic dioceses in this country and covers the entire state of Western Province. The geography of this massive area of approximately 42,000 sq. miles is most challenging: swamps, lakes, rivers and mountains most of which are dense tropical forests cover the area. As the country is close to the equator it is very hot and humid throughout the year.

The tribal people, of Melanesian race, came in contact with the external world when Montfort Missionaries from Canada arrived in the late 1950’s. Since then the Church in this remote and undeveloped part of the world has brought faith, health and education to the people. Today the Catholic population is around 40,000 and makes up approximately 42% of the total population of the state.

The church began its work in the remote villages by establishing schools and primary health clinics which gave brought considerable improvement in the quality of life of the people. To this day it is the diocese that provides basic health and educational needs of the people, in the absence of such services from the government. The area has few transportation facilities and depends on small planes to transport essential medical supplies and other necessities. In the absence of telephones, electricity and roads our only means of communication between parishes and the diocesan headquarters is two way radios.

A very vibrant and energetic Church has emerged here over the past 40 years due to the hard work of the innumerable missionaries, some of whom have given their entire working years in the service of these simple, yet happy and welcoming people. Having emerged in the post Vatican period, the diocese promotes the Spirituality of Communion among all its faithful thus involving them in the decision making from the grassroots level.

One of the main challenges before the diocese is to raise enough funds to continue all these services in the formation of faith as well as other humanitarian and developmental activities. It is with the help of Catholics from Canada, the United States and Germany that the diocese has been able to accomplish so much over these years.

Through the mission appeal during the weekend of July August 17-18, 2013 we invite the parishioners of St. Landry, to join us in bringing the message of Jesus to the people of Western Province in Papua New Guinea. Fr. Andrew Moses will preach at your parish. Please visit us at: missionfrontier.org

                          Fr. Jose K. Jacob SMM.

The bulletin for the week of August 18, 2013 has been posted. Click here to see it.

The calendar on the website has been updated with all events for the coming week along with prayer intention information and information on the second collection for all of the masses. Take some time to look at our calendar here.

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