General Assembly of Catholic Church

Water ceremony significant in mingling of faith

By Patrick Matbob

 

The General Assembly of the Catholic Church began in Madang yesterday with a meaningful water

Lucia Tomdia of Port Moresby Archdiocese.

ceremony.

Participants from PNG and Solomon Islands who are meeting at Divine Word University brought water from their dioceses and mingled it in a large traditional Madang clay pot. Containers made of bamboo, clay and wood contained water that came from creeks as far away as Auki diocese in the Solomon Islands and the highlands and coastal areas of PNG.

As participants poured the water into a large Madang clay pot, they prayed for their people in their dioceses whose lives were sustained by the water. They prayed that the mingling of the water would renew their faith and strengthen them to evangelize to the people in their dioceses.

The ceremony marked the opening of a week of discussions by bishops, priests, religious and lay people about the serious issues that are facing the church today. Topics to be discussed include the increasing poverty amongst citizens, lack of education and health services, family life and religious life, and the empowerment of the laity in the work of the church. Violence in society especially against women and children, corruption and unequal distribution of wealth, crime and drug abuse, sorcery and preservation of the environment are some of the issues that will be discussed.

Archbishop of Madang Steve Reichert in his opening address reminded participants that many people have not yet heard the Good News of Jesus. He said others have left the Church, some scandalized by the sins of its members.

“The social services of our Church, health and education, while very good in some areas, are deteriorating in others. There is so much violence and abuse in our world”, he said.

A major challenge to the church especially in the highlands of PNG will be the increase in killings and torture associated with sorcery. The church along with civil authorities, have struggled in recent years to control violence related to sorcery, witchcraft and cult practices. This has been a major challenge to the Christian faith, resulting in the breakdown of law and order and respect for authority in communities in the region. The PNG government has responded to serious crimes by introducing capital punishment and abolishing the Sorcery Act. The Catholic Church has consistently opposed capital punishment as a solution to serious crimes and has voiced its opposition again recently.

The conference in Madang will continue for a week and ends with a mass at the Holy Spirit Cathedral on Sunday November 10.