CATHOLIC YOUTHS HOST A CONVENTION

BY KENNY ROMANUS

YOUTHS of St. Bertila Parish of Daru-Kiunga Diocese in Ioara Station hosts a 5 days youths convention. 

Over 200 plus youths form various parishes within the diocese gathered at St. Bertila Parish in Ioara to attend the 5 days Youths convention based on a theme “Young People be open and responsible” 

The hosting parish warmly welcomed youths representatives from  St. John’s Parish(Matkomnai), St. Paul’s(Nomad), St. Peter’s (Bosset) and the Kiunga town parishes, St. Brigid’s and St. Gerard’s. 

The program is hosted from Monday, 26th to Friday, 30th September. 

The objective of this convention is to bring young people from three parishes together in communion to participate in spiritual, mentally and social activities. This will help them gain confidence and take responsibilities in church, community and country as a whole. 

Among the 200 plus youths attending the convention are 15 invited youths from other denominations(New Apostolic Church and ECPNG). 

Young Women and Men were grouped into Four Groups to do activities and presentations for the five day event. 

As it is a church organized event, each day begin with a morning mass and they continue on with the activities programmed for each day and ends with a rosary prayer then the night activities. 

Former Youth President for St. Brigid Town Parish, Mr. Bosco Salulen from his previous experience said, they usually have sports, prayer gathering, entertainments (video shows,drama plays..etc) Bible Quiz, Sharing the word of God and on the last day, youths exchange gifts as significance of the event. 

Present at the convention are; Mr. Ambie James, Diocesan Youth Coordinator, Mr. Gills Ken, Diocesan Child Protection Officer, Mr. Raphael Dalsep, Diocesan Men’s Coordinator and Parish Priest for St. Bertila & Diocesan Priest, Fr. Hubert Nekiri. 

Mr. James explained the policies and guidelines of being a Catholic Youth under the Catholic Bishops Conference (CBC) of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. 

Youths will be taught their roles and responsibilities of being a church youth, responsibilities do as future parents, responsibilities of children within the family and many more. 

Meantime, the Middle Fly Catholic Youths Convention kicked off well and will continue on with the planned activities at the ST. Bertila Mission Station grounds in Iowara Station.