Birthday and Markets

Sr Jacinta celebrated her Birthday on Thursday. These are Sisters from the Novitiate visiting and bringing flowers and gifts. Jacinta is from the community in Bosset.

Heading off to the Aitape Markets. Our driver beside the vehicle is Maria. Gracelyn, Sharon and Jacinta are in the back with Maria's niece. I travelled in the front. There is trip each day to buy fresh vegetables.

Arriving at the markets with our shopping bags. Very colourful with the umbrellas. We bought 3 bunches of bananas, some for eating and some for cooking.

Here Gracelyn is choosing cobs of corn. We also bought lots of greens as tonight there will be 26 of us for the evening meal. 

On our arrive back at the convent. All the food was placed in this shelter beside the convent. From here what is need for the meal is brought into the house by those who are rostered to cook each evening.

4 Wheel Drive Trip to Aitape

We set off for Aitape on Wednesday 8th April at 9.15am for a "Gathering" of the Sisters. Here we are in the back yard at Wewak Convent. The vehicle is already half full with our luggage and food for 30 people for a week!!!! We have an esky full of frozen chicken and sausages, 40 loaves of bread and lots of dried groceries that cannot be bought in Aitape. 

In the picture is Fr Jonathan OFM cap. Sharon, Maria, Tina, Rosella and myself. Behind is the driver Robert and his co-driver. I traveled in front with Fr Jonathan, whom you see has long legs. It a a bit cramped, but probably better than sitting sideways in the back. The 40 loaves of bread in 2 boxes was resting on their knees!!

We had to stop a number of times along the way as the cargo inside shifted with all the river crossings and pot-holed roads. It was also a good chance to stretch our cramped legs.

This was our morning tea/lunch stop around 11.00am. It was on the top of a hill as you can see overlooking the ocean. The road to Aitape is along the coast line most of the way. 

We had to driver along this river bed and around the corner to find a place to cross to the other side. For some entertainment we counted the river/stream crossings. There we 34 not counting the bridges and numerous large areas that were covered in water. It rain for 3 solid hours earlier that morning.

After 6 hours on the road we arrived at Aitape Convent. As a visitor I was once again welcomed with flowers. Besides the professed Sisters the 3 novices and 3 postulants were also among the welcoming party. Afternoon tea was waiting and was very welcome at 3.30pm. A long time since our morning tea break. The Sisters had baked fresh buns and scones which we had with homemade ginger beer which was served with ice. It was very much appreciated.

My bedroom is facing this view from the second floor of the convent. I took this shot from the outside veranda just along from my room. 

I am very much enjoying the singing of the Sisters at Community Prayer and at Mass. It is also good to see so many happy younger Sisters. I will try making a video and see if I can upload it to this BLOG.

Easter Sunday Celebrations

 This is the group who were part of the Processional into the church for Easter Sunday










This is our Group with the two Sisters in front. Dulcie on the left and Sharon on the right. Mildred led them in playing the guitar.


Our group danced the "Bible" into the church for the readings

Another group formed the Offertory Procession. They are in Red as was the first group as they belong to the Holy Spirit Parish.

After Mass we joined the Spiritian Priest and Brother for drinks and a light meal. They live next to the Church.

They joined us for the more formal evening meal.

Sitting down: LtoR: Milread, Rosella, Br Theo and Dulcie

Standing LtoR: Tina, myself, Sharon and Fr Enricko. It was a great day of celebrations and cooking. 

Easter Monday Gathering at Convent

 We had a Parish Gathering at our Convent. Our section of the Parish is called Group or Area 4

The Sisters invited the families in the group to bring something to eat and to arrive around 4.00pm.

We provided cordial and home made donuts.

A canoe pulled along side our bank with a large catch of fish.


Here we see the woman placing the fish on a bag. From L to R are Sisters Sharon, Dulcie and Mildred, Anna a woman from the parish is on the end.

We ended up purchasing 20 KINA of fish. Each fish cost 1 K.

We are cooking them for supper this evening as we have Fr Jonathan OFM Cap. staying with us and coming on to Aitape to give the majority of sessions at the Gathering of Sisters.

 Rosella, the PNG Leader of our Sisters is in this photo with Fr Ericko, who is the Priest in our Parish. He is a Spiritian, Once known as The Holy Ghost Fathers from Africa

They have been in this Parish for quite some time. They were also in Aitape for many years with our Sisters and Fr Pat was in Fatima for many years and then moved to Australia and was in Woorabinda, with the aboriginal people.

Here are a couple of the women. Dorothy in the green and her little daughter Avanka also in green

We had a lovely sunset on the water just at the front of the convent. 

I am a bit out of order here as I have forgotten to put in some photos from Easter Sunday!

I am off to Aitape tomorrow, Wednesday. Internet might not be as easy to get, but I will try to add something to this Blog whenever possible. I am enjoying my experience here very much

Good Friday Evening and Holy Saturday

My internet went off line as I was downloading the next lot of photos. So I will try again.

Sisters Sharon and Dulcie wait with the smaller children for everyone to gather to practice for the Procession of the Bible.

Here we see the decorations made from woven                                                                             leaves to be worn on the head. Sr Mildred                                                                                  (Mille). The women and children spend many
                                hours sitting beside the water as they assisted each other.

This is the finished product with colourful flowers decorating the green. The preparations certainly helped to make the ceremonies very special for all involved.

Good Friday until Easter Sunday

The Easter preparations and celebrations have been pretty full on! The younger Sisters set off around 6.00am to walk the Way of the Cross through the local towns/villages around 20 km. The Stations finished near our Parish Church of the Holy Spirit in a very large paddock. 

There were hundreds of prople sitting under the shade of large trees and a number beyond the trees with umbrellas to share them from the sun.
Even though we really could not hear the readings the people were very reverent. It was lovely to be part of this great manifestation of Faith

Good Friday Evening

Good Friday Evening we had the neighbours and their children come to the convent grounds to practice for the Processional for Easter Sunday. They danced the Bible to the Altar. We were all out in the grounds around 8.00pm. Florescent lights on the outside of the Convent gives sufficient light to gather after dark.

These children are our next door neighbours. They have a gate that lets them into our property. 

The family looks after the convent when the Sisters are away.

Holy Saturday preparations for Sunday

Arrival in PNG & Wewak

Arrival in PNG & Wewak

I arrived in Port Moresby on time after a good flight. I was met by three of our Sisters, Rosella and Elle & Jacinta who had flown in from Bosset. We all travelled together to Wewak.
I have been looking forward to this time in PNG that it is hard to believe that I am finally here.

 We were met at the Wewak Airport by Br Theo, a Spiritan Brother. He drove us to the Convent where we were met by the Sisters Dolcie, Sharon, Tina and Millie. They had prepared the neighbours children to dance a welcome for me. I was given a string of frangapani

This is a view of the front of the house facing the water. We have a lovely view to the left and front of the convent to the water and to the right to the mountains.

There were eight of us for prayers and a meal together. It was lovely to have such a large community with a number of younger Sisters.

This is the view from the front of the convent looking to the right. It sweeps around to the left.

This afternoon after the Good Friday Ceremonies we had a family with 4 young children come to have a swim in front of the convent. 

The neighbours children from next door came to play in our grounds. One of the mothers was having a quiet time on our waterfront wall.