Our Diocesan Assembly

From the 24th until the 29th of September 2007 representatives from all the Parishes and Services of the Diocese gathered in Kiunga for a very important event, our Diocesan Assembly. The Diocesan Assembly is the highest decision making body of the Diocese.

The 90 participants lived a very profound experience of participation and communion.

The purpose of the Diocesan Assembly was to evaluate our activities of the phase that was ending and approve the Diocesan Planning for the next phase that will last four years, 2008-2011.

We looked at the signs of growth for the last four years and they were many. There is a growing sense of belonging. The values that we promoted are better understood by many people and this is having an impact on their lives. During the ending phase we promoted the dignity of each person, the respect for each person, the equality of each person and finally sharing our gifts. The formation programmes are helping many people to gain self-confidence. Some families come together in groups and look at the way they live their lives with the light of the Gospel and this is challenging them to live better lives. Our structures and the methods we use help the leaders to take an active part in the implementation of our Diocesan Pastoral Plan.

We also looked at some big challenges. The most important ones are the on-going formation and training of our leaders and people at all levels so that they can all play their role to the best of their abilities. The huge size of our diocese (one third of Italy), the weather (lots of rain), the destruction of the environment, the shortage of means of transportation and the always increasing cost of living, the constant movement of people and missionaries affect our life and our mission. It was never meant to be easy as our first missionaries experienced from the very beginning. There is also the challenge presented by those who are addicted to drugs or alcohol, those who go for free sex and those who only wish a free lifestyle. Because of the rapid changes taking place the individualistic and materialistic mentality is on the rise, making it harder to build community.

There were also some recommendations directing us to build on the signs of growth in order to meet the challenges with life giving activities.

The participants were honest in evaluating our life and mission of the last four years.

After making the participants aware of our Journey of Faith and where we were presently on that journey, we were able to present the value to be promoted and lived during the coming phase. The value that we are promoting during this phase is FREEDOM.

We took time first of all to understand the suggested content of the Diocesan Target for the phase and then approve it. It reads like this:

“By December 2011, the Catholics of Daru-Kiunga Diocese and the people of good will, have lived and promoted the value of FREEDOM as the children of God. They have become free persons, chosen true life, trusted one another and walked together as Small Christian Communities. They have worked to achieve this through the activities and programmes of the parishes and the Diocesan Services.

To help us grow towards freedom, we have given importance to the following:
- The different sectors become Diocesan Movements for Renewal.
- Our structures of communication, participation and management are adjusted and strengthened.
- All the agents and collaborators receive the required formation.
- All the people are invited and prepared to become part of a Smalll Christian Community.
- Our steps towards self-reliance are planned.” Page 11, Diocesan Planning Booklet

After going through the phase targets of all the Diocesan Services such as Youth, Women, Health, Administration, etc. and the sub-values to be promoted in the parish activities we unanimously approved the Diocesan Planning. There was no hesitation whatsoever. The yes came out spontaneously and with so much strength that I thought the roof would be blown up.

One participant commented that there was harmony during our assembly because of the values we lived and promoted during the last four years.

The people themselves can now see the impact of our Diocesan Pastoral Plan on their lives and how it is uniting us together as brothers and sisters, children of one family.

On Saturday, the 29th of September many of the participants and dozens of people were involved in the preparation of the Sunday Eucharist during which we had the launching of our Diocesan Planning for thed next four years. It was so nice to see priests, sisters, brothers and many lay people all joining together to prepare the decorations, the singing, the dances, etc. for the celebration.

And on Sunday the 30th the Cathedral was packed with so many people, coming together to celebrate life. It lasted more than three hours but there was not one moment boring during the whole celebration. All the Parish Teams and the Teams of the various Diocesan Services made the commitment to work towards achieving the Diocesan Target and grow in freedom.

In his homily the bishop mentioned that all of us, starting with himself and the priests, now have to be obedient to our Diocesan Pastoral Plan.

Please pray for us that we may grow in the freedom of the children of God.