Irish-British Province

BOMANA/PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Divine Word College celebrates 25 years

A few months ago, I came across a note in Word PNG, 1980 November edition, saying that Fr. Henry Heekeren blessed and dedicated the Divine Word College at Bomana. - wrote fr. Jozef Maciolek, polish SVD  missionary to Papua New Guinea. - We were not able to establish the exact date of the event.

So far it was only possible to narrow the time margin to the last days of September and the first days of October 1980. But one thing, which is certain is that this is the jubilee year of the DWC, and, of course, decided to celebrate.

Preparations were short but energetic. Frt. Michael NAMBA, with Joel Kakius, did a quick research into the history of the Divine Word College and came up with the draft of a booklet containing some basic facts from those 25 years.

On Saturday October 29, joined by our friends, we celebrated. The Mass in the morning was presided over by Fr. Jan SZWEDA.

Fr. Jurgen OMMERBORN was the preacher. The Divine Word College is different from all the other colleges at Bomana campus, he said, because it is a school and the home of those who aspire to become missionaries.

After the Mass some men connected with the College were invited to speak. We heard words of encouragement, which in some instances were also highly entertaining.

We had some historical data and photos displayed around the College.  - writes fr. Maciolek. - It helped us to remember and to tell the story of those in charge of the College over the years and the seminarians who went through it.

Source: Arnoldus Nota