WELCOME DANCE: Members of Papua's Kamoro tribe perform a dance to greet Mimika Bishop Mgr. John Philiph Saklil and Vatican Ambassador to Indonesia Mgr. Leopoldo Girelli before the start of a Mass at the Eme Neme Yauware building in Timika, the capital of Mimika Regency, on Saturday. (JP/Markus Makur)
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailnation.asp?fileid=20070903.G01&irec=0 Catholic Church marks 80 years in Mimika Markus Makur, The Jakarta Post, Timika The Catholic Church celebrated the 80th anniversary of its arrival in Mimika regency, Papua, during two separate Masses attended by thousands of churchgoers on Saturday and Sunday. The celebrations were held in two locations -- Timika, the capital of Mimika regency on Saturday, and Kokonao, one of Mimika's districts and the place where the first Dutch missionaries arrived in the regency, on Sunday. Saturday's Mass was held at the Emem Neme Yauware building in Timika and was intended for Catholics from Mimika's surrounding highlands who were unable to go to Kokonao due to transportation difficulties. The Mass was celebrated by Mimika's bishop, Mgr. John Philiph Saklil, accompanied by the Vatican's Ambassador to Indonesia, Mgr. Leopoldo Girelli, and a number of priests from the Mimika diocese. The Mass was attended by nearly 3,000 of the faithful. During his sermon, Mgr. Saklil invited Catholics in Mimika diocese to learn the history of how the priests, lay missionaries and teachers had devoted their lives to rescuing the Kamoro area from isolation. They had to travel on land and water, and through swamps and thick forests to spread the teachings of love that God had handed down to mankind, he said. It was the command of God that had lead the Dutch missionaries to the lands of the Kamoro and Agimuga, he said. "I hope the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Catholic Church's presence in Mimika will be used by the Catholic people to ponder their lives of faith. Spread salvation and God's love in the community," Mgr. Saklil said. Mgr. Saklil said that while introducing Christ's teachings to indigenous Papuans, the missionaries had also introduced the modern world to local people and taught them how to become craftsmen, fishermen, teachers and educators. Their sacrifice and devotion could be used as a shining example in developing Mimika, Saklil said. "Their struggle enables us to commemorate 80 years of the presence of the Catholic Church in Mimika," he stressed. "The Catholic people of Mimika give their all in their duties and occupations in the immediate surroundings and community. Catholics can contribute to changes and peace for other people in Mimika regency," Mgr. Saklil said. Vatican Ambassador Mgr. Leopoldo said in his speech that he was proud of the participation and involvement of the Catholic people in the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Catholic Church in Mimika. "I'm glad to see the latest developments in the Catholic faith in Mimika diocese. Pope Benedict XVI, through me, conveys a Happy Birthday message to the Catholic people here," he said. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] List owner : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
