PAPUA NEW GUINEA | 1ST COM-VMY CAMP
Sept. 25-27. 2023
Diocese of Alotau-Sedia
St. Paul Pastoral Center
Hagita, Alotau, Milne Bay
Papua New Guinea
Sr. Lily Ventura, DC, with the help of COM-VMY of Sacred Heart Secondary School of Hagita and support of Sr. Betty Simbajon, DC and Fr. Efren Suralta, CM, organized the 1st COM-VMY Camp of the Diocese of Alotau-Sedia held at St. Paul Pastoral Center, Hagita, Alotau, Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, on September 25–27, 2023. The activity aimed to organize a diocesan organization level of COM-VMY and to elect its core officers. The activity was also an answer to the Diocese’s challenge for its 2023 Year of the Children and Young People. The COM-VMY camp was attended by 68 Vincentian Marian Youth and 13 Diocesan Lay Missionaries from the different parishes of the diocese, such as Ladava, Ealeba, Ho’owalai, Budoya, Kelologeia, Sewa Bay, Kurada, and Sacred Heart Seccondary School of Hagita.
The activity started on the first day with the orientation of the camp and the youth introducing themselves and their parishes where they belong, and ended with prayer and sharing. On the second day, they were introduced to the Vincentian family, its organization, challenges, and mission. It was followed by a talk on the challenges facing the youth of Papua New Guinea from a youth speaker. The bishop of the diocese, Rolando Santos, CM, also spent his time talking about the 2023 thrust of the diocese “Year of the Children and the Young People”. The director of the Pastoral Center, Sr. Betty Simbajon, DC, also shared her expertise in informing the youth of the pastoral plan of the diocese. The second day ended with the election of the core officers for the COM-VMY of the Diocese of Alotau-Sedia and a prayer vigil in honor of St. Vincent de Paul. The whole activity ended on the third day with the mass of the feast day of St. Vincent de Paul, where new members were received and new VMY diocesan officers were installed by Bishop Rolando Santos, CM, DD, bishop of the Diocese of Alotau-Sedia, Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea.
Fr. Efren P. Suralta, CM
Sacred Heart Secondary School
Hagita, Alotau, Milne Bay
Papua New Guinea
