A Tale of Two Bishop Installations

I attended the installation of the Archbishop of Rabaul at the end of September/beginning of October (Rochus Josef Tatamai, MSC). I couldn't help compare it with the installation of Bishop John Bosco Aurum in Kimbe. (To read more details about the Kimbe Bishop installation, read my blog on the Episcopal ordination.) The differences were truly remarkable.

The installation in Rabaul was a really beautiful experience and very spiritual. The songs sung, the ceremony and the entrance/recessional processions with a parade of priests and religious were heartfelt and appropriate for such a joyous occasion, but in my humble opinion, the one in Kimbe was so much more alive - the choirs (yes, more than one singing together), the various warriors dancing up the aisle, angels flying the bible to the alter (yes, flying), tossing the soon-to- be Bishop into the air three times and again, the sights and sounds were just so glorious to watch, not to mention the perfect weather under a dancing sun. So, as you can see, both installations were God's true Blessing and were executed in two different ways, but ultimately the end result was the installation of new Bishops.

The celebrations afterward were beautiful in both locations with the people dressed in a variety of bilas (natural decorations - flowers, leaves, etc) all to express their joy of having a new Bishop as they were both one of their own, born and raised on New Britain Island (one in the east and the other in the west) in Papua New Guinea. 

The Diocese of Kimbe was well represented with about 150 people who either flew, took boats or traveled on the treacherous highway connecting the two Dioceses to attend. We dressed in our own purple merriblouses one day and a multicolor one that represented our Diocese on another day as we joined the celebratory activities.

I flew out a week earlier to visit Kavieng, New Ireland Province. I was invited to visit Sr Mary Agnes who used to live in Kimbe and her MSC Sisters. They were wonderful and gracious hostesses and showed me around Kavieng. Across the street was a brand new ultramodern Provincial government building made by the Chinese and opened on their Independence Day (September 16, 2020). It was nicely built but so modern compared to the buildings surrounding it.  I was honored to be able to tour the building with them - the first time for all of us. I took them all out for a lobster/crab dinner as a thank you for their hospitality - something I cannot get in Kimbe and something they seldom have for themselves.  

Sr Mary Agnes and I traveled up a pothole free highway to spend the night in Namatanai where we met up with our other travel companions.  The next morning we traveled by boat (dinghy) to Rabaul for the installation. After the installation, I traveled back by boat with my fellow parishioners from the Diocese of Kimbe to Ulinoma and then by car back to Kimbe.

We, as a Diocese, were able to visit with Karl Hesse, M.S.C., Archbishop Emeritus who still resides in Rabaul.  We sang him a few songs and he reminisced on how the Diocese of Kimbe became separated from the Diocese of Rabaul. Some of you veteran missionaries who worked in ENB might remember him. He had high praise and good memories of the LMH missionaries who worked with him in the past. 

When I got back to Kimbe, I again had to fight off another leg infection. I was out of school until it healed with my leg elevated and mostly in bed. I was on intense antibiotics as I waited impatiently for it to heal.  

Now as I'm coming to the end of my mission with approximately 3 months to go, I'm trying to soak up as many sights and sounds, culture and experience as possible as I know this time will fly by much too quickly. Again, please keep me in your prayers, especially with COVID 19 still playing havoc in our country (I hope I can return early next year). I, as always, continue to pray for all of you. 

God bless...