Rome, Italy – The Congregation of Holy Cross is thrilled to announce the establishment of a new mission in the Diocese of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea. This groundbreaking initiative marks the first new foreign mission undertaken by the Congregation in almost four decades.

The decision to embark on this new mission was inspired by the Congregation’s 2022 General Chapter, which recommended that the General Administration, in collaboration with jurisdictional leaders, explore opportunities for ministry in new countries that align with the Congregational Mission priorities.

In keeping with the Congregation’s tradition of going where the Church asks for its service, the General Administration reached out to the Dicastery for Evangelization. The Dicastery recommended Papua New Guinea as the chosen destination for Holy Cross to extend its service. The Apostolic Nuncio to Papua New Guinea at the time, Most Rev. Fermín Emilio Sosa Rodríguez, facilitated the connection with the Diocese of Bougainville, where the mission will be based.

Led by Superior General Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., a task force was formed to oversee the discernment process for the new mission. In August 2023, the task force visited Papua New Guinea and met with the Most Rev. Dariusz Kaluza, MSF, Bishop of the Diocese of Bougainville, to lay the groundwork for the mission. See the full video story here.

Following the visit, the proposal for the new mission was meticulously crafted and presented to the General Council and the Council of the Congregation for approval. During a meeting in Lima, Peru, on November 15, 2023, the Council of the Congregation gave its unanimous approval for the establishment of the mission.

The mission, named the Holy Family Mission in honor of the model that Blessed Basile Moreau chose for his religious family, will be situated in two parishes: Christ the King Parish in Hantova and Sacred Heart Parish in Tinputz. These parishes, developed by the Marist Fathers, are home to over 10,000 parishioners and serve as vital hubs for the community. Each of these parishes has schools that we shall be involved with in keeping Congregational Charism as educators in the faith.  

A team of eight missionaries comprising four brothers and four priests from diverse backgrounds and countries will spearhead the establishment of the Holy Family Mission. Their mission will focus on addressing the critical pastoral needs of families in the region.

In preparation for their assignment, the missionaries will convene at our Holy Cross Generalate in Rome this August 2024 for a comprehensive orientation program. The program, which will be led by Fr. Emmanuel Kallackaral, C.S.C., Vicar General and First Assistant, will include a special Mass with His Eminence Luis Cardinal Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization. It is anticipated that the missionaries will commence their integration program in Papua New Guinea by the end of 2024.

VIDEO MESSAGE: Superior General, Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., Introducing the New Mission

For further updates and information on the Holy Family Mission in Papua New Guinea, please visit this link. 

ABOUT US:

The Congregation of Holy Cross, founded in 1837 in Sainte-Croix, France, is an apostolic religious congregation composed of two distinct societies of religious brothers and religious priests “bound together in one indivisible brotherhood.” Founded by Blessed Basile Moreau, our mission is to share in the Church’s mission by serving as educators in the faith educating hearts and minds and building communities of the coming kingdom. The Congregation of Holy Cross consists of over 1,300 professed religious brothers and religious priests. Today, under the leadership of Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., the 14th Superior General in the history of the Congregation. Along with his assistants on the General Council, they oversee the 16 Provinces, Districts, and Vicariates that constitute the Congregation.

Learn more: HolyCrossCongregation.org

Published: August 16, 2024