View source for Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea

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The '''Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea''' is part of the worldwide [[Catholic Church]], under the spiritual leadership of the [[Pope]] in [[Rome]]. Papua New Guinea has approximately two million Catholic adherents, approximately 27% of the country's total population.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/papua-new-guinea/ The World Factbook]</ref>
The country is divided into [[List of Catholic dioceses in Papua New Guinea & Solomon Islands|nineteen dioceses including four archdioceses]].
==History==
===Colonial times===
The first Catholic mass was celebrated on the [[Louisiade Archipelago|Louisiade Islands]], probably [[Sideia Island]], by the chaplain to [[Luís Vaz de Torres|Torres]]'s expedition in 1606.<ref>{{cite book |last=Lamport |first=Mark A. |date=2018 |title=Encyclopedia of Christianity in the Global South, vol. 2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B6xVDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA617 |location=Lanham |publisher=Rowman and Littlefield |page=617 |isbn=9781442271579}}</ref>
The Italian missionary Fr [[Giovanni Battista Mazzucconi]] was martyred on [[Woodlark Island]] in [[Milne Bay Province]] in 1845.
German missionaries of the [[Society of the Divine Word]] founded missions on the [[Sepik River]] and northern coastal areas from the 1890s.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Huber |first1=Mary Taylor |date=1987 |title=Constituting the Church: Catholic Missionaries on the Sepik Frontier |journal=American Ethnologist |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=107–125 |doi= 10.1525/ae.1987.14.1.02a00070|jstor=645636 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Hempenstall|first1=Peter J|title=The Reception of European Missions in the German Pacific Empire: The New Guinea Experience|journal=Journal of Pacific History|date=1975|volume=10|issue=1|pages=46–64|doi=10.1080/00223347508572265}}</ref> The [[Apostolic Prefecture of Kaiserwilhelmsland|Prefecture Apostolic of Kaiserwilhelmsland]] comprised some twelve mission stations along the northern coast. Bishop [http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/couppe-louis-5790 Louis Couppé] had success in East New Britain and acted against the indigenous slave trade.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hempenstall |first=Peter J |date=1978 |title=Pacific Islanders Under German Rule |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ITvEDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA137 |location=Canberra |publisher=ANU Press |page=137 |isbn=9781921934322}}</ref>  Five male missionaries and five nuns were massacred in the [[Baining Mountains|Baining]] region of New Britain in 1904, leading to reprisals by the German colonial authorities.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Dutch missionaries among ten casualties in 1904 Papua killing spree |url=http://www.godutch.com/newspaper/index.php?id=713 |work=goDutch.com |date=2010 |access-date=7 July 2020}}</ref> The Catholic mission and cathedral at [[Alexishafen]] near Madang were destroyed by American bombing in 1943 but the mission was rebuilt after the War.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pacificwrecks.com/provinces/png_alexishafen_mission.html |title=Alexishafen Catholic Mission |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2019 |website=Pacific Wrecks |access-date=12 July 2020}}</ref>
Many [[Rabaul]] Chinese were Catholic. St Theresa's Yang Ching School was founded there in 1924.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Chow |editor-first=Sylvia |date=2007 |title=Sacred Heart School: For the sake of the children |url=https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3993323 |location=Kedron, Qld |publisher=Sacred Heart School Reunion Committee |isbn=9780646476490}}</ref>
In 1995, Pope John Paul II beatified [[Peter To Rot]], a catechist and New Guinea native from [[New Britain]] [[Beatification|blessed]] for his martyrdom when in 1945 he refused to embrace [[polygamy]] and was killed by occupying Japanese forces.<ref>{{cite web |author=Susan Brinkmann |date=December 5, 2008 |title=The Greatest Story Never Told: Modern Christian Martyrdom |work=The Catholic Standard and Times |url=http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=30882&cb300=vocations |access-date=2008-12-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208110911/http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=30882&cb300=vocations |archive-date=2008-12-08 }}</ref>
Many other local Catholics and missionaries suffered death, torture and imprisonment at the hands of the Japanese.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/Artist-Lisa-Hilli-and-the-FMI-Sisters |title='It was a real labour of love' |last=Hunter |first=Claire |date=14 Sep 2020 |website=Australian War Memorial |access-date=17 Sep 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://australiansatwarfilmarchive.unsw.edu.au/archive/177-berenice-twohill |title=Berenice Twohill, Prisoner of the Japanese |website=Australians at War Film Archive |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.misacor.org.au/item/29006-ted-harris-msc-80th-anniversary-of-his-self-sacrifice |title=Ted Harris MSC, 80th anniversary of his self-sacrifice |last= |first= |date=20 Dec 2022 |website=Missionaries of the Sacred Heart |publisher= |access-date=21 Dec 2022}}</ref> Forty-five missionaries were massacred on the Japanese destroyer [[Japanese destroyer Akikaze|''Akikaze'']] in 1943.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Nolan |first1=Malachy J |date=2017 |title=Death and displacement: Catholic missionaries in New Guinea in World War 2 |journal=Australasian Catholic Record |volume=94 |issue=1 |pages=45-54}}</ref>
In [[Territory of Papua|Papua]], the [[Missionaries of the Sacred Heart]] began a mission at [[Yule Island]] in 1885.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sr Antoninus |date=1985 |title=Birds of paradise and drums that announce Christ's peace |url=http://jloughnan.tripod.com/birdsofpara.htm |work=[[Annals Australasia]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907152232/http://jloughnan.tripod.com/birdsofpara.htm |archive-date=7 September 2015 |access-date=18 July 2020}}</ref> Bishop [[Alain-Marie Guynot de Boismenu|Alain de Boismenu]], Vicar Apostolic of Papua from 1908 to 1945, established missionary and charitable activities based on the mission at Yule Island. He was assisted by Filipino catechists.<ref>{{cite news |last=Castro-Salle |first=Florence |date=6 September 2015 |title=The early Filipino missionaries & boat builder Francis Castro |url=https://www.pngattitude.com/2015/09/the-story-of-the-filipino-catechist-boat-builder-francis-castro.html |work=PNG Attitude |access-date=23 July 2020}}</ref> In 1918 he founded an indigenous order of nuns, the Handmaids of the Lord, which is still active.<ref>{{cite news |last=Awikiak |first=Glenda |date=November 29, 2018 |title=Catholic sisters celebrate 100 years of mission to PNG |url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/catholic-sisters-celebrate-100-years-of-mission-to-png/ |work=The National |location=Port Moresby |access-date=21 July 2020}}</ref> The French mystic and visionary [[Marie-Thérèse Augustine Noblet]] ([[:fr:Marie-Thérèse Augustine Noblet|fr]]), whom de Boismenu [[exorcism|exorcised]] in France in 1921, accompanied him to Papua and assisted at the mission until her death in 1930. Noblet acted as mentor to the first indigenous priest and bishop from Papua New Guinea, [[Louis Vangeke]]. Her story made a profound spiritual impression on the Australian poet [[James McAuley]], who visited Yule Island in 1949 and converted to Catholicism.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Page |first1=Jean |date=2016 |title=Land of Apocalypse – James McAuley’s encounter with the Spirit: the French Catholic Mission of the Sacred Heart, Kubuna, New Guinea |url=https://australiancatholichistoricalsociety.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/3-page-jachs-2016-37-1.pdf |journal=Journal of the Australian Catholic Historical Society |volume=37 |issue=1 |pages=18-31 |access-date=13 December 2023}}</ref>
Fr William Ross accompanied early expeditions of [[Mick Leahy (explorer)|the Leahy brothers]] to the [[New Guinea Highlands|Highlands]] and established a mission at [[Mount Hagen]] in 1934.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/ross-william-anthony-11566 |title=Ross, William Anthony (1895–1973) |last=Mennis |first=Mary R |date=2002 |website=Australian Dictionary of Biography |access-date=23 July 2020}}</ref>
A [[Society of Mary (Marists)|Marist]] mission on [[Bougainville Island|Bougainville]], beginning in 1901, was very successful and the majority of the population became Catholic.<ref>{{cite book |last=Laracy |first=Hugh |editor-last=Regan |editor-first=Anthony J |title=Bougainville Before the Conflict |publisher=ANU Press |date=2015 |pages=125–135 |chapter=Imperium in imperio? The Catholic Church in Bougainville |chapter-url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1bgzbgg.16 |jstor=j.ctt1bgzbgg.16 |isbn=9781921934247}}</ref> Bishop [[Thomas James Wade|Thomas Wade]] secured strong support for the mission from Australia and the United States. The Japanese occupation caused major disruption, including the presumed execution of three Australian [[Marist Brothers]] by the Japanese.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dennis |first=Noel |url=http://jloughnan.tripod.com/maristmarts.htm |title=Heroic Marist Brothers martyred in the Solomons |work=[[Annals Australasia]] |date=1993 |access-date=18 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907143144/http://jloughnan.tripod.com/maristmarts.htm |archive-date=2015-09-07}}</ref> Expansion was rapid after the War, with schools constructed in [[Chabai]] and [[Kieta]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tokpisin.info/churchs-role-development-bougainville/ |title=The Church's role in development in Bougainville |last=Momis |first=Elizabeth Ibua |date=2015 |website=Tok Pisin English Dictionary |access-date=18 July 2020}}</ref>
In 1967 the Australian [[ophthalmologist]], [[Frank Flynn|Fr Frank Flynn]], was appointed as Administrator of the Cathedral and Director of Catholic Health Services in Papua New Guinea. His efforts led to the foundation of a Medical Faculty at the [[University of Papua New Guinea]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://misacor.org.au/index.php/item/1495-msc-history-fr-frank-flynn |title=MSC history: Fr Frank Flynn |last=Gibson |first=Eve |date=2015 |website=Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Australia |publisher= |access-date=12 May 2021 }}</ref> Nuns, especially those of the [[Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart]], were very active in providing local health services.<ref>J. Lamb, This is mission life: memories of mission: Daughters of Our Lady
of the Sacred Heart, [http://australiancatholichistoricalsociety.com.au/pdfs/2017/ACHS_2016_Conference_Journal_special_issue.pdf ''Journal of the Australian Catholic Historical Society'', 37 (1) (2016)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202034023/http://australiancatholichistoricalsociety.com.au/pdfs/2017/ACHS_2016_Conference_Journal_special_issue.pdf |date=2017-02-02 }}, 106-115.</ref> The mission hospitals developed into Catholic Church Health Services, which in 2016 ran five rural hospitals and 244 health facilities.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ewart |first=Richard |date=22 March 2016 |title=Church health service cuts in PNG to affect rural communities the most |url=https://www.abc.net.au/radio-australia/programs/pacificbeat/church-health-service-cuts-in-png-to-affect-rural/7265734 |work=ABC Radio Australia: Pacific Beat |access-date=6 July 2020 }}</ref>
===Since independence===
[[Pope John Paul II]] visited Papua New Guinea in 1984 and 1995.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.totus2us.com/universal/papua-new-guinea/st-jpii-pilgrim-visit-1995/ |title=Pope St John Paul II's 2nd Apostolic Visit to Papua New Guinea |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=TotusTuus |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref>
Catholics prominent in Papua New Guinea politics include [[Michael Somare]], [[John Momis]] (who was a priest for many years) and [[Bernard Narokobi]].
The [[Divine Word University]] at [[Madang]] was established by Act of Parliament in 1996.
[[John Ribat]], the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Port Moresby|Archbishop of Port Moresby]] since 2008, was created the first [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]] from Papua New Guinea in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_ribat_j.html |title=RIBAT Card. John, M.S.C. |website=Vatican Press Office: Documentation |access-date=5 July 2020}}</ref>
Social issues of current concern to the Church include domestic violence and sorcery<ref>{{cite news |last=Cavanaugh |first=Ray |date=March 4, 2017 |title=Papua New Guinea: Unique challenges face some of the world's most isolated Catholics |url=https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2017/03/04/papua-new-guinea-unique-challenges-face-some-of-the-worlds-most-isolated-catholics/ |work=Catholic World Report |access-date=7 July 2020}}</ref> and climate change.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sadowski |first=Dennis |date=March 15, 2018 |title=Climate change is top priority for Cardinal Ribat of Papua New Guinea |url=https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2018/03/15/climate-change-top-priority-cardinal-ribat-papua-new-guinea |work=America: The Jesuit Review |access-date=7 July 2020 }}</ref>
[[Pope Francis]] will visit Papua New Guinea from 6 to 9 September 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://info.gov.pg/pope-francis-to-visit-papua-new-guinea-in-september/ |title=Pope Francis  to  Visit Papua New Guinea in September |last= |first= |date=21 April 2024 |website=PNG National Information Centre |publisher= |access-date=12 May 2024}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[List of Saints from Oceania]]
* [[List of Catholic dioceses in Papua New Guinea & Solomon Islands]]
==Literature==
* Bruno Hagspiel: ''Along the Mission Trail. III. In New Guinea'', Mission Press S.V.D, Techny, Illinois 1926, 270 pp.
* Anton Freitag: ''Glaubenssaat in Blut und Tränen. Die Missionen der Gesellschaft des Göttlichen Wortes in Asien, Afrika, Ozeanien u. Amerika am Vorabend des Zweiten Weltkrieges, ihre Leiden u. Schicksale in u. nach dem Kriege, dem neuen Missionsfrühling entgegen''. Steyler Missionsbuchhandlung: Kaldenkirchen 1948, 446 S.
* Sixta Kasbauer: ''Die aus grosser Drangsal kommen. Ein Buch von Menschenwegen und Gotteswegen aus den Kriegsjahren der Steyler Neuguinea-Mission'', Missionsdruckerei Steyl 1951, 280 S.
* Sister M. Adela, FDNSC: ''I will give them one heart! A sketch of the life of Archbishop Louis Couppé and the Congregation founded by him – The Daughters of Mary Immaculate of Vunapope'', Vunapope, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea 1968, 78 p.
* Joseph Ulbrich (ed.): ''Pionier auf Neuguinea. Briefe von P. Alfons Schäfer SVD'', Steyler Verlagsbuchhandlung, Kaldenkirchen, Rhld. 1960, 147 +  3 Karten (gez. von P. H. Emmerich).
* Mary R. Mennis  - B. Franke: ''They Came to Matupit. The Story of St. Michaels Church on Matupit Island'', Catholic Press: Kokopo, PNG 1972, 120 pp.
* N. Gash – J. Whittaker: ''Pictorial History of New Guinea'', Jacaranda Press: Milton, Queensland 1975, {{ISBN|186273-025-3}}.
* Hugh Laracy:  ''[https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/114791/2/b14053706.pdf Marists and Melanesians. A History of Catholic Missions in the Solomon Islands]'', Australian National University Press: Canberra 1976, {{ISBN|0-7081-0404-5}}
* Sister Mary Venard FDNSC: ''The History of the Daughters of our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Papua New Guinea''. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart House, Gordon, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea 1978, 176 p.
* [[Rosa MacGinley|Mary Rosa MacGinley]], ''Presentation Sisters: Papua New Guinea, 1966-2006''. Triple D Books, Wagga Wagga 2008, 251 p.
* Mary R. Mennis: ''Hagen Saga. The story of Father William Ross, First American Missionary to Papua New Guinea'', Institute of PNG Studies, Boroko, Port Moresby 1982, 209 pp.
* Reiner Jaspers, MSC: ''A Brief History of the Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea'', in: ''Papers Prepared for the Visit of Pope John Paul II to Papua New Guinea 7–10 May 1984'', Port Moresby 1984, 1-6.
* R. Jaspers: ''The Beginnings of the Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea,'' in: ''Papers.. 1984'', 31-46.
* George Delbos: ''The Mustard Seed. From a French Mission to a Papuan Church, 1885-1985'', Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies, Port Moresby 1985. {{ISBN|978-9980680020}}
* Rufus Pech:  ''The Acts of the Apostles in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands'', in: B. Schwarz (ed), ''An Introduction to Ministry in Melanesia'', Point Series No. 7, The Melanesian Institute: Goroka, PNG 1985, 17-71.
* John Nilles: ''They went out to sow. The Beginning of the work of the Catholic Mission in the highlands of PNG. 1933-1943'', (Analecta SVD 62), Roma 1987.
* Mary Taylor Huber: ''The Bishops' Progress. A Historical Ethnography of Catholic Missionary Experience on the Sepik Frontier'', Washington - London : Smithsonian Institution Press 1988, 264 pp., {{ISBN|0-87474-544-6}}.
* Mary Taylor Huber: ''The Bishops' Progress: Representations of Missionary Experience on the Sepik Frontier'', in: Nancy Lutkehaus (ed.): ''Sepik Heritage: Tradition and Change in Papua New Guinea'', Crawford House Press: Bathurst, NSW (Australia)1990, {{ISBN|1-86333-014-3}}: pp.&nbsp;197–211.
* Alphonse Schaefer SVD: ''Cassowary of the Mountains. The Memoirs of a Pioneer in PNG 1930-1958'', (Analecta SVD - 69), Roma 1991, 154 pp.
* Colman Renali: ''The Roman Catholic Church's Participation in the Ecumenical Movement in Papua New Guinea. A Historical, Contextual, and Pastoral Perspective'', Dissertatione apud Pont. Universitatem S. Thomae, die 18, mense II, anno 1991, Rome 1991, 227 pp.
* John Garrett: ''Footsteps in the Sea. Christianity in Oceania to World War II'', Institute of pacific Studies - University of the South Pacific in association with World Council of Churches: Suva and Geneva, 1992, 514 S., {{ISBN|982-02-0068-7}}
* Theo Aerts MSC: ''The Birth of a Religious Movement: A Comparison of Melanesian Cargo Cults and Early Christianity'', in Verbum SVD 20, 1979, 323-344; reprinted in: Sedos Bulletin 38 (2006) 239-241; 284-295.
* Theo Aerts, (ed), ''The martyrs of Papua New Guinea: 333 missionary lives lost during World War II'', University of Papua New Guinea Press, Port Moresby, 1994.
* Theo Aerts, ''Christianity in Melanesia'', University Press of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby 1998. 256 pp., {{ISBN|978-9980840691}}
* Paul Steffen: ''Missionsbeginn in Neuguinea. Die Anfänge der Rheinischen, Neuendettelsauer u. Steyler Missionsarbeit in Neuguinea''. (Studia Instituti Missiologici S.V.D. - 61) Steyler Verlag, Nettetal 1995, {{ISBN|3-8050-0351-X}}.
* Divine Word Missionaries - Holy Spirit Sisters: ''Sent by the Word. 100 years of service by Divine Word Missionaries (1896–1996) and Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (1899–1999) on Mainland New Guinea'', Production team: Geoff Brumm, Diosnel Centurion, Frank Mihalic, Francesco Sarego and Paul Steffen, Mt. Hagen - Madang 1995, 192 pp., {{ISBN|0-86935-093-5}}.
* James Waldersee: '' 'Neither Eagles Nor Saints'. MSC Missions in Oceania 1881-1975'', Sydney: Chevalier Press 1995, {{ISBN|9780869401446}}.
* [[Paul B. Steffen]]: ''From Church to Mission. Assessment and Perspectives of the Catholic Church in Mainland New Guinea after Its First Hundred Years''. In: Steyler Missionswissenschaftliche Institut (ed.), in: Steyler Missionswissenschaftliches Institut (ed.):''Divine Word Missionaries in Papua New Guinea, 1896-1996'', Festschrift. Steyler Verl., Nettetal 1996, 231-258, {{ISBN|3-8050-0380-3}}. - ibidem in: Verbum SVD 37:1-2 (1996) 231-258.
* Frank Mihalik: ''Readings in PNG Mission History. A chronicle of SVD and SSpS mission involvement on mainland New Guinea between 1946 and 1996'', Divine Word University Press, Madang, PNG 1999, 304 S., {{ISBN|0-86935-063-3}}.
* Paul B. Steffen, ''Die katholischen Missionen in Deutsch-Neuguinea'', in: H.J. Hiery (ed.), ''Die deutsche Südsee. Ein Handbuch'', 2nd improved and enlarged edition, Schöningh: Paderborn, 2002, 343-383. {{ISBN|3-506-73912-3}}
* Sr. Mary Drum MSC: ''Centenary of 'Martyrdom' at St. Paul's. Remembering the Historical Event and Reflecting Afresh''. Archdiocese of Rabaul Office in collaboration with the Centenary Committee, Rabaul, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea 2004, 166 p.
* Ian Breward: ''A History of the Churches in Australasia'', (The Oxford History of Christian Churches), Oxford University Press, Oxford 2001, Reprinted 2008, 474 pp., {{ISBN|978-0-19-927592-2}}.
* Ralph M. Wiltgen: ''The Founding of the Roman Catholic Church in Melanesia and Micronesia 1850-1874'', Princeton Theological Monograph Series 84, Pickwick Publications, Eugene, Oregon 2008.
* Alois Greiler SM (ed.): ''Catholic Beginnings in Oceania. Marist Missionary Perspectives'', ATF Press: Hindmarsh, SA, Australia 2009, VII + 240 p. + 14 photo-pages, {{ISBN|978-1-921511-54-7}}.
* Ennio Mantovani, SVD : ''Mission: Collision or Dialogical Encounter? A Chronicle of St. Paul’s Parish, Yobai, Papua New Guinea''. Studia Instituti Missiologici SVD 95, Steyler Verlag: Nettetal 2011, 475 p., {{ISBN|978-3-8050-0581-4}}.
* Diane Langmore, ''[https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/10784 European missionaries in Papua, 1874-1914: a group portrait]'', PhD Thesis, ANU, 1981.
==External links==
* [https://www.pngsicbc.com/ Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20220518160653/https://www.tokpisin.info/catholic-church-papua-new-guinea/ Tok Pisin English Dictionary: Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea]
* [https://www.caritas.org/where-caritas-work/oceania/papua-new-guinea/ Caritas Papua New Guinea]
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Oceania topic|Catholic Church in|groupstyle=background-color:gold|titlestyle=background-color:gold}}
[[Category:Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea| ]]
[[Category:Catholic Church by country|Papua New Guinea]]
[[Category:Catholic Church in Oceania|Papua New Guinea]]
[[Category:Churches in Papua New Guinea]]