DIOCESE OF AITAPE CHURCH BUILDING PROGRAM

	News report No. 13 April 2003 Diocese of Aitape P O Box 179 Aitape Sandaun Province Papua New Guinea Ph +675 8572046 fax +675 8572056
Aitape Haus Lotu Projects

Introduction:

Welcome to the fourth report for 2003. This is the thirteenth report in the Church Building program for the month of April 2003. Progress throughout 2002 established agreements with all of the sub parishes, and saw work started at Amu, and plans in progress for the other nine buildings to be built. This month we started work on the second church at Arop1. Work started on the foundations, and then a week and a half later on the timber cutting. This month we also had an ordination.

Ordination at Malol

At Malol in April, the Diocese celebrated the ordination of the first priest from Malol.

Photo 1. Gospel procession led by Deacon Zachary.	Photo 2. The laying on of hands, ordination.
Photo 3. The offertory procession by Arop clan dancers

On April 24th at Malol, Fr. Zachary Miroi OFM, (Franciscan) was ordained by Bishop Austen Crapp OFM. The venue was the sports field at the old St. Gabriel parish, the original Malol parish before the Tsunami of 1998. Over 2000 people came from the entire Malol area, and surrounding villages up and down the coast. The ceremony was presided over by Bishop Austen, and concelebrated by many of the Franciscan friars, and other priests of the Diocese. The day began with the Ordination Mass, and lunch and sing-sing dancers followed. There were speeches and feast organised by the Malol clans in honour of their first son to be ordained to the priesthood.

Concrete Foundations at Arop

In early April, we set out the foundations for the new Arop church. The church occupies the same site as the old church, so a temporary church was erected alongside.

Photo 4 First foundation pads at Arop1	Photo 5 Church site from another angle
Photo 6 Foundation workers

The church at Arop is the same size as Amu, and the design very similar. The basic square shape is the same, but variations have been made to the sanctuary and to the tower and entrance. The foundation is very similar. It was an easy matter to get the same Contractor (Peter) who was the supervisor at Amu, to come to Arop for the similar foundations job. The Arop site is flatter than Amu, and that made the work much easier; less gravel backfill, and less boxing. Having done a similar contract before, the going is much easier a second time.

Timber cutting at Arop

Soon after the foundation works started, we brought the saw to Arop. It provided to be useful to run the two operations together like we did at Amu.

Other Sites and other news:

The Amu church is still awaiting some parts (a large quantity of bolts) and some tools to arrive from Australia, and for the contractors to return before we can begin the next stage of construction. Not all of the timber for the rafters is stockpiled at the church at this stage, and so this must be done first. A site visit was made to Aipokon after the ordination at Malol, to view a new site proposed for the church.
Decisions on the new roads are still sought from Vanimo, and some prices from the contractor are needed, although there is plenty of enthusiasm from the local communities for things to start.