Religious undergo one-week family workshop to help communities in the Diocese.

A Family Life workshop on natural family planning (ovulation method) was conducted for a group of Presentation Sisters in Aitape this month.

The workshop which ran for a week starting from 15th to 18th January was facilitated by Sr. Francois Wridgway mfic and co-facilitated by Bernard Silam, Diocesan Family Life Coordinator.

According to the Coordinator, the main aim of the workshop was to enable the sisters to be able to conduct similar workshops in the parishes that they do their pastoral work. It also coincides with the planned activities of the program for this year 2007.

Mr. Silam had already conducted similar workshops previously in his home parish of Lumi before he was appointed as coordinator after his predecessor, Bernard Taingol.

"I am proud and happy with the successful turnout of the workshop," said Mr. Silam.

The sisters also received certificates for their participation and achievement.

"There is a need, but I can't do the work by myself therefore I have to train other sub-coordinators to assist to carry out the work of family life further. Families are fatal cells in a large community. If the family is not well, the country will not run well," stressed Mr. Silam.

He added that the support of all religious as well as KST, and PST was vital in order to enable the work of family life to run well in the parish and at the Diocese level.

The workshop was held at the Nagle House, Presentation Sistes Convent, Aitape.