With their announcement of a new mission in Papua New Guinea last year, the Congregation of Holy Cross began its first foreign mission in almost forty years. Named the “Holy Family Mission” in honor of Blessed Basil Moreau’s desire to model the Congregation after the Holy Family, four brothers and four priests from the Congregation were assigned to be missionaries to this new location, with the goal of addressing the critical pastoral needs of families in the Diocese of Bougainville.
When exploratory research was conducted by the Congregation, ahead of the inauguration of this new mission, the Bishop of the Diocese of Bougainville, Most Rev. Dariusz Kaluza, MSF, met with the General Council of the Congregation, expressing his desire for the assistance of the Congregation in the work of formation within the diocese. Since the core charism of Holy Cross is to be educators in the faith, this was a good pairing of gifts and need.
When our eight Holy Family missionaries recently engaged in immersion experiences in Buka Town and Buin—towns in Bougainville, on the Eastern side of Papua New Guinea—they took up the work of Holy Cross by assisting with catechesis for candidates preparing to receive their First Holy Communion and conducting workshops for parish workers to strengthen them in their leadership role within their faith communities. Several missionaries also participated in the celebration of World Environment Day at Christ the King Primary School in Hantoa on June 5th, and gave the keynote address. Additionally, the missionaries helped with liturgical celebrations and have become skilled at presiding over the Mass in the common local language, Tok Pisin.
Later this month, on Sunday, on July 20th and 27th, two priests will be installed as pastors at the Congregation’s parishes in Papua New Guinea: Fr. Bonaventure at Christ the King Parish in Hantoa, and Fr. Amalraj at Sacred Heart Parish in Tinputz.
Please pray for the Holy Family Mission missionaries and those they serve.
Published by the Holy Cross Mission Center
July 2025
