Crowds flock to see ‘miracle’

A bleeding statue of Jesus on the cross? or a sweating Jesus crucifix? Thousands of people are flocking to little known Balada village in the Bitapaka Local Level Government area of East New Britain to witness the phenomenon or miracle as this unexplained event is being described. They are coming from all over the province to hear the story from 19-year-old Mary Kuna, who is believed to have witnessed blood pouring from a statue of Jesus on the cross since Friday March 20 around midday in her family home.

Then on the next day water or what she describes as sweat began dripping from the crucifix. She said the crucifix had so far filled seven cups with what they think is blood and 20 dishes of what they think is sweat.The Post-Courier yesterday visited the family and found that a temporary shelter had been built for people to come and pray and judge for themselves whether to believe in what they saw or not.

Ms Kuna, who is a member of a youth prayer group, said she was reciting the chaplet of divine mercy and rosary at the time it happened. “While I was praying I heard a noise like a rat crawling around the roof, so I didn’t take much notice.“Then the noise started getting louder which disturbed me,” she said. “When I went to check the noise it was coming from a closed plastic bag which had a new Jesus crucifix inside that I was given as a gift from friends in Wewak,”Ms Kuna said. “When I looked at the plastic bag I noticed that there was a reddish liquid forming inside.

“The sight of it scared me and made me numb and I didn’t know what to do,” she added.Ms Kuna then opened the bag and poured the contents from the Jesus crucifix into a cup.She said she knew that she had to go and tell someone about it. “My dad didn’t believe me and waved me away and continued to tend to his cocoa trees,” she said.She then went to tell her friend Josephine from the prayer group.“When we opened the door to the room there was a strong odour like the smell of blood from a hospital.

“The cup was also still filling up and had to be emptied,” Ms Kuna said. From there the news spread like wild-fire in the nearby community. She believes it is a miracle and should be shared with everybody. People coming with their own water bottles were given portions of the water to take home as well.They had also asked a Catholic auxiliary bishop to see for himself, and it is alleged that he has declared it a miracle. By yesterday, she said water and blood was still flowing together.

Mary Kuna, 19, of Balada village, Bitapaka in the East New Britain Province with the bleeding crucifix in a cup at her home.
Picture: JOHN PANGKATANA

Archbishop has ‘no answers’

The alleged phenomenon or miracle should not be exaggerated.This was all the head of the Catholic Church in East New Britain Province, Archbishop Karl Hesse would say at this point in time. When contacted yesterday afternoon to comment, Archbishop Hesse said he had no answer to any questions on this issue at this stage. “I’ve not physically seen this strange event and therefore cannot comment. “I can only rely on reports coming back to my office,” he added.He further said that he might not be able to make any comment for the next two weeks as he would be leaving for Kimbe.

It is understood that Father Karl, who is the local parish priest at nearby Tapo village, has been monitoring the situation and keeping the church informed. The occurrence happened over a week ago at nearby Balada village in the Bitapaka local level government area, about 30 minutes drive outside of Kokopo Town. It has been described as a miracle for 19-year-old Mary Kuna, who allegedly witnessed blood and water seeping from her small Jesus crucifix at her home.

Since that day on Friday March 20, thousands of people from throughout the province have flocked to see for themselves the unusual happening. She said the crucifix had so far allegedly filled seven cups of blood and 20 dishes of water, which she described as sweat. People from all walks of life have been calling in and spending time to pray and listen to Ms Kuna’s story.

She said that there were people who were curious, believers in the miracle, or doubters. She believes it is a miracle and should be shared with everybody. Since yesterday’s report and picture on the front page of the Post-Courier, the head office in Port Moresby and the bureau in Kokopo have been flooded with calls on the authenticity of the phenomenon.

By John Pangkatana of Post Courier


*** Until someone from the church confirms this, I personally feel that all this is hearsay.