THE WORD OF SUFFERING

A reading from John (19: 28 – 29). " After this Jesus, knowing that all was finished, said (to fulfil the scriptures), "I thirst." A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth.

"I am thirsty"

The problem of suffering has always been a perplexing one. A little over two weeks ago, my father died. I asked God why He let that happen when numerous prayers were offered from families, friends, and members of our church in Papua New Guinea, the Saint Paul Congregation here, and myself.

Why should there be suffering in a world that is governed by a perfect God — a God who not only has the power to prevent evil, but who is love. Why should there be pain, sickness and death? Why do bad things happen to good people? I come to realize that my faith engages in big questions without easy answers. When I look out at our world I rightly recognize that too often it is a Vale of Tears.

When Jesus said, "I am thirsty", I find this to be remarkable. Jesus had hung on that cross for six hours and had passed through unbelievable suffering yet He knew and remembered that one prophetic word of scripture still remained to be fulfilled. He overlooked nothing. He submitted to scripture and took steps to fulfill it. But this should not surprise us. The scripture always reminds us that God’s presence is constant, even though we don’t understand how God is functioning.

The cross shows us, however, that God is not ignorant of our sorrows, for in the person of His Son, He Himself "took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows". The cross shows us that God Himself suffered.

Is your body racked with pain? So was His! Are you misunderstood, misjudged, misrepresented? So was He! Have those who are nearest and dearest to you turned away from you? They did from Him! Are you in the darkness? So was He!
"I am thirsty." This universal need is a spiritual need: that is why natural things cannot satisfy it. Unknown to natural man what he desires — like Jesus — is God. God made us and He alone can satisfy us.

"I am thirsty," said the Lord as He hung on the cross for our sins.
"I am thirsty," says natural man as he looks for meaning and purpose in life.
"I was thirsty," says the Christian who has come to Jesus, and found in Him the well of living water.
I am thirsty now Lord, but you constantly remind me that only you can quench my thirst so I will have to wait patiently for your timing.

Let’s Pray: Lord Jesus, our throats are dry, but it is not the kind of dryness that can be quenched by water or any other kind of liquid we know. It is a dryness, which only you can quench. Lord, we thirst and we pray for your living water. Amen +

*** I shared this with the St.Paul Lutheran congregation on Good Friday at the 7:30 pm Tenebrae Service

THE WORD OF SUFFERING

A reading from John (19: 28 – 29). " After this Jesus, knowing that all was finished, said (to fulfil the scriptures), "I thirst." A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth.

"I am thirsty"

The problem of suffering has always been a perplexing one. A little over two weeks ago, my father died. I asked God why He let that happen when numerous prayers were offered from families, friends, and members of our church in Papua New Guinea, the Saint Paul Congregation here, and myself.

Why should there be suffering in a world that is governed by a perfect God — a God who not only has the power to prevent evil, but who is love. Why should there be pain, sickness and death? Why do bad things happen to good people? I come to realize that my faith engages in big questions without easy answers. When I look out at our world I rightly recognize that too often it is a Vale of Tears.

When Jesus said, "I am thirsty", I find this to be remarkable. Jesus had hung on that cross for six hours and had passed through unbelievable suffering yet He knew and remembered that one prophetic word of scripture still remained to be fulfilled. He overlooked nothing. He submitted to scripture and took steps to fulfill it. But this should not surprise us. The scripture always reminds us that God’s presence is constant, even though we don’t understand how God is functioning.

The cross shows us, however, that God is not ignorant of our sorrows, for in the person of His Son, He Himself "took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows". The cross shows us that God Himself suffered.

Is your body racked with pain? So was His! Are you misunderstood, misjudged, misrepresented? So was He! Have those who are nearest and dearest to you turned away from you? They did from Him! Are you in the darkness? So was He!
"I am thirsty." This universal need is a spiritual need: that is why natural things cannot satisfy it. Unknown to natural man what he desires — like Jesus — is God. God made us and He alone can satisfy us.

"I am thirsty," said the Lord as He hung on the cross for our sins.
"I am thirsty," says natural man as he looks for meaning and purpose in life.
"I was thirsty," says the Christian who has come to Jesus, and found in Him the well of living water.
I am thirsty now Lord, but you constantly remind me that only you can quench my thirst so I will have to wait patiently for your timing.

Let’s Pray: Lord Jesus, our throats are dry, but it is not the kind of dryness that can be quenched by water or any other kind of liquid we know. It is a dryness, which only you can quench. Lord, we thirst and we pray for your living water. Amen +

*** I shared this with the St.Paul Lutheran congregation on Good Friday at the 7:30 pm Tenebrae Service

THE WORD OF SUFFERING

A reading from John (19: 28 – 29). " After this Jesus, knowing that all was finished, said (to fulfil the scriptures), "I thirst." A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth.

"I am thirsty"

The problem of suffering has always been a perplexing one. A little over two weeks ago, my father died. I asked God why He let that happen when numerous prayers were offered from families, friends, and members of our church in Papua New Guinea, the Saint Paul Congregation here, and myself.

Why should there be suffering in a world that is governed by a perfect God — a God who not only has the power to prevent evil, but who is love. Why should there be pain, sickness and death? Why do bad things happen to good people? I come to realize that my faith engages in big questions without easy answers. When I look out at our world I rightly recognize that too often it is a Vale of Tears.

When Jesus said, "I am thirsty", I find this to be remarkable. Jesus had hung on that cross for six hours and had passed through unbelievable suffering yet He knew and remembered that one prophetic word of scripture still remained to be fulfilled. He overlooked nothing. He submitted to scripture and took steps to fulfill it. But this should not surprise us. The scripture always reminds us that God’s presence is constant, even though we don’t understand how God is functioning.

The cross shows us, however, that God is not ignorant of our sorrows, for in the person of His Son, He Himself "took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows". The cross shows us that God Himself suffered.

Is your body racked with pain? So was His! Are you misunderstood, misjudged, misrepresented? So was He! Have those who are nearest and dearest to you turned away from you? They did from Him! Are you in the darkness? So was He!
"I am thirsty." This universal need is a spiritual need: that is why natural things cannot satisfy it. Unknown to natural man what he desires — like Jesus — is God. God made us and He alone can satisfy us.

"I am thirsty," said the Lord as He hung on the cross for our sins.
"I am thirsty," says natural man as he looks for meaning and purpose in life.
"I was thirsty," says the Christian who has come to Jesus, and found in Him the well of living water.
I am thirsty now Lord, but you constantly remind me that only you can quench my thirst so I will have to wait patiently for your timing.

Let’s Pray: Lord Jesus, our throats are dry, but it is not the kind of dryness that can be quenched by water or any other kind of liquid we know. It is a dryness, which only you can quench. Lord, we thirst and we pray for your living water. Amen +

*** I shared this with the St.Paul Lutheran congregation on Good Friday at the 7:30 pm Tenebrae Service

Happy Easter from Notre Dame Secondary School, Kumdi, Mount Hagen, WHP, PNG

May you experience NEW LIFE
in the Risen Christ!

Dear Family, Sisters and Friends,

As we beginning the celebration of the Easter Season, may you feel the joy and peace of Christ in the midst of a world that often lacks the depth of living Christian values! Easter celebration is within depths of our hearts where the Risen Christ dwells always!

As you experience the first signs of spring, I’m sure that you have that feeling that time is escaping! Once we completed half a term, the later half seemed to fly!!! Now we are anticipating our first term break next week— term breaks are always with a sense joy and relaxation! Just the quiet of not having 600 voices (lives) that one has to answer for!

Just a few happenings! We now have 640 students and 32 teachers—all are working hard and there is a high spirit of cooperation. We were privileged to have Christina Kewa a graduate of 1995 who is an author, editor and business women speak to all the girls. She is working very hard to better the situation for the women of PNG! One class did the way of the cross for our last evening together applying it to real life situations of today in PNG.

Thanks to many donors we were able to give a number of scholarships to hardworking students at the last day assembly! During the holiday week 9 teachers and 33 students will gather at Maria Kwin Resource Centre for Women for a training workshop on PEER EDUCATION which has been successfully introduced into high schools by the National Department of Education. It has a great potential – students helping students, as well as improving the discipline of the school.

Our new dormitory has the inner walls now and the flooring is being put down. Building the beds and cupboards is all that is needed yet. It may be ready by May, I’m hoping!!! Too many girls sleeping 2 in a bed!!! But parents and students prefer this to going to another school!!! There will be no new registrations after this dorm is filled. That will make 600 boarder—enough, don’t you think???

This is a very big year for our Mt. Hagen Diocese. We have begun our 75 years celebration. The youth walked the way of Fr. Ross, SVD, the first missionary to come into the Highlands walking a whole week from Nondulgl to Wilya, a village outside the diocese’s center. The Archbishop had the opening Mass in Nondulgl and then the Apostolic Pronuncio had the Mass a week later at Rebiamul. There are many different activities planned for this year. Just think, the Catholic faith is only 75 years old here. A few months later some Lutheran missionaries arrived in our area.

Our novices seem to be adjusting well in Arusha, Africa. They have just begun their Canonical year as novices. Sr. M. Rose Bernard is expected home on Tue. from the Conference in Rome on the Poor and Marginalized, while Sr. Pauline Marie will attend another meeting there before returning. Sr. Mary Susan just arrived for the weekend from her nursing training in Goroka.

Our gardens are growing very well in spite of the torrential rain falls we are experiencing daily! The ground is like a black sponge!!! But the rains are great to fill our fish ponds! The fish are not ready to eat yet!!!

I’m sure that spring brings many activities and surprises in your life too! One thing, it always brings the hope of new life and energy – may these be yours as you celebrate the miracle of miracles—Jesus Resurrection and His promise of our own resurrection!

With much love and a promise of prayer during the Easter Season,
Sr. Mary Vivette, SND

Happy Easter from Notre Dame Secondary School, Kumdi, Mount Hagen, WHP, PNG

May you experience NEW LIFE
in the Risen Christ!

Dear Family, Sisters and Friends,

As we beginning the celebration of the Easter Season, may you feel the joy and peace of Christ in the midst of a world that often lacks the depth of living Christian values! Easter celebration is within depths of our hearts where the Risen Christ dwells always!

As you experience the first signs of spring, I’m sure that you have that feeling that time is escaping! Once we completed half a term, the later half seemed to fly!!! Now we are anticipating our first term break next week— term breaks are always with a sense joy and relaxation! Just the quiet of not having 600 voices (lives) that one has to answer for!

Just a few happenings! We now have 640 students and 32 teachers—all are working hard and there is a high spirit of cooperation. We were privileged to have Christina Kewa a graduate of 1995 who is an author, editor and business women speak to all the girls. She is working very hard to better the situation for the women of PNG! One class did the way of the cross for our last evening together applying it to real life situations of today in PNG.

Thanks to many donors we were able to give a number of scholarships to hardworking students at the last day assembly! During the holiday week 9 teachers and 33 students will gather at Maria Kwin Resource Centre for Women for a training workshop on PEER EDUCATION which has been successfully introduced into high schools by the National Department of Education. It has a great potential – students helping students, as well as improving the discipline of the school.

Our new dormitory has the inner walls now and the flooring is being put down. Building the beds and cupboards is all that is needed yet. It may be ready by May, I’m hoping!!! Too many girls sleeping 2 in a bed!!! But parents and students prefer this to going to another school!!! There will be no new registrations after this dorm is filled. That will make 600 boarder—enough, don’t you think???

This is a very big year for our Mt. Hagen Diocese. We have begun our 75 years celebration. The youth walked the way of Fr. Ross, SVD, the first missionary to come into the Highlands walking a whole week from Nondulgl to Wilya, a village outside the diocese’s center. The Archbishop had the opening Mass in Nondulgl and then the Apostolic Pronuncio had the Mass a week later at Rebiamul. There are many different activities planned for this year. Just think, the Catholic faith is only 75 years old here. A few months later some Lutheran missionaries arrived in our area.

Our novices seem to be adjusting well in Arusha, Africa. They have just begun their Canonical year as novices. Sr. M. Rose Bernard is expected home on Tue. from the Conference in Rome on the Poor and Marginalized, while Sr. Pauline Marie will attend another meeting there before returning. Sr. Mary Susan just arrived for the weekend from her nursing training in Goroka.

Our gardens are growing very well in spite of the torrential rain falls we are experiencing daily! The ground is like a black sponge!!! But the rains are great to fill our fish ponds! The fish are not ready to eat yet!!!

I’m sure that spring brings many activities and surprises in your life too! One thing, it always brings the hope of new life and energy – may these be yours as you celebrate the miracle of miracles—Jesus Resurrection and His promise of our own resurrection!

With much love and a promise of prayer during the Easter Season,
Sr. Mary Vivette, SND

Happy Easter from Notre Dame Secondary School, Kumdi, Mount Hagen, WHP, PNG

May you experience NEW LIFE
in the Risen Christ!

Dear Family, Sisters and Friends,

As we beginning the celebration of the Easter Season, may you feel the joy and peace of Christ in the midst of a world that often lacks the depth of living Christian values! Easter celebration is within depths of our hearts where the Risen Christ dwells always!

As you experience the first signs of spring, I’m sure that you have that feeling that time is escaping! Once we completed half a term, the later half seemed to fly!!! Now we are anticipating our first term break next week— term breaks are always with a sense joy and relaxation! Just the quiet of not having 600 voices (lives) that one has to answer for!

Just a few happenings! We now have 640 students and 32 teachers—all are working hard and there is a high spirit of cooperation. We were privileged to have Christina Kewa a graduate of 1995 who is an author, editor and business women speak to all the girls. She is working very hard to better the situation for the women of PNG! One class did the way of the cross for our last evening together applying it to real life situations of today in PNG.

Thanks to many donors we were able to give a number of scholarships to hardworking students at the last day assembly! During the holiday week 9 teachers and 33 students will gather at Maria Kwin Resource Centre for Women for a training workshop on PEER EDUCATION which has been successfully introduced into high schools by the National Department of Education. It has a great potential – students helping students, as well as improving the discipline of the school.

Our new dormitory has the inner walls now and the flooring is being put down. Building the beds and cupboards is all that is needed yet. It may be ready by May, I’m hoping!!! Too many girls sleeping 2 in a bed!!! But parents and students prefer this to going to another school!!! There will be no new registrations after this dorm is filled. That will make 600 boarder—enough, don’t you think???

This is a very big year for our Mt. Hagen Diocese. We have begun our 75 years celebration. The youth walked the way of Fr. Ross, SVD, the first missionary to come into the Highlands walking a whole week from Nondulgl to Wilya, a village outside the diocese’s center. The Archbishop had the opening Mass in Nondulgl and then the Apostolic Pronuncio had the Mass a week later at Rebiamul. There are many different activities planned for this year. Just think, the Catholic faith is only 75 years old here. A few months later some Lutheran missionaries arrived in our area.

Our novices seem to be adjusting well in Arusha, Africa. They have just begun their Canonical year as novices. Sr. M. Rose Bernard is expected home on Tue. from the Conference in Rome on the Poor and Marginalized, while Sr. Pauline Marie will attend another meeting there before returning. Sr. Mary Susan just arrived for the weekend from her nursing training in Goroka.

Our gardens are growing very well in spite of the torrential rain falls we are experiencing daily! The ground is like a black sponge!!! But the rains are great to fill our fish ponds! The fish are not ready to eat yet!!!

I’m sure that spring brings many activities and surprises in your life too! One thing, it always brings the hope of new life and energy – may these be yours as you celebrate the miracle of miracles—Jesus Resurrection and His promise of our own resurrection!

With much love and a promise of prayer during the Easter Season,
Sr. Mary Vivette, SND