JUBILEE 25 YEARS PJNS

Today May 22 - 2011 is the 25 Year Jubilee of Papoeajeugd naar School (PJNS). I was invited by the Commitee to celebrate the Holy Mass, in the Parish Church in Emmen - Nederland. This is my sharing in this very special moment:

JUBILEE 25 YEARS PJNS
May 22, 2011

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In the first reading taken from the Acts of the Apostles it was said: "We do not feel satisfied, because we neglect the word of God, namely to serve tables." The Apostles realized that the service around the altar and the service "desk necessities of life" of fellow human beings are equally important. Both need to be considered in a balanced manner. Needs of human life, not just limited to the field of clothing, food and shelter, but also in education and improving the quality of human life. Education and improvement of human life quality in Southern Papua is considered by PJNS.

On this happy occasion, I want to share my experience in cooperation with PJNS:

My experience in Kepi - in the Central District Obaa - 1 hour flight with Twin Otter aircraft.

In 1989 to 1991, I served in the Kepi as a newly ordained priest (neomis). There are 2 dormitories there. Men Dormitory (dormitory Kizito) was taken care by the MSC. The number inhabitants / students were 30. They are mostly children from Arare and Haju, whereas children from Aboge only few. Women dormitory (dorm Karolin) was taken care by Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (OLSH). Their number were around 40 people. Most of them studied in Junior High School, and some were children dropping out of school but joined Vocational / Training Courses for 2 years. The Vocational Traning Classes girls (generally drop out of elementary / junior high), although did not have formal diplomas but when returning to the village would be the ones who can play important roles in the community. They had skills in washing, cooking, managing the home and making cookies. Meanwhile, Junior High School girls, when they drop out of school, they do not have any skills and less courageous role in the society. At that time, these girls have been nurtured by Sr Madeleine Hendriks OLSH and Sr. Sebastiana Nowan OSLH.

The children received the help from PJNS for buying books, stationery (writing materials) and side dishes (suplements) . Once a year the children had given T-shirts for sports, football, volleyball and the guitar. On the feast of Easter they were given extra food. On holiday, they went home, and were conveyed by the our ships (Missio II or Digul V) to the Pagai, and when returning from holiday, they also picked up by the same ship. They brought sago or meat from the village, as their contributions to live in the dorms.

Experience in Kimaam - on an island - 45 minutes of flying with the Twin Otter aircraft

In Kimaam, 1991 - 1997, I handled the boys and girls' dormitory. Margaretha Mambo OLSH cared of girls' dormitory, while Mr. Benedict cared of boy's dorm. I remembered that when I build bathrooms and toilets for girls' dormitory, I got funding from PJNS. Thank you for your assistance.

There was an interesting story. Around 1992/1993, the real need for meals was per child per monthIDR. 50,000. But PJNS only gave IDR 5.000, -. I protested and complained to PJNS in the meeting in Merauke. I said: "If you want to helping the children, then help them with sufficient funds, not only Rp 5,000, so that I do not bother to seek any help from other places. Why was the money very small ? "

Fr Cor van Halen MSC replied: "Actually PJNS help children with some money so they can pay school fees, not for the other needs. This was the mission of the Ad van Es MSC. Based on this idea, PJNS did not give money form daily meals. However, when we did visitation and saw the children's food, that they often eat sago and cassava leaves, our hearts were moved with pity and we triggered to give money to buy side dishes. Because what we had was only a small amount, we provided assistance to Rp 5,000 per child per month. " When I heard that answer, I became more aware and had a better understanding about the main purpose of the fund. Since then, my appreciation to the donors (to you all) and the Committee PJNS in the Netherlands are grew higher.

In the Archdiocese of Merauke there are 10 dormitories:

1. St. Theresia Dormitory - Merauke (cared by OLSH Srs )
2. Abba (cpc Mikael Pure for children Marind)
3. Amam Bekai in Gudang Arang (for children whose parents infected by HIV - AIDS cared by Br. Josh Manuel MSC). New building is now under construction in the village of Kuda Mati.
4. Paul Nafi in Kumbe ( cared by teacher)
5. Girls Dormitory in Mindiptana ( cared by Apolinaris PRR)
6. Girls Dormitory in Tanah Merah ( cared by Sr.Feralinda PBHK)
7. Karoline Dormitory Kepi ( Cared by Sr Hubertine PBHK)
8. Kizito Dormitory Kepi (nurtured by sr Adriana and Sr. Susanne)
9. Kizito Dormitory Kimaam (not running)
10. ST. Theresa Dormitory Kimaam (not running)

At first, 1986, PJNS assistance was given only to children of Mappi, but now are given to many children of South Papua in different places, cross-region and inter-tribal. This is a very good form of development and humanitarian mission. PJNS is also willing to provide assistance funds for the renovation of dormitory buildings, giving the funds to buy computers and equipment - other learning support tools. Thanks to you all that you until this day have taken part in children's education in the Archdiocese of Merauke in Papua.

Since I served in the Archdiocese of Merauke (for 22 years: from 1989 to 2011), there were lots of visitations from members of the Committee PJNS Netherlands who came to Merauke, and then to Kepi to directly see the realization of assistance have been provided. I met, knew and had discussions with the delegates PJNS: Mr. Kees Heemskerk, Ton van Bremen and Rina, Giel Serton and Wim Jong.

I highly appreciate his hard work, excitement and loyalty PJNS’s commitee (Emeritus Archbishop J. Duivenvoorde MSC, priests, brothers and sisters) to keep raising the fund and distributing aid PJNS to Merauke. They encouraged us to submit some proposals, one copy sent to the Committee in Merauke and the other one for the Committee in the Netherlands.

I am proud and grateful that the committee wanted to know any proposal that goes into Committee in Merauke, because some times there were proposals that considered disqualified ( and kept by the Committee in Merauke) but when these sent to the Netherlands could, they can still be considered: ok, even granted. I am proud, too, that they remind us if our proposal has not been received or our report was not complete.

So, on this happy occasion:

1. I express my admiration and I am grateful to the PJNS Committee in this country who have worked hard and volunteered to help our people, to find and to provide funds for the development of education in Merauke
2. I thank the Committee who has visited us, provides information on it’s progress and setbacks projects, and control the projects funded by PJNS
3. I also thank the committee members who are willing to encourage and to discipline the boards of PJNS Merauke, to have orderly administration, and to refine project proposals submitted to you

4. I thank the former missionaries (Mr. Bishop Duivenvoorde, priests, sisters and brothers) who encourage and unite all of you "every year" in this PJNS meeting.
5. I am proud and grateful to you who are willing to assist the development of education for children who stay in the dormitories in the Archdiocese of Merauke, though you do not know them personally.

6. I thank the Committee for Jubilium who had invited me to the event for marking 25 years PJNS.
7. I want to apologize for mistakes, less communication, less orderly administration and on my personal limitations and the PJNS Merauke.

Brothers and Sisters,
If it was not God who worked, what we have done is nothing and one day it will stop. We've worked hard, but the results can not be targeted. Often we feel disappointed and asked "why the developments in Kimaam, Kepi, Merauke, etc. Mindiptana are very slow?. Why must we constantly provide assistance to these people ? Why is the participation of their parents is too small? ".
It is true, that our results in the eyes of the world in terms of quantity, is very small, but we have planted to the younger generation the values of kindness, a sense of solidarity, brotherhood, cooperation, love, peace, and forgiveness, and appreciation to others, and understanding of human rights.

Fr Ad van Es, has become the initiator, promoter and uniting us all, to be a blessing and a channel of God's love. Surely, I am grateful to him, to the great family van Es and to you who have started this humanitarian project.
So far, this is my experience over PJNS. I pray and hope that PJNS still exist in taking part in human development projects in the Archdiocese of Merauke. God bless us. Thank you.

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