Spiritans Oceania

Parish Information

Mission

History

Spiritan missionary work in the Diocese of Aitape goes back to the early 1980’s where many of the parishes around the Diocese were being pastored by Spiritans from different parts of the world. During that time, the Spiritan missionary priests simply worked in parishes that needed their pastoral care with simple understanding between them and the bishops.

When the number of the Spiritan missionary priests in the diocese dropped in the 2000’s it became necessary for a new approach to the mission to be reflected upon. This gave birth to the signing of a contract with the bishop for a specific parish, St. Joachim, where the Spiritans confrères could settle and focus on the mission.

St Joachim parish is one the vibrant parishes in the diocese and Spiritan priests have been very instrumental in the spiritual and physical development of the parish since its inception.

The Parish Today

Currently the parish priest is Fr. Anicet Dimbey, C.S.Sp, from Madagascar and assisted by Fr. George Ayikade, C.S.Sp from Ghana. 

Apart from the daily celebration of the Eucharist, the two priests are involved in other spiritual and social activities. They include organising games for the children and youth, retreats for various spiritual groups, Pentecost Seminars every year, seminars for the small Christian communities, marriage courses for young couples, Sunday school courses for animators for the children which Fr Anicet has always been very instrumental, organising celebrations of parish feast day and feast days of the various Christian communities, etc. 

Despite the fact that we have an official contract with the diocese of work in St Joachim Parish, we have not turned a blind eye to the plight of the many parishes that are without a priest to care for them.

• We reach out to St. Anthony Parish in Ali Island, and Malol parish where Fr George is the Care-taker parish priest of both. We try to help them in the celebration of the sacraments and spiritual activities. It will interest you to know that just on the Ascension Sunday (21st May, 2023), Fr George had 146 baptisms and 15 first communicants in Malol Parish. He was assisted by the Vicar General, Fr. Hugh Kuam, OFM, and Deacon Paterson who is currently staying with the Spiritans for the last phase of his diaconate ministry.
• Aside from this, the Spiritans recently also took up chaplaincy ministry in St. Ignatius Secondary School, which is one of the top ten schools in the country. This was made possible by the arrival of Fr. Victor Byarugaba, CSSp, from Uganda. He is gradually settling in and we hope our mission to young people would be made more visible with his interaction with the young people in the school.
• Frs. George and Anicet are also involved in the diocesan administration and pastoral center respectively. While Fr George is busy with administration, Fr Anicet is busy with courses for pastoral agents in the pastoral center. The mission in Joachim parish is far from just being a mission in Joachim but covers a very wide range in the diocese. This is why you can always be sure that you won’t be idle if you identify yourself with the mission. 

The pictures below tell it all.

Attached School(s)