Sacred Heart Mission Celebrates
p. 59 · Read in the full issue
50 Years of Work in Papua
From Our Own Correspondent.
Pt. Moresby, July 7.
ON July 4th, the Sacred Heart Mission commemorated the 50th anniversary of the commencement of its mission work in the Territory of Papua, at its head station on Yule Island, 60 miles west of Port Moresby, off the mainland of the Central Division.
The Lieutenant-Governor of Papua (Sir Hubert Murray) journeyed from Port Moresby on July 3 on the Government vessel Laurabada to be present at the ceremonies, which continued until the evening of July 5. His Excellency was accompanied by the Hon. J. T. O’Malley (Commissioner for Native Affairs), Right Rev. Joseph Bach (formerly Bishop of the Gilbert Is.), Rev. Father M. McEnroe, Rev.
F. Lyons, and several prominent residents of Port Moresby.
Before a large gathering of priests, sis ters and mission members, Bishop de Bois menu conducted Mass on the spot where Mass was first celebrated on July 4, 1885 by Bishop Verjus, when he crossed over from Thursday Is. to Yule Is. with two Fathers of the Sacred Heart Order. Those three missionaries laid the foundations of mission work which was to extend event ually far into the mountainous interior of the mainland and along the coastline of Papua.