50TH ANNIVERSARY OF SISTERS OF MERCY IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA

In 2006 the Sisters of Mercy will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of their arrival in Papua New Guinea. In January 1956 Sisters of Mercy arrived in the highlands of PNG and later in the Wewak diocese. Over these 50 years more than 200 Australian Sisters have worked in Papua New Guinea in education, social welfare and health. There are now 27 Sisters of Mercy working in Papua New Guinea. 20 of these Sisters are Papua New Guinea nationals and 7 are Australian and Irish born Sisters.

In the 2006 Jubilee year the Sisters of Mercy in PNG are joining with Mercy Works Inc. in Australia to explore the current needs of Papua New Guinea families in the Highlands of PNG with the view to establishing a Jubilee project. The Catholic Bishop of Goroka has invited the Sisters to partner with him in the establishment of a women's centre in Goroka that will help address the increasing problems of domestic violence, HIV-Aids and unemployment.

In 2006 we will be investigating these needs in Goroka and exploring how best we can respond. This phase of the Jubilee project will also focus on training the Sisters and respective partners in many aspects of development project management including: needs assessment, project and financial planning and proposal writing. Over 2006 we will keep you informed of the progress of this project and other Jubilee activities as they unfold.

For further information on this exciting project please contact Mercy Works Inc.

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