Poland in Australia

Two projects were carried out in the Southern Highlands Province in central Papua New Guinea (PNG), coordinated by Fr. Damian Szumski, Missionary of the Holy Family, with whom the Embassy cooperated in previous years. This year, the installation of water and toilet facilities in the educational center of the Kewabi parish in Muli, led by Fr. Szumski, provided access to clean water, improving sanitation and good hygiene practices among schoolchildren and the whole parish community.

The second project, the installation of eight water tanks for the Holy Trinity Community in Yate, provided access to safe and clean water. Yate is located on the slopes of the mountains, which means that many people, especially during the dry season, had to use dirty water sources. The tanks will enable the collection of rainwater, which will be used as the primary source of drinking water.

The third project was coordinated by Fr Marek Sobotta, who serves in the parishes of Dagua and But, in the Diocese of Wewak, in the East Sepik Province, on the northern coast of PNG. The Bishop of Wewak, Fr. Bishop Józef Roszyński SVD, also a Polish missionary, supported Fr. Sobotta in the implementation of the project. Thanks to co-financing under the Polish development cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in But regained access to electricity. A generator and solar panels were installed, and the worn-out electrical installation in the church and parish house was replaced. The electrification of the But parish became, as Fr. Sobotta stressed, a “historic event” for the entire community that lacked stable power supply for many years. In 2024, the parish in But will celebrate its 100th years of mission.

Local residents were actively involved in the implementation of all three projects, supporting Polish missionaries in transporting the materials or construction works, often in very bad weather conditions.

According to the Polish Episcopal Commission for Missions, 62 Polish missionaries currently serve in Papua New Guinea: 11 diocesan priests, 43 missionaries, 7 nuns and one lay person. The presence of Polish missionaries in PNG is instrumental for the implementation of development projects co-financed by the Polish development cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland.

The remarkable work of Polish missionaries, who have devoted their lives to caring for people in Papua New Guinea is subject of the documentary “Polish missionaries” directed by Simon Target.

Photos: Fr. Damian Szumski, Fr. Marek Sobotta