Solid bond of friendship
THE city of Port Moresby is the closest capital city to Townsville and as such is an important community to Townsville and North Queensland.
In 1983, Townsville City and Port Moresby established the first Sister City agreement.
In 2012, the late Most Rev. Michael Putney and the Archbishop of Port Moresby signed a significant and unique Sister Diocese agreement.
The agreement allowed for co- operation between the two dioceses in areas such as education, social services and parish pastoral support.
Over the past few years, many activities have happened between these different ministry areas.
Since his Ordination in May 2017, Bishop Tim Harris has been keen to continue the agreement and strengthen the bonds.
“I believe that this is an important agreement, our two cities are sister cities, Port Moresby is a very close neighbour and I want to see this agreement strengthened,” Bishop Tim said during his visit to Port Moresby.
As Bishop Tim was travelling to Port Moresby to attend the Federation of Catholic Bishops of Oceania Conference, he thought that it was a great opportunity to travel earlier and spend some time in the Archdiocese with Cardinal John Ribat msc. The aim was to understand more about the agreement, meet the people and explore the city.
“This has been a marvellous opportunity to get to know the Cardinal better and get an understanding of how our two regions can better support each other,” Bishop Tim said.
“We are all people of God and I have been deeply moved by the warm welcome they have given our little group.
“We have celebrated Sunday Mass with the people of the St Mary’s Cathedral, visited the St Joseph’s International Catholic College and took some time to explore the city and some parts of the regional areas of Port Moresby.
“Our delegation participated in a very fruitful discussion with the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council
“We shared how this relationship between our two dioceses has been successful and how we can strengthen it.”
On Sunday Cardinal John Ribat msc and the Vicar General Fr Ben Flemming msc took the group along the Owen Stanley Range and visited Ower’s Corner.
This was a significant part of the Kokoda Track in WWII and now the starting point for many Australians who walk the Kokoda Trail each year.
Bishop Tim said: “This was a moving experience to visit this place and get a very simple understanding of what the terrain was that the soldiers of World War II experienced and to then visit the Bomana War Cemetery and see the graves of more than 3000 Australian soldiers was very powerful.”
Conversations are continuing between Port Moresby and Townsville and, specifically, the different ministry areas including Townsville Catholic Education, Centacare, St Vincent de Paul, Diocesan groups and the Cathedral Parish.
It is hoped that a new agreement between the Archdiocese of Port Moresby and the Diocese of Townsville will be signed in coming months. progress it and