The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, the Right Reverend Anthony Poggo, has been welcomed in Lae by the Right Reverend Nathan Ingen, the Bishop of Aipo Rongo and Acting Primate in the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea. This programme of activities (March 21-24) formed part of his recent tour of the Oceania region in which Bishop Anthony has visited Anglican communities and churches, preached and enjoyed fellowship with other bishops from across the province.

Papua New Guinea comprises of five dioceses: Aipo Rongo, Dogura, New Guinea Islands, Popondota and Port Moresby, and while the majority of the population identify as Christians, 3.2% of those identify as Anglican according to the 2000 census data. Bishop Anthony began the programme of visits around Oceania primarily to encourage the Anglican Communion and related agencies and to learn more about the Anglican church in the regions.

Bishop Anthony is welcomed to Lae

Upon arrival at Nadzab Tomodachi Airport, Bishop Anthony was welcomed with gifts and celebration by church representatives and Tufi Maising singsing group before visiting Dennis Kabekabe Conference Centre.

Bishop Anthony and his Private Secretary, Caroline Thompson, arrive in Papua New Guinea.
Photo credit: Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea

Planting seeds of hope

During his time in Lae, Bishop Anthony spent time with the four Bishops of Papua New Guinea to plant tree seedlings to commemorate their meeting. Across the Anglican Communion, trees are often planted as a symbol of the importance of caring for our immediate environment, nurturing future generations and celebrating the strong connections between branches of a global Anglican Communion, rooted in Christ.

Bishop Anthony plants tree to commemorate his trip to Lae, Papua New Guinea.
Photo credit: Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea

Planting trees is also something that the Anglican Communion Office has been encouraging through the Communion Forest initiative, which aims to significantly increase the number of Anglican tree growing and ecosystem conservation, protection and restoration activities around the world and to deepen care for creation within the life of the Church and its members.

Bishop Anthony also visited the Anglican Health Office, a body of the Anglican Health Service and saw the good works they are doing to improve the physical, psychological, social and spiritual health and wellbeing of everyone in the communities they serve. The Anglican Health Service comprises of 119 facilities in Papua New Guinea, which the government helps to fund and the church builds. Most of these clinics are in rural areas where medical assistance is otherwise difficult to access and acuity levels range from rural hospitals through health centres and aid posts to village clinics.

The Adult Literacy Programme supported by the Anglican Communion in Papua New Guinea

Providing for those over 15 years of age, the Adult Literacy Programme in Papua New Guinea is a pilot program funded by the Anglican Mission Board of Australia, which educates adult students in English, maths, social inclusion and religious education with the goal of enabling students to read and write within nine months. This program is vital for those who have not already attended school for reasons such as getting married at an early age but still wish to pursue education.

Meeting two of the teachers supporting the Adult Literacy Programme.
Photo credit: Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea

Within this pilot program, there are currently three schools in Port Moresby and three in Popendetta and the students only have to pay for their school materials and travel is covered by the programme. Bishop Anthony was particularly pleased to see the project and spend time with those involved.

"One of the things that I admired while I am here is the adult literacy initiatives carried out by the church”, stated Bishop Anthony. “This is an encouragement to me, personally, as someone from South Sudan, where literacy levels are very low. The program aimed at helping people learn to read and write is so important to me."

Mary Worri and Nancy Oiba (pictured above) are two of the teachers involved in this vital initiative from which many go on to secondary school, university or even to lead their own enterprise businesses.

Service of confirmation at All Souls Anglican Church

On Sunday, the 23rd of March, Bishop Anthony attended a morning service of confirmation at All Souls Anglican Church in Lae. There were also representative Bishops or clergy from the five dioceses of Papua New Guinea assisting with the service and welcoming the new confirmation candidates.

Bishop Anthony Poggo performing the blessing of the confirmation candidates.
Photo credit: Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea

The service consisted of a welcome address by the Acting Primate and Bishop of Aipo Rongo, the Right Revd Nathan Ingen, a sermon by Bishop Anthony, communion and confirmation of several of the parish’s young people who also led the prayers.

Acting Primate, Bishop Nathan Ingen expresses his thanks for Bishop Anthony’s visit

The Rt Revd Nathan Ingen stated in his address, “We are truly honoured to have you among us as we gather for this sacred occasion of worship, celebration, and the confirmation of our candidates. Bishop Poggo, your presence here today is a great blessing to our parish, our Diocese, and the entire Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea. As Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, you carry the important responsibility of fostering unity and strengthening the mission of the Church worldwide. We are grateful for your leadership and your commitment to the growth of the Anglican family across all nations.”

Reflecting on his time in Papua New Guinea, the Secretary General said:

“I have greatly enjoyed and appreciated my time in Papua New Guinea. It has been particularly valuable for me to visit churches, meet with the leadership network here and to learn more about the community-based, philanthropic initiatives that are happening here regarding education and health. I thank God for the vibrant spirituality I have witnessed in the people I have met in Papua New Guinea and pray that my visit has inspired them as it has me.”

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Learn about the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea