Expecting unexpected, PNG

Farwell of Sister Myriam Powell of Toledo, the very last American missionary in PNG and Sister Mary Aruna Thomas from Patna India

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PNG is a land of expecting unexpected things you never think of will happen at any time. The Sisters of Notre Dame has established their roots here in New Guinea for 53 years now. With the arrival of our first four missionaries in 1961 till the departure of our last missionaries back to their home countries. The Charism of the Sisters of Notre Dame has taken its roots deep down in the soil of Papua New Guinea.

Many Sisters from Toledo went to PNG as missionaries and when they reach their old age, they returned back to States. Sisters from Asia, Sister Marie Benedicta from Korea and Sister Mary Aruna from India came to PNG as missionaries, served for three years each and returned back. We PNG Sisters are very grateful and thanked our missionary Sisters for being with us and served in our country.

PNG Sisters Farwell Sister Marie Benedicta Sim from Korea

Sister Mary Aruna served for four years in Notre Dame Secondary as School’s administrator and Religion teacher for the upper secondary (Grade 12).

Sister Myriam a long time missionary who came in 1980s and served for 32 years. She served as a teacher in Notre Dame High School, was a formator as Novice Directress, as District Superior and as teacher again till she left Papua New Guinea. Papua was a home to Sister Myriam since she spend all her young years here. It was heart breaking when she left. Tears of sadness rolled down her checks when she spoke her last words of GOOD BYE to her Papua New Guinean Sisters. Papua New Guinean Sisters cried to their hearts when the very last missionary sisters, Sister Mary Aruna and Sister Myriam left them. That separation was a heart breaking one in the lives of all Papua New Guinean Sisters. However, the connection and love in their hearts with the missionaries and all Sisters of Notre Dame in the world unites all together. All of us are missioned to incarnate the love of our good and provident God. Thank you our missionary Sisters and may our good God reward you all.

“OH, HOW GOOD IS THE GOOD GOD”. (From St. Julie)

(Pictures and Words from Sister Bernadine Marie Yabimini SND, PNG)

Sisters in PNG farewell Sister Marietta Widman from Toledo, third last missionary