It has begun! The builders may not have turned up, but on Monday morning after Mass the community celebrated undeterred the turning of the first sod and blessing of the site for our building extension (see earlier post.) In the words of the psalm, nisi Dominus frustra... Unless the Lord builds the house, in vain do the builders labour.
We concluded with the antiphon to St Dominic, O Lumen Ecclesiae. The pictures tell the story ...

On Sunday, 31st October, I had the opportunity to travel with Robert - an aspirant to the Order - to his home village in Rigo, about three hours' drive to the East of Port Moresby. I went there to meet his family, but also to witness the consecration of many children - you can see them in the photo - to the Missionary Childhood Association.  The Consecration was carried out by Fr Homero Marin, CM, who is the Promoter of the Association in the Archdiocese of Port Moresby.
The people only get Mass two or three times a year, so they were rather astonished to have two priests at once!  I hope to be able to help them out with Mass occasionally next year.
As you can see in the following photos, it is a beautiful place:  very clean, beautifully kept, and (in contrast with Port Moresby) very safe.  The village snuggles picturesquely in a bend of the local river ...

Here you can see the brethren bearing the statue on their shoulders as they bring Mary in procession from the Franciscan friary to our priory.

And here is our little shrine to our Blessed Mother, in our community chapel

Let us pray.
O God,
whose only-begotten Son,
by his life, death and resurrection
has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life:
grant, we beseech thee,
that meditating on these mysteries
in the Most Holy Rosary
of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
we may imitate what they contain
and obtain what they promise.
Through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen