I would like to share with you the great news that CTI’s affiliation to the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas in Manila has been completed. Please, find the Decree issued by The Dicastery of Culture and Education attached.

I express my gratitude to all of you who have contributed in many ways to this achievement. My special thanks go to the present Dean of Studies, Mr Brandon Zimmerman, for his hard work in preparing the required documentations.

Once more, thanks a lot for your help and prayer.

--Fr. Zenon Szablowinksi, SVD, acting President

Saturday, 13th November saw twenty-eight students graduate from CTI, in our first graduation ceremony since achieving registration and accreditation of our courses with DHERST, the Department Of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology.

A Mass of thanksgiving was celebrated by the Apostolic Nuncio to PNG, His Excellency Fermín Emilio Sosa Rodríguez. Here we see the Nuncio with concelebrating priests and servers:

Due to Covid-19 regulations, permission was obtained for the Mass and graduation, with two separate graduation ceremonies (Philosophy and Theology), all in the open air and with attendees being arranged in groups of no more than 20.  Masks were obligatory (being momentarily removed for photographs.)
The guest speaker was renowned PNG educator and former Vice-Chancellor of Divine Word University, Dr Cecilia Nambou. Below we see the Philosophy graduates immediately after their ceremony.

And here are our Theology graduates:

The ceremony was also notable as a farewell to the out-going President of CTI, Fr Joseph Vnuk, O.P., and a welcome to the newly-appointed President, Fr Martin Wallace, O.P. In the picture below, we see Fr Martin presenting Dr Nambou with a posy of flowers and a small gift.

Here is Fr Martin's inaugural President's Address, delivered at the Philosophy graduation:

Dr Cecilia Nambour, our distinguished guest speaker,
Dr Joseph Vnuk, outgoing President of CTI,
Dr Jacek Tendej, Chair of the Rectors’ Board,
Dean, Staff and graduating students of CTI,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Today marks an important moment in the history of Catholic Theological Institute, not only because we change Presidents – I will say something about that in a moment – but also because we confer our academic awards for the first time as a registered tertiary institution registered with our courses fully accredited. This is not to say that our awards in the past lacked value – they were accepted by institutions in Australia when granting credit for prior learning, for example – but it does place them on a firm footing, and, importantly, provides a framework for constant improvement and review.

CTI owes a great debt of gratitude to my predecessor, Fr Joseph Vnuk, for driving this process forward – with, as he is always quick to point out, the support of the staff, and particularly the Dean, Mr Zimmerman. The students, too, have been supportive, as we see by the presence of those students who, close to the end of their theological studies, returned to Philosophy to complete the number of units necessary to qualify for the updated degree.  I say both thank you and congratulations!

Of course, we have much more to thank Fr Joseph for.  We who know him know that he is indefatigable in working for the welfare of students and staff, that he is extraordinarily generous with his time and talents, that he is always brimming over with new ideas for improvement and development, and that despite all this, or perhaps because of it, he is also a truly humble man. In this he truly models the gospel that is studied and taught at CTI; Fr Joseph genuinely lives it.  He has time and respect for everyone, whatever their education or social status.  I am honoured to succeed him. He will be sorely missed by many, and not only within institution.

I am very grateful that I arrive at CTI with the groundwork of registration and accreditation completed. I believe we are moving into a phase of consolidation. Affiliation with the University of Santo Tomás in Manila is imminent. I don’t foresee a great deal of structural change in the next few years, but rather a building up of our strengths. 

This does not mean that the will not be challenges, however.  As the incoming President, I see many.

There are always financial challenges, of course.  We are not in a precarious position, but we do need to manage our funds carefully. I suppose every President faces that.

But there are others.  On the academic front, finding suitable staff – preferably local, permanent staff – is a constant preoccupation.  Assisting our students in English language proficiency is another. Our studies are necessarily in English.  Almost all our resources are in English. But we do have students – keen, intelligent students – whose poor grasp of written English in particular presents an obstacle to academic excellence.  We have undertaken an number of initiatives in recent years to address this problem;  I am determined to continue and develop this as a priority.

Student welfare and community building is another challenge I foresee.  Covid-19 has presented particular problems in this regard:  not only the obvious health risks of the virus, but the unseen effects of cancelling or restricting so many community functions – the end-of-year dinner is one example, the weekly CTI Mass is another – the effects of which, I say, can be demoralising, isolating and fragmenting of a community.

I am pleased to see that our CTI community is over 70% vaccinated.  I would be much happier if it were 100%. I believe that there is no good reason why it should not be.  But while we fall short of that, and the virus is still a threat, finding safe ways to maintain and build community spirit is indeed a challenge.

Finally there is what I might call the moral challenge.  CTI welcomes lay men and women, and I would certainly like to welcome more, but it remains overwhelming a place where future ministers of the Church are educated.  You must surely be aware that many criticisms are made of our priests these days – and often by good Catholic men and women. They speak not only of the failure of those who abandon the ministry, but also of some others who, while remaining priests, neglect their duties, sleeping in when they should be offering Mass, who will not listen to the laity, or who have developed a “big man” mentality.  In short, they have ceased to evangelise, and fail even to fulfil their duties towards their parishioners. Of course there are others who speak of fine and dedicated priests with warmth and affection.

Naturally bishops and laity alike look first to the formators to ask how we can avoid the negative  attitudes developing, and encourage the positive.  Now it is true that CTI is an academic institution, and the onus falls first on the formators in the seminaries and congregations to tackle this – but it is also true that negative attitudes must be tackled, and positive attitudes fostered, in the academic setting.  Staff and students alike must feel safe, respected and listened to.  The student who is lazy in his academic work may well be lazy in his pastoral work too.  The student who is disrespectful to a female student or teacher will probably have problems relating to women anywhere. The student who cannot accept the authority of his teacher, Dean or President will probably have problems with his bishop.

What I am saying here is that as a community of believers seeking to understand our world through philosophy and our faith through theology, we must live the gospel we profess, and model it to each other in our lives. Because we are weak human beings, this is always a challenge; but, like Fr Joseph before me, I will do everything I can to promote a truly Christian spirit at CTI in the coming years.

With these few words, I wish to congratulate each and every one of the students graduating today.  I know that many of you have overcome great obstacles to reach this day.  You should be rightly proud, as I am sure your families are proud of you.  And for those many of you who will be returning to CTI for theology, I say I am very much looking forward to working with you to achieve even more.
 
God bless you.

CTI is committed to following the directives of the PNG Government.

Following current guidance, CTI's campus has a no mask, no entry policy, and those coming in from outside will be subject to a temperature check. A handwashing sink is available for your use outside the library and hand sanitizer is provided throughout the campus.

  Most Rev John Ribat MSC,  Arch-bishop of Port Moresby, Most Rev. Don Lippert OFM Cap., Bishop of Mendi, our Graduation Speaker this morning, Rt Rev. Peter Ramsden, Anglican Bishop of Port Moresby, Fr Ben Fleming MSC, Vicar General of the Diocese of Port Moresby and Chairman of the Rectors' Board, Fr Peter Artiken, Rector of Holy Spirit Seminary, Fr Zenon Szablowinski SVD, Dean of CTI, Distinguished Guests, Rectors of associated colleges, and faculty of CTI, clergy, religious brothers and sisters, graduating students and their families and friends, students and friends of CTI

I now acknowledge our 37 students graduating today. This is a very special day for each one of you, for your families, your friends and for all of us who have been part of your life and, in particular, have been part of your academic progress to this point.

This year it is a great pleasure for me to witness three of our Anglican priest-brothers graduating: Br Oswald Dumbari, Provincial Minister, Order of St Francis, graduating with the Diploma in Religious Studies and Fr George Kasme and Fr Luscomb Bera, graduating with the Advanced Diploma of Religious Studies. Congratulations to the three of you.

Also I would like to single out for special mention another one of our graduating students, Mr Alfred Kaiabe. Alfred, a practising lawyer, is graduating today with the Diploma in Religious Studies. He began his studies in 2003. But his many commitments over the years have meant that his academic journey has been a slow and deliberate one. Congratulations, Alfred, both for persevering with your studies over those many years and for meriting the Diploma in Religious Studies.

To all our graduating students, may the diplomas and degrees you receive today be a reminder of your preparedness to contribute to both the life of the Church and the wider community in the coming years.

Today brings to a close our Golden Jubilee year of HSS-CTI. Holy Spirit Seminary celebrated over the long weekend from Friday 23rd August till Sunday the 25th August. The late Bishop Tony Burgess joined us on this occasion while knowing that he had only a short time to live. He passed away just two months later on the morning of October 23rd. Also, sadly, we recall the death of Bishop Patrick Taval MSC, a graduate of this institute and a member of its Governing Council when he passed away in April, a few weeks after the CBC General Assembly. We remembered them both in our Liturgy this morning.

CTI’s own day given to the Golden Jubilee celebrations was Friday 26th June, CTI Day. There were many highlights of that day, if I could name two: the dialogue, after the community meal, with the students and Archbishop Ribat, Bishops Rochus Tatamia, John Doaninowel and Bernard Una-bali. The other highlight for me, was the Singkai lecture delivered by Fr Jurgen Ommerborn SVD, entitled, “the Early Academic Development of the Holy Spirit Seminary – the Roots of CTI”.

Another important event that I want to highlight this year was the Seminar “Social Networks: Portals of Truth And Faith; New Spaces For Evangelization” organzed by Fr Giorgio Licini PIME, secretary to the Catholic Bishops Conference for Social Communications. We plan to have a further seminar on social communications in 2014.

You may have noticed scaffolding around the building opposite the CTI Library. In this Jubilee Year our staff residence, Vangeke House, is in the process of undergoing renovations. I want to publicly thank two funding agencies for their support of this work: Missio Munich and Church in Need, Konigstein.

Farewelling Staff

This year we farewell Sr Elizabeth Dowling RSM. Sr Elizabeth has only been with us for a term, but we are most thankful for her contribution to campus life. We wish you well, Sr Elizabeth, in your future academic work at the Australian Catholic University, Ballarat Campus.

Brian Gleeson CP left us in early October after a demanding five-week lecturing schedule. We are also most grateful for his significant contribution this year to CTI.

We also farewell, for a one year sabbatical, Fr Fredy Jehadin SVD. Thank you Fr Fredy for your contribution to CTI over the past few year. We wish you well during your period of renewal in Melbourne, Australia and we hope to see you back at CTI in 2015.

Though they are not lecturers at CTI, we farewell Fr Peter Miria, Vice-Rector of HSS and Fr Arthur Boland OFM. Fr Peter has been with us these last three years. Fr Arthur is returning to Australia after spending forty eight years in PNG.

Finally, we farewell Fr Peter Artiken, Rector of Holy Spirit Seminary. Fr Peter has been associated with Holy Spirit Seminary, first as Vice-Rector, then as Rector, for the last thirteen years. Thank you Fr Peter for your support over the past six years. On behalf of the CTI community I wish you well in your future ministry.

I would like to thank the following for their contributions to CTI this year: the Governing Council, the Rectors Board, the Faculty Board, the Academic Dean, Fr Zenon Szablowinski, Elias Zambra, SRC President and the rest of the outgoing SRC executive. Finally I would like to thank the ancillary staff for its contribution to the daily life of CTI.

I now wish everyone a fruitful end of year break and a peaceful Christmas. Thank you very much for your attention this morning.

Fr David Willis OP

President
Catholic Theological Institute

16 November, 2013

Holy Spirit Seminary, the largest formation institution for diocesan seminarians in PNG, celebrated its Golden Jubilee at its Bomana Campus from Friday 23rd till Sunday 25th August. The weekend was well attended and was filled with music, dancing, speeches and Masses. By Sunday evening there were a lot of tired but happy faces on the seminary grounds. Celebrations got under way on Friday afternoon when the Kivori Poe village people presented traditional dancing at the spot where classes were held after the seminary transferred from Madang in the late nineteen sixties.

The highlight of Saturday morning’s celebrations was the Golden Jubilee Mass celebrated by Archbishop Ribat MSC. Concelebrants included the newly appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, His Excellency Michael Barach, Archbishop Young and Bishops Burgess and Blouin. A good number of priests, religious and laity all took part in the Mass. Speeches followed and then the rest of the day was celebrated in traditional style with dancing and musical entertainment. Archbishop Young was the celebrant at Sunday morning Mass and afterrwards traditional dancing continued from the Siassi , Nabupaka, Kivori Poe communities and others. At the conclusion of the Mass Bp Blouin presented to Holy Spirit Seminary a First Class Relic of St John Vianny, Curé of Ars and the patron saint of parish priests, accepted with appreciation by Abp Young on behalf of the Rector, Fr Peter Artiken.

Fr Peter Miria, the chairman of the Jubilee Organizing Committee, and himself a member of one of the early group of seminarians – he began his studies at Holy Spirit Seminary in 1968 - was delighted with the weekend. “It has given us an opportunity to thank God for his blessings over the past fifty years and to acknowledge and thank so many bishops, priests and laity who continue to support us. We look forward with confidence to the seminary’s future years.” Fr Peter Artiken, himself a student at the seminary in the mid 1980s, also expressed his satisfaction with the weekend and thanked the organizers and all who attended. He too, expressed his thanks to benefactors and all who helped organize the weekend. The weekend events were the culmination of many years of planning. Fr David Willis, the president of Catholic Theological Institute, the institution responsible for the academic formation for seminarians, gave a brief outline of the seminary’s history.

“It began in 1963 at Kap, Madang. In that year there were about thirty students from various regions of the country: Manus Island, Bougainville, Yule Island, Wewak, Goroka and four students were from the Solomon Islands. In 1965 the bishops decided to transfer Holy Spirit Seminary to Bomana, thus establishing one major seminary in the country for clerical religious and seminarians, staffed by MSC and SVD priests. Over time other religious orders built houses on the seminary campus.”

Many development have taken place over the years, Fr Willis commented, especially since the early nineties with the emergence of other seminaries in PNG and the Solomon Islands, and the establishment of Catholic Theological Institute in 1999, but today’s celebration is an important milestone for the Catholic Church in this country.”

- Fr David Willis, O.P.
President of CTI

Saturday, 17 November 2012

Most Rev John Ribat, Most Rev. Rochus Tatamai, distinguished guests, Rectors and Faculty of CTI, Fathers, Brothers, Sisters, graduating students and their families and friends, students and friends of CTI,

I especially acknowledge today the Graduating students of 2012. This is a very special day for you, for your families, your friends and, indeed, for all of us who have been part of your academic progress to this point.

This year and next brings us to a period of anniversaries. 2012, in particular, has been a significant anniversary year for the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. Fifty years ago, in 1962 De Boismenu Seminary came into existence, and so on October 6th this year the MSCs commemorated its Golden Jubilee. The occasion was marked by the celebration of Mass, followed by lunch and cultural presentations. Bishop Taval, a past student of De Boismenus College, as it is now called, was the main celebrant, and amongst the dignitaries present was the Superior General of the MSC’s Very Rev. Fr. Mark McDonald and the Deputy Prime Minister of PNG, the Rt Hon. Leo Dion. Congratulations from all of us go to Fr Ben Fleming, the present Rector of the College, and to his MSC confreres for their contribution, first to Holy Spirit Seminary, and since 1999, to Catholic Theological Institute.

Holy Spirit Seminary began its Golden Jubilee celebrations this year which will conclude next year for on March 1st 1963 Holy Spirit Seminary came into existence at Kap, near Madang, staffed by the Society of the Divine Word. In 1968 it moved to Bomana, and De Boismenu Seminary affiliated to it. 1st March 2013 therefore will be a significant date for Fr Peter Artiken, Rector of Holy Spirit Seminary, and its staff and seminarians. It will also be a significant day for the Society of the Divine Word under whose auspices Holy Spirit Seminary came into existence. These are the celebrations of the two foundational entities from which CTI came to be in 1999 and thus are therefore profoundly significant for Catholic Theological Institute itself.

2012 has also been notable for the completion of two new buildings on campus. The Capuchin Friars have transformed their old friary into a fine building and the Dominicans have added a wing to their present college. My congratulations to the rectors of the two colleges: Fr Jonathan Williams and Fr Martin Wallace.

This year we farewell three lecturers, Frs Justin Eke, Ben Madden and Tom McDonough: I Thank Fr Justin for his contribution to CTI over the past 4 years. Fr Justin will undertake post graduate studies in Rome in the near future. Fr Ben Madden returns early next year to the United States, having spent over 50 years in PNG, including a number of years lecturing at CTI. Fr Tom McDonough leaves us at the end of this academic year as has been elected provincial of the Australian province of the Passionists. We congratulate him on his election and wish him well in his new role. We hope to see him from time to time when he comes to PNG on visitation. Today we also farewell Fr Kiade Rayalu, Rector of Marist College. I thank him for his contribution to CTI over the past 3 years and wish him well in his new appointment that will take him to New Caledonia.

CTI has enjoyed a long association with the Anglican Church in PNG and it is a great pleasure for me to witness today two of our Anglican brothers graduating with the Diploma in Religious Studies, Fr George Kasme and Fr Luscomb Bera. Congratulations to you both.

On a sad note I mention the recent deaths of two past students of CTI, Fr Toma’ Akino Lakai SM from Tonga and Mr Chris Ulena from Buka. They died in the same car accident on Buka just a few days ago. We prayed for them at our Eucharist this morning and I offer my condolences to Fr Kiade and the Marist community. May Toma and Chris rest in peace.

On a happier note, I would like to thank the following for their contributions to CTI this year: the Governing Council, the Rectors Board, the Faculty Board, the Academic Dean, Fr Zenon Szablowinski, the outgoing SRC executive and, last but not least, the ancillary staff. Amongst the ancillary staff I want to single out, Mrs Dulcie Siriman who is retiring after working for ten years at CTI. Our thanks to Dulcie for her long years of service to CTI in administration. We wish her every blessing and success in her future endeavors.

Finally, dear graduating students, may the diplomas and degrees you receive today be a reminder to you of your preparedness to contribute generously to both the life of the Church and the wider community in the coming years.

I now wish everyone a fruitful end of year break and a peaceful Christmas. Thank you very much.

Fr David Willis OP.
[President, Catholic Theological Institute]