When the Divine Word Missionaries arrived in Papua New Guinea 110+ years ago the conditions they encountered where tough, the climate often unbearable. The average life of a missionary in the early period was only four years. Malaria and yellow fever were the most common killers. New missions stations were opened along the coast and later, in the 1950s, in the Highlands.
At present Divine Word Missionaries work in the archdioceses of Madang, Mount Hagen and Port Moresby, and in the diceses of Wewak, Kundiawa, Wabag and Goroka. Divine Word Missionary Bishops now serve in Madang, Kundiawa, Wabag, Goroka, and two in Mount Hagan.
Fr. Philip Gibbs SVD
shares his missionary journey, ministry and work amongst the people of Papua New Guinea.