By Sr. Joy Agudera, OND

I work as youth coordinator in Papua New Guinea. I’ve been planning for ages to write a short article but somehow the “mañana” habit prevailed. We’re always eager to see the latest issue of the Misyon Magazine because it gives us renewed inspiration to continue working as missionaries of God’s word. It also gives us a sense of solidarity...that we are not nag-iisa” in trying to share the Word of God amidst strange people in a foreign land.

Male Dominated Society
Since we belong to a male dominated society, I always encounter raised eyebrows when I introduce myself as the youth coordinator of Port Moresby Archdiocese. I’m the only female youth coordinator in the country. I sometimes have a clash of wills with my youth leaders who are all male. Youths here are not unmarried youth in our country. Here they can be a grandfather and still they call themselves youth. Most of my youth leaders are married. There’s even one now who has a balding head and been married for a long time and yet calls himself a youth. One time I encounter Willy, one of the active leaders. He was telling me tat he was not accepted for the army because he was over age. I asked him, what age is he. He said, he’s already 45 years old. I smiled to myself, if he consider himself a youth then I can still consider myself youth too.

Youth Peace Day
What I have doing these past years? My main concern is the training of youth leaders. I have been organizing seminars, prayer, rallies, recollection, retreats, sportdays, Catholic Youth Days with the hope that they will embody some Christian values in their lives and be a leaven to the society.
Last year, we organized youth groups to join us. We marched through the city streets praying the rosary and singing hymns for the intention of peace especially in the City of Port Moresby. A curfew was imposed last year for 7 months in order to curve the growing lawlessness in the city. Nobody dares to go out at night. Even those inside the house are not safe, the rascals can break in and get what they want. We’re trying to instill into the minds of these young people, the love of God and respect for other human being.

Terrifying Trip
We had our first National Catholic Youth pilgrimage last August to Rabaul. All the mainland delegates had to ride a boat. The boat ride of 2 days was terrifying...it really became a spiritual pilgrimage. We were praying all the time that we’ll be spared from capsizing. I doubled my prayers since I know that we don’t have insurance for all these people. Were planning to buy some insurance but on the last minute, we didn’t have the funds. We went visit and pray at the tomb of St. Peter Torot, a Papua New Guinean catechist who died during World War II defending the faith. We prayed too that he’ll intercede for PNG in these times of crisis. We joined too the Pope and all the youth representatives in Poland. It was during this time that they had the Pilgrimage to the Black Madonna. There were about 250 youth leaders who attended this pilgrimage. As usual my skills and experience as a youth coordinator were tested by a male dominant group. Every time they called for the youth coordinator, one of my youth leaders would forward and claim the position. I have a feeling they don’t want to accept the fact they have a “female” youth coordinator. What can I do? We’ve been a long way to go before we women can be accepted. But we’ll get there. Patience and perseverance.

Fr. Nolan, I think I have written plenty already and I’m afraid Fr. O’Brien will have a hard time in performing “plastic surgery with this, I’ll end here. I won’t be answerable if he gets ‘longlong’ (pidgin word for crazy).

“We’ve long way to go before we women can be accepted. But we’ll get there”