On Basilaki Island in Papua New Guinea, the women of the parish bring prayer, companionship, and the Eucharist to the sick and elderly during the Lenten season. Celebrating the Women’s month of March, we remember those who serve the Church in the peripheries.
Fr. JR Arreza, a Rogationist missionary and parish priest of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Sideia-Alotau, Papua New Guinea, shared how the women of St. Joseph Parish Basilaki have been giving a powerful witness of faith through service and compassion.
“The women have always been active in the community life of the parish,” Fr. JR said. “They promote unity and empowerment through different activities and livelihood programs. But during this Lenten season, they decided to deepen their faith by putting into practice the Corporal Works of Mercy, especially by visiting the sick and the elderly across the island.”
A journey of sacrifice
Fr. JR explained that the women’s mission requires dedication and sacrifice. “Many of the homes they visit are in remote areas,” he said. “To reach them, the women often walk for two to three hours along narrow paths across the island.”
Despite the distance and difficulty, he said, the women willingly make the journey. “They spend time listening to the sick, praying with them, and sharing simple food. Their presence brings comfort and reminds the elderly and the sick that they are not forgotten.”
Bringing the Eucharist to the sick
After several weeks of these visits, the women shared their outreach with Fr. JR. “When they told me about what they were doing, I was deeply inspired by their dedication,” Fr. JR said. Wanting to support their mission of mercy, he accompanied them on one of their visits.
“Together we visited at least eight sick parishioners,” he recalled. “We spent time with them, prayed together, and I had the joy of bringing them the Eucharist.” For many of the sick who live far from the church, receiving Holy Communion again was a moment of great joy and gratitude.
Faith lived through mercy
Fr. JR expressed his deep appreciation for the women who faithfully organize and carry out these visits. “I am very grateful to these women,” he said. “
Through their compassion and dedication, they provide moral, physical, and spiritual support to those who are most in need.” Their quiet yet powerful service, he added, is a reminder that faith truly comes alive when it is lived through acts of mercy and love.
