Deacon Wilfred Salhun will be ordained a priest on 29th August 2020 at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Vunapope, Kokop, Rabaul, ENBP, PNG by his Grace Emeritus Archbishop Francesco Panfilo (SDB). Here is a short reflection of his priestly journey:

I desired so much to become a priest so here is my personal reflection of the past years of my journey up to this stage of preparation for my priestly ordination.

My baptized name is WILFRED KURAIP and was confirmed PETER CHANEL. My surname is SALHUN. I come from a family of seven, four boys and three girls. My parents Joseph Salhun and Mary Vavonot (the late) were married sacramentally. My father comes from the Pomio District, from a St. Columba Parish Uvol. My mother comes from the East New Britain Province in the Gazelle area along the North Coast Road from a place called Ramalmal (St. John the Baptist Parish) with a totally different custom and language from that of my father.

I was born on the 26th of June 1979 and grew up in my mother’s place and thus was well acquainted with my mother’s customs and traditions. I did my primary school education at Ramalmal Primary School (grade 1 – 6) from 1988 to 1993. I went on to the high school at Saint Mary’s Vuvu – Vunakanau, a boys school (grade 7 – 10) from 1994 to 1997. Then I went further on to Kerevat National High School were I attended grade 11 and 12 from 1998 – 1999. I came to Lae in 2005 and stayed for two years. During my time in Lae, I became a parishioner of Saint Patrick Parish in Tent City/Bumayong. In 2008 I did a propaedeutic year at the minor seminary of Saint Fidelis, Alexishafen, Madang Province and this was the beginning of my seminary and religious journey.

I did my philosophical studies at the Catholic Theologucal Institute philosophical (Bomana, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea) from 2009 to 2011 and graduated with an advanced Diploma in Philosophy and Religious Studies. After my pastoral year at Saint Michael’s Parish Lae diocese in 2012, I went back for a year of theology at the Catholic Theological Institute in 2013. Then I went for my novitiate year to Africa in Mariannhill Monastery South Africa in 2014. I made my first profession and thus became a member of the Congregation of the Missionaries of Mariannhill on February 2nd, 2015.

In December 2015 I was transferred to Zambia to continue my Theological studies and graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Theology in 2018 at St. Dominic’s Major Seminary which is affiliated to the Pontifical Urban University in Rome.

I was ordained as a deacon in May 2019 at St. Dominic’s Major Seminary in Lusaka, Zambia and continued doing pastoral work in the samd country of Zambia in Lusaka, at Saint Stephen Parish, Chunga.

At the beginning of this year 2020 ( in March), I travelled back home to Papua New Guinea to prepare for my priestly ordination.

As the day draws near to priestly ordination, I am taken back to keep the period between 2000 – 2007. This was really a period of discerning me; it was a time to trial through opportunities. It was a period of deep contemplation and reasoning about life. And I did, I felt that something was not satisfying and fulfilling in life, I feelt that something was missing and I could not figure it out up until I tried out seminary and religious life. I have now embraced religious life and clerical life as a member of the Mariannhill Missionaries and a deacon of the Catholic Church respectively.

I have come to know that life can only be fulfilling when we follow our hearts desires and when we hold a noble and precious duty. For me being a priest, yes this is it and that is – loving and serving the Almighty God really fulfills me. I still feel call to serve God in every moment of my life, even now as I share this with you.

The call of prophet Jeremiah (chapter 1) inspired me a lot in discerning my priestly vocation at the age of 7. I have tried in so many way to suppress this feeling in me. At times I felt timid and nervous but then over the years I have gained confidencr and determination that this is going to be my life for rest of my life. I still feel the desire to serve God.

The gospel of Matthew (5:13 – 14) inspires me: “You are salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled under people’s feet. You are light for the world. A city build on a hill-top cannot be hidden.”