By Vasinatta Yama – EM TV News, Port Moresby
To symbolise change and the beginning of a new year, inmates at Bomana Correctional Service planted a ‘tanget’ today.
The Christmas mass today was led by the Catholic inmates and Port Moresby Archdiocese, Archbishop John Ribat as the main celebrant.
In attendance were family members of the prisoners and CS staff, as well as other parishes in the National Capital District.
Everyone braved the rain to receive the word of God from Archbishop John Ribat.
After the Holy mass, the archbishop launched 2016, the ‘Year of Mercy of God’ as in the Catholic calendar.
He then blessed the ‘tanget’ as a symbol of change and devotion by the inmates.
A petition was presented to the Archbishop by the inmates, to have a permanent priest at Bomana.
The tanget will also remind them of the Year of Mercy.
The Catholic inmates also requested for the Catholic Church to put in their calendar, a ‘Prison Sunday’, mandatory for all the Catholics to visit inmates in the Country, when this day falls.
Correctional Service Commissioner, Michael Waipo, also announced that the Commission is putting emphasis on Christian rehabilitation, in terms of having a permanent chaplain.
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