{"id":2491336,"date":"2026-07-07T04:56:57","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T04:56:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2491336"},"modified":"2026-07-07T04:56:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T04:56:57","slug":"sacred-music-lifts-hearts-in-papua-new-guinea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/sacred-music-lifts-hearts-in-papua-new-guinea\/","title":{"rendered":"Sacred music lifts hearts in Papua New Guinea"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Locals attend the sacred music workshops in the Diocese of Mendi, Papua New Guinea. Photo: Supplied.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the mist-covered mountains of Papua New Guinea\u2019s southern highlands, birdsong and rushing creeks form part of the daily soundtrack. <\/span>For one week, another sound joined them as Gregorian chant echoed through the Diocese of Mendi.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Seven Australian musicians and composers travelled to the remote diocese to share the church\u2019s ancient musical tradition with priests, seminarians and lay faithful. <\/span>The Diocese of Mendi serves about 90,000 Catholics across 31 parishes and more than 300 outstations scattered throughout the Southern Highlands and Hela Province.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bishop Donald Francis Lippert OFM Cap invited the Sydney-based group in the hope of strengthening sacred music in the diocese and preparing a delegation for the International Eucharistic Congress, Eucharist28, to be held in Sydney in 2028. <\/span>Although the team spent a week in Papua New Guinea, the mountainous terrain meant they had just three days in Mendi to conduct five workshops.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The sessions covered the chants of the Mass, the priest\u2019s sung responses and Benediction hymns using the newly compiled\u00a0<\/span>Let\u2019s\u00a0Sing to Jesus<\/span><\/i> resource from the Jubilate Deo\u00a0<\/span>Programme.<\/span> Each day concluded with sung Vespers in the Cathedral of Mary Mother of the Divine <\/span>Shepherd, culminating in solemn Benediction.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Jubilate Deo founder Ronan Reilly first met Bishop Lippert in 2017 after sharing stories of earlier chant mission trips to Wewak. <\/span>The pair remained in contact before arranging the Mendi visit to coincide with the diocese\u2019s annual priests\u2019 retreat.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis trip has been a long time in the making,\u201d Reilly said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBishop Donald is a wonderful man with a great love for bringing the beauty of our faith to his flock.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Locals from the Diocese of Mendi take part in sacred music workshops led by seven Australian musicians and composers. The workshops introduced priests, seminarians and parishioners to the church\u2019s ancient liturgical chant. Photo: Supplied.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThese workshops in the music of the church helped deepen the experience and participation of the priests and faithful of the diocese.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have drawn great inspiration in this work, especially from the story of Paula, the wife of Blessed Peter\u00a0To\u00a0Rot, who dreamt of her husband after his martyrdom wearing clean white robes and singing with a group of beautiful children.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe hope to continue that catechetical work of Blessed Peter To Rot and help many more people join in the hymn of the angels in heaven: \u2018Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus \u2026\u2019\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sydney composer Nathan Culshaw said he was deeply moved by the enthusiasm and musical ability of those who attended.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wish all choirs were that enthusiastic,\u201d said Culshaw, a former student of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBecause they are such musical people, they were able to harmonise over ancient chants like the\u00a0<\/span>Kyrie<\/span><\/i>\u00a0and the\u00a0<\/span>Agnus Dei<\/span><\/i>\u00a0without any prompting.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEven when we went for dinner, we could hear them continuing to practise in the church hall.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHearing the congregation sing the ancient chants so confidently was a real joy. It was an honour to teach them the song of the church, and I truly received more than I gave.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For many participants, the workshops became far more than a music lesson. <\/span>Seminarian Taitus had not intended to attend. Busy with other duties, he happened to walk past the hall where the workshops were being held and was drawn inside by the sound of the singing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey are so beautiful,\u201d he said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Sydney composer Nathan Culshaw said he was deeply moved by the enthusiasm and musical ability of those who attended.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Photo: Supplied.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI never thought our people could sing like that. I never imagined that I could even sing like that.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cathedral chorist Cathy Mawoi said the workshops were too short, while Sr Francisca FSM said she had never heard music like it before and felt as though her soul was singing. <\/span>The impact continued well after the Australian visitors had returned home.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

About a week after the workshops, Bishop Lippert was walking back to his house after several days without electricity when he heard \u201ca pure young voice, out of the darkness, beautifully chanting the\u00a0<\/span>Kyrie<\/span><\/i>\u00a0from\u00a0<\/span>Orbis Factor<\/span><\/i>.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For Culshaw, that moment summed up the lasting fruit of the mission.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are hopeful that, with ongoing support, sacred music will take root in the beautiful\u00a0<\/span>mountains of the Diocese of Mendi,\u201d he said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe hope it will help the next generation enter more deeply into the prayer of the church and that one day they will come to Australia for Eucharist28 and sing the Benediction chants with us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n