Port Moresby, PNG, 6 April 2018 — Young Japanese Salesian, Cl. Philip Tsutsumi reached Papua New Guinea last April 5, 2018 for his first year of practical training. During first two weeks he will stay in the Port Moresby (East Boroko) provincial house for his initial orientation offered to all incoming missionaries to the Viceprovince according the PNG and Solomon Islands (PGS) provincial directory.

With the welcoming words the PGS Provincial Fr. Alfred Maravilla assures: “I hope that this 8 months long missionary experience (until December 9, 2018) with the accompaniment of Araimiri community rector will help to assess the missionary vocation of our young confrere. We are only a small Viceprovince with very few personnel. But we are very happy to offer this service of accompaniment and assesment (finalizing the missionary vocation discernment for the Congregation. Thanks for your trust in us!”

The missionary vocation journey of Cl. Tsutsumi started already long time ago during his high school studies, when his parish priest brought group of Catholic students for exposure to Thailand. And also few weeks of his novitiate shared in the international and multicultural environment of Cebu (2015) contributed to the growth of missionary vision. After two years of his postnovitiate formation the province of Japan send Philip to PGS viceprovince to confirm his missionary vocation ad gentes.