The choir and Roro dancers featured alongside students from St Joseph’s Nudgee College at a Papua New Guinea Independence celebration in Boondall on September 6.
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Held at Our Lady Help of Christians Chapel, the event brought together Brisbane’s Papua New Guinea community for an Independence Mass celebrating 51 years of PNG independence. Nudgee College students joined students from Stuartholme College in the opening ceremony, while the choir and Roro dancers also took part in the liturgy.
The choir and Roro dancers participated in the procession and presentation of gifts during the Mass. In his homily, PNG community chaplain Carmelite Father Paul Sireh reflected on how communities can respond when relationships become strained.
Concelebrating the Mass with Passionist Father Tony Simbel, Father Sireh discussed traditional approaches to conflict resolution in Melanesian cultures. He explained that mediation, compensation and other traditional processes have been used to address disputes, with the aim of restoring harmony and social relationships.
Father Sireh said the emphasis was on bringing people and groups back together rather than focusing solely on punishment. He connected those ideas with the Gospel of Matthew 18:15-20, which considers relationships within the Christian community and how people should respond when divisions arise.
He also reflected on the challenges that can arise within Christian communities and the need to maintain relationships when divisions occur. The homily also turned to family life. As it was Father’s Day in Australia, Father Sireh spoke about the role of fathers and the importance of honouring parents.
The Mass was followed by lunch featuring roast pork, a variety of PNG cuisine and cakes. PNG Brisbane and Gold Coast Catholic Community leader Emilia Taatu described the gathering as a joyful celebration of the Eucharist.
Students from Nudgee College and Stuartholme College participated in the opening ceremony as part of the community’s Independence celebration.
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The event brought together the chapel service, student participation, the choir and Roro dancers, and a shared meal as the community celebrated 51 years of Papua New Guinea’s independence.
Featured image credit: Facebook/PNG Brisbane & Gold Coast Catholic Community
Published 11-September-2026
