Faith and legacy build a chapel: Bunum-wo community alters worship with new Divine Mercy Center

What once stood as a humble make-shift [kunai] shelter for worship has now become a beacon of faith and progress in the highlands through a bold act of local leadership and spiritual commitment.

On Saturday, the Bunum-wo Catholic community in Jiwaka witnessed the official opening of the Divine Mercy Pastoral Center, a purpose-built chapel that now replaces years of makeshift devotion.

Archbishop Dr. Clement Papa of the Mt. Hagen Diocese led the dedication ceremony, blessing the new building with prayers and liturgy. He called the new chapel a powerful symbol of what faith, unity, and visionary leadership can achieve.

“This is not just a building,” Archbishop Papa said. “It is the fruit of faith, sacrifice, and leadership, and it will stand as a foundation for future generations.”

The chapel was funded and built by Thaddeus Turi, chief executive of the Jiwaka Provincial Health Authority, and his family, in memory of his late father, Thomas Kinah, who was deeply committed to the Catholic Church.

“This center is a tribute to my father’s life of service and a call for spiritual renewal, social peace, and moral leadership in our communities,” Turi said.

The Archbishop praised the Turi family and the Numanz-Bunum-wo community for taking ownership of their faith and demonstrating what grassroots leadership looks like in action. He urged more communities to follow their example and invest in spiritual infrastructure as a path to peace and unity.

The event also marked the 25th silver jubilee wedding anniversary of Mr. Turi and his wife Alexia Nina Turi, and included sacraments of matrimony, baptism, and adult Christian initiation for members of the family, turning the occasion into a celebration of faith across generations.