Congregation, Korean Foreign Mission Sisters and our own Franciscan Sisters of Mary. All have served with great faith, compassion and commitment as teachers, nurses or pastoral workers. Since the early days of the Catholic Church in the Southern Highlands dozens of lay missionary helpers from different countries have contributed to the establishment and growth of the Church in the Diocese of Mendi. The first lay missionaries in a long list of overseas lay helpers were Fidelis Miltenberger and his wife Josephine. Newly married the couple arrived in 1956 and worked for several years in the mission. Fidelis was a pilot and the brother of Fr. Stanley. Lay missionaries, serving as teachers, health care providers, pilots, mechanics, carpenters, electricians and pastoral workers have given invaluable service to the Church in the Diocese of Mendi. Thousands of friends and benefactors from all over the world have contributed spiritually and materially to the evangelization of the Southern Highlands. Foremost among these are the people who support the Seraphic Mass Association (SMA) or Capuchin Mission Office, established decades ago by the Capuchins of the Pennsylvania Province to offer generous friends the opportunity to share in the establishment and growth of the Catholic Church in the Southern Highlands. Fr. Cecil Nally OFM Cap. began this work and was later joined by his brother Fr. Don Nally OFM Cap. Today the Capuchin Mission Office, with its staff of dedicated lay men and women under the direction of Fr. Francis Fugini OFM Cap., continues to provide the Diocese of Mendi with its main financial support. Many individuals and parish groups in America and other countnes pray for the Mendi mission and donate money to continue the work of evangelization and social ministry even today. These people will surly be blessed for their generosity. During our Golden Jubilee Year, we are embarking on a year of pastoral renewal in the Mendi Diocese. Basing our renewal on the vision, mission and priorities of the Church in PNG as enunciated by the General Assembly of the Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea and endorsed by the Catholic Bishops of PNG we the Catholic people of the Southern Highlands, in Union with all the Catholic people of this country, wish to proclaim, "We, the Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea, are alive in Christ, witnessing the love of God in the world." Please pray for us during our jubilee year. Bishop