St. Michaels Catholic Church

Have you ever wondered why this street is called Champion Parade? It’s named after the first Catholic mission in the area. In 1882, three Catholic priests from the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) went ashore at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Port Moresby. It was the feast day of the Holy Archangel Michael – September 29th. This day is remembered as the official founding of the Sacred Heart Mission in the Pacific. The priests brought with them the faith and hope to a land where Catholicism was yet to take root. Their arrival was a turning point in the history of the Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea. You see, before that day, the history of the Church here was marked by hardship and sacrifice. Early attempts to establish a permanent missionary presence were unsuccessful. The first Catholic mass on the Louisiade Islands in 1606 was celebrated during Torres’s expedition. However, this was only an isolated incident, without any long-lasting impact. But the MSC’s mission in Port Moresby took hold, and the Catholic faith steadily grew and flourished. Though many churches in Papua New Guinea were damaged or destroyed by bombs during World War II, St. Michaels Catholic Church stands as a testament to the resilience of the Catholic community. This church continues to play a vital role as a spiritual center in the community. It’s a place of solace where faith is strengthened and generations are brought closer to the Divine.