The weather was fine; there was plenty of sunshine, some clouds were floating in the sky, and refreshing breeze was moving the air. A place was prepared for celebration in front of Kefamo Church, next to the Pastoral Center. An altar placed on elevated platform with the roof overhead. In front of that platform was a huge tent equipped with seats for the people. On both sides were places covered with canvas, for the musicians and the priests.

The Bishops and priests gathered inside the church to put on their vestments. Shortly after 10am Fr. Adam Samsel, MSF, who was the Master of Ceremony for that day, explained to those present the reminders and the order of the procession, which would open the celebration. The singsing group from Tafeto parish led the procession with several Asaro mud men at the head. They were followed by altar boys and girls, acolytes, and the Deacon with the Book of Gospels. The priests and Bishops were next. At the end were the Bishops consecrators; Cardinal John Ribat, Archbishop Douglas Young and Bishop Darius Kaluza. (Bishop Darius was the previous Bishop of Goroka. He was appointed Bishop of Bougainville in November 2020 and since then Fr. Paul Liwun was elected Administrator of the Diocese.) The people who gathered at Kefamo joyfully awaited the consecration of the new Bishop for Goroka. They waited for his appointment and consecration for quite some time.

Bishop-elect Valentine walked between the priests and Bishops flanked by SVD PNG Provincial Superior, Fr. Jose Orathinkal and Fr. Bogdan Cofalic, MSF. Bishop-elect Valentine was wearing creamy chasuble with SVD logo at the back and stylized cross in front. Those were embroidered in the material with golden thread. This chasuble was a gift from Bp Jerzy Mazur, SVD on the occasion of the 125 jubilee year of SVD PNG Province, since the beginning of SVD mission in Papua New Guinea.

On reaching the altar the Bishops climbed the steps to the platform; the priests were allocated the place at the ground level on the right side of the altar. Bishop-elect Valentine remained among the priests for time being. Cardinal Ribat began the Eucharistic celebration as he was the main celebrant. The language used in the liturgy was Melanesian Pidgin. After the readings and the Gospel, the Master of Ceremony announced that the Ritual of Consecration of Bishop-elect Valentine began. The hymn to the Holy Spirit was sung. Then Fr. Jose Orathinkal, SVD Provincial Superior, Fr Paul Liwun, the Diocesan Administrator and the MSC Provincial, Chairman of the Major Religious Superiors of PNG, led Fr. Valentine up the steps to Cardinal Ribat. Next, Fr. Paul Liwun asked the Cardinal to consecrate Fr. Valentine Gryk as Bishop of Goroka. The Cardinal requested the Administrator to read the Holy Father’s letter of appointment of Fr. Valentine Gryk as Bishop of Goroka. The Latin text of the Pope’s letter was translated into Pidgin and the Administrator read it for all to hear. Afterwards he showed the original papal letter to Cardinal Ribat and to all people.

Then Archbishop Douglas Young, SVD, Archbishop of Mt. Hagen gave a homily. He spoke about faith and explained how the faith of the apostles is passed on from generation to generation. He said that on the eve of today’s celebration, he and Cardinal Ribat met with Father Valentine in the Chapel of the Kefamo Conference Centre to question him about his faith. His answers assured them that it is the same faith of the Catholic Church handed down to us through the generations. Bishop Douglas also acknowledged all the Bishops who have served in the Diocese of Goroka since its founding and said that Father Valentine’s faith is the same faith believed and preached by his predecessors.

After the homily, Cardinal Ribat, asked Father Valentine about his faith and his willingness to teach that faith and serve the faithful as their Bishop. To all the Cardinal’s questions Father Valentine answered: “Yes, I am ready to do this.” Then Father Valentine prostrated himself before the altar and the congregation sang the Litany of All Saints.

Now Father Valentine knelt before the Cardinal Ribat and the Cardinal silently placed his hands on his head. All the Bishops present followed the same gesture. The Consecration prayer during which the Cardinal held both hands over the head of the new Bishop followed. At the same time two priests held an open Book of the Gospels above the head of the new Bishop. At the conclusion of the prayer of Consecration, the insignia of the new Bishop were brought before the altar in procession: Sister Paullydia, SSpS, carried the ring, Father Andrzej Fałat, SVD carried the mitre, and Brother Raphael Goimba, SVD carried the Bishop’s staff. That procession was led by the sinsing group from Kamaliki Parish.

Cardinal Ribat anointed the head of the new Bishop with the oil of chrism. He also handed him the Book of the Gospels with the command to preach the teachings of Christ contained in it. He then placed a bishop’s ring on the ring finger of Bishop Valentine’s right hand saying: “Accept the ring, a sign of fidelity, and keep the faith intact. Guard from contamination God’s Bride of God, that is, the Holy Church.” Then he put a mitre on his head saying: “accept the mitre and let the splendour of holiness shine in you, and when the Supreme Shepherd appears, may He give you as a reward an unfading wreath of glory.” In turn, handing him the pastoral, the Cardinal said: “Accept the shepherd’s staff, the sign of the Office of Pastoral Ministry, and watch over all the sheepfold over which the Holy Spirit has established you as Bishop to guide the Church of God.” After handing over the insignia, the Cardinal asked the new Bishop Valentine to sit on the episcopal throne and he sat at the chair to his right. All the Bishops present gave the new Bishop the kiss of peace. Then the priests, brothers and nuns working in the Diocese of Goroka came forward to show respect and obedience to their new Bishop.

From that moment until the end of the ceremony, a smile could be seen on Bishop Valentine’s face expressing joy but also disbelief. This smile seemed to say: “Am I really the Bishop of Goroka?”

Bishop Valentine then continued the Mass as the main celebrant. In a solemn, dancing procession, the people from the parishes of Par from the Enga Province, where Father Valentine worked just before his appointment as Bishop of Goroka, brought gifts; the produce of their land: cabbage, carrots and broccoli, etc.

Bishop Valentine and several other bishops and priests distributed Holy Communion to the assembled faithful. There was much to do as it was estimated that there were about three thousand people, although not all of them received Holy Communion.

After communion, Bishop Valentine, accompanied by Cardinal Ribat and Archbishop Douglas Young, walked among the people and blessed them. The people were happy to see their new Bishop at close range.

When the Bishops returned to their seats the Master of Ceremony asked several people to speak and the following people spoke in succession: “Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Fermín Emilio Sosa Rodríguez encouraged Bishop Valentine to overcome temptations of the evil one in prayer and lying prostrate in front of the tabernacle, he committed Bishop Valentine to our Lady of Czestochowa.

Cardinal John Ribat said: “You are Bishop now, the Father of all people in the Diocese of Goroka and the man in charge of the Diocese, be responsible for your flock in communion with all Bishops.”

SVD Provincial Superior, Fr. Jose Orathinkal spoke next. He said: “Yesterday we buried Archbishop Meier in Mt. Hagen. Today we are sorry to lose a confrere but we are also happy that a new Bishop came from our ranks. He is the 7th Bishop of Goroka and 19th SVD Bishop. The priority of Bishop Valentine is to preach the Good News. Goroka is a difficult place and special. (The Catholics are a minority, only 2% of the population of Eastern Highlands Province). It is an ecumenical context. God does not ask what man cannot do. God will give you strength. God says ‘I will go with you.’”

Brother Piotr Szewczuk, the Superior Delegate of the Polish Province read the message of the Provincial of the Polish Province: “The 14th of February, when the appointment of Bishop Valentine was announced was the day of the saints Cyril and Methodius and St. Valentine, the saint of lovers. Our SVD saints Arnold and Joseph and Polish martyrs are rejoicing with you today. Polish confreres rejoice with you too. I express my gratitude to God and congratulate you and express to you our support. To you the people of Goroka I wish many God’s blessing. I invite you to Poland to celebrate your Episcopal consecration with your family and your Polish confreres.”

Patrick Iyeho the Education Secretary of Goroka Diocese said: “Process of electing new Bishop of Goroka was long. All people rejoice now that we have a new Bishop. Today we thank all who helped to elect you and to appoint you. We thank Papal Nuncio. We thank the Cardinal who supported the process. We thank you Archbishop Douglas Young for your help in getting a Bishop for Goroka. Archbishop Bal, Rochus we thank you all Bishops. We welcome visitors from Rome and Poland. We thank you SVD missionaries who prepared Fr. Valentine to become Bishop. We thank you Papa and Mama of Bishop Valentine. We have celebrated three things in succession: General Assembly of Catholic Church at Mingende, CBC conference at Mt. Hagen and episcopal consecration of Bishop Valentine. All Bishops hold the Church together and make it strong. In spite of challenges, we want to hold our Catholic belief, our faith has to be strong. The Church has to have a shepherd. So we believe our shepherd, Bp. Valentine, will work well with us.”

Fr. Paul Liwun said: “I came to give power over the diocese back to the Bishop. On 14th February we waited expectantly to hear of the appointment. Today we have a new Bishop. For a year and five months I was the Administrator of the Diocese of Goroka. I am now again just a parish priest of St. Mary’s. Tomorrow we will meet in the same place at 10 am and Bishop Valentine will celebrate Mass for us.

At the end, Bishop Valentine gave his speech. He said: “Thank you so much. Thank you to Triune God that He found me in Enga bush. On the 4th February the Apostolic Nuncio called me on the phone 14 minutes to 9 am and told me: “Holy Father appointed you the Bishop of Goroka. Do you accept this appointment?” I asked him to give me some time to pray and think about it. The next day I called him back at the same time 14 min to 9am and told him that I accepted the appointment. Thank you to Pope, to Cardinal Ribat, thank you Archbishop Douglas, thank you to Bishop Darius for putting this cross on me. Thank you to all of you who came to this celebration. I believe you came also to pray for me. I know you and you know me so we can work together. Our mothers gave us birth to us so we can become one family in Christ. Some do not know yet that they are Catholics, we need to tell them. Thank you to Brother Peter Szewczuk and Fr. Jan Stefanów. Thank you to all confreres. Thank you to all who prepared this celebration. Thank you to people from Par in Enga who prepared the procession. Thank you to all camera men. Thank you to all music groups.

Today is the 1st Saturday of May, we think of Maria. When I was a baby I was very sick and my Mum brought me to the church and offered me to Maria. She told Maria: “If he will survive Maria you can lead him to become a priest”, and so it happened.

26 years ago I was the master of ceremony at Bp. Francesco Sarego’s Episcopal Consecration. Today I begin the journey in his footsteps as Bishop of Goroka. I take up the task to continue the work of my predecessors. We pray that this province will become Christian.

After the final blessing from Bishop Valentine the singsing group from Fanyufa led the Bishops, priest and altar servers back to the church, where they took of their liturgical vestments. Then they all went across the road to Kefamo Conference Center’s dinning room where sumptuous dinner prepared the Kefamo staff awaited them. There was much joy and animated conversation at the tables. All had reason to celebrate.