“We are Trying to Reach the Unreached,” Says Br Mark Kenatsi of Madang’s Marist Family Mission

The Marist community in Madang has consistently worked to strengthen its outreach programs, ensuring that those on the margins are not only seen and heard, but also given access to resources that can help transform their lives. In a recent reflection, Br Mark Kenatsi shares insights from one such event that brought hope to some of the region’s most overlooked communities.

As part of the Madang Community Life Plan for 2025, “rebuilding our new hermitage” begins to take its shape. One of these new hermitages (in other words, mission) is working with the street youths.

On 5 April, we, the Marist family at Madang, had a team taking that initiative forward. The team comprised three members of the Marist Group here, and Br Fereole Melteror and I represented the Community at Madang. We also invited the Correctional Services Institute Commander (who was my course mate at Divine World University 15 years ago) to be part of the team. We are also looking at inviting a Police officer to join us as well.

Meeting the youth who do it rough and live on streets and listening to their stories, their struggles, and how they sustain themselves was extremely emotional. It was not usual for many to reach out to them and so our motto was, reaching out to the unreached. Our theme is: though so close, yet so far.

These young people are right in front of so many people; however, no one have ever reached out to them, that is what they expressed yesterday. They were really excited they heard we were coming to meet them.

These are the young people who are engaged in petty crimes in town. Some of them are escapees from the prison. Some of them students. They have big dreams but no future, due to the situation they face daily. It was good to see young children, they looked vulnerable and many asked, what does the future hold for them? We said, we didn't want them to experience what some of the older boys had. At the same time, we also thought how will they avoid that future if nothing is done to assist them?

As we spoke, the vulnerability and fragility of these young men were palpable - both in their words and their demeanour.

For many of us, basic necessities like food, water, and shelter are fundamental rights we rarely question. But for them, these essentials seem more like luxuries, almost optional. Many go without daily meals, lack access to clean drinking water, and live in makeshift shelters - fragile structures pieced together from cardboard.

It is heartbreaking to witness this reality: our own people becoming strangers in the very place they call home.

We provided some food for them which was prepared by the host family. After the meeting they were fed.

So, what are our next steps? We will continue our meetings to ensure we develop a concrete plan that not only supports the young people but does so in a sustainable and meaningful way. Our next meeting is scheduled for 10 April, where we will work together to advance this initiative.

May Mother Mary and Saint Marcellin continue to guide us in our endeavours.

Br Mark Kenatsi, Madang community