One of the ten Papua New Guinean members of the Oceania Province was ordained to the sacramental priesthood on 8 March 2019. He is Brother Peter Kal who has been a solemn professed brother since 2001. Born at Mount Hagen in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea in 1969, he joined the Order in 1992. After first profession he trained as a Community Health Worker and, in due course, fulfilled the offices of Master of Novices, Master of Scholastics, Prior and Provincial Delegation Councillor.

The recent ordination of Brother Peter was a significant event in the history of the Order and the Oceania Province. The Superior General, having granted the necessary permission, General Councillor Brother Joseph Smith initiated the ordination ceremony by calling Brother Peter to the priesthood under the title of Hospitality. He was then ordained by the Archbishop of Madang, Most Rev. Stephen Reichert O.F.M. Cap. in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. The Mass and ordination were conducted in the Neo-Melanesian language (or Tok Pisin of Papua New Guinea). The Papua New Guinea Brothers present for the occasion were joined by nine Brothers from Australia and New Zealand who had previously worked or contributed to formation in Papua New Guinea.

A small representative group of family and friends of Brother Peter were in the congregation and were amongst the first to receive his blessing after the ceremony. (A much larger crowd attended Brother Peter’s first public celebration of Mass at Mt Hagen on Sunday 10 March.) At the conclusion of the ordination Mass Brother Brian O'Donnell spoke briefly and explained the history and tradition of the presence of Brother-priests in the Order and how their focus is on the pastoral care and sacramental service of the Brothers and those they are privileged to serve in their various needs.

Following Brother Peter’s ordination, within the precincts of the Cathedral, there was a lavish feast in the Papua New Guinean tradition. Consequently, everyone was welcome and seemed to obtain their fill of fish, pork, chicken, rice, fruit and vegetables. The Brothers had organised two very big chocolate cakes which enabled everyone present to have a large piece. The following morning (Saturday) Brother Peter celebrated his first Mass in the company of Brothers and co-workers in the chapel of the Brothers’ residence at Allamanda Crescent.