ARAIMIRI

Situated in the Gulf Province of Papua New Guinea, Araimiri is the Salesians' most isolated mission in the country, but a work that is dear to the heart of many confreres, despite its difficulty.  It is the very first Salesian presence in PNG.  The first three Salesians arrived in Araimiri on June 14 1980.  The Technical school was   built by the Salesians amongst insurmountable hardships to educate boys left out of the PNG school system.  However, it has been closed due to a range of difficulties amongst which the constant isolation and danger to health.  Meanwhile the Salesians are looking for a more suitable place from where to continue the education of the non-selected boys.  Araimiri remains as an out-station now of the mission at Lariao (see below).  A priest goes there every weekend for pastoral ministry.

LARIAO

The second Salesian presence in the Gulf Province is Lariao.   On November 25 1989 Fr. Valeriano arrived in Lariao to take possession of the land the people donated for the Catholic mission.  Since January 1998 the Salesian community has resided in Lariao.  It comprises a parish with some mission out-stations, a community school and other social services.  it is situated in the Orokolo district between two villages that willingly donateed the land for the mission centre and the community school for their children.