Bishop Lippert declares a Year of Reverence in his Papua New Guinea diocese

Bishop Donald Lippert, O.F.M. Cap., who serves in Papua New Guinea, has declared a Year of Reverence in his diocese, an initiative aimed at deepening the spiritual and liturgical life of the faithful. In a recent interview, he spoke about his own spiritual path and said that "over the past year I have had a kind of conversion toward the Traditional Latin Mass."

Conversion to the Traditional Mass

Lippert said his pastoral ministry "takes place mainly in the context of the Novus Ordo," but that over time he had come to appreciate "the beauty and power of the Traditional Mass in my personal life."

The Year of Reverence

Lippert said the initiative is part of a broader effort at spiritual and liturgical renewal and seeks to "strengthen the faith of the faithful in Papua New Guinea" through a deeper sacramental life and devotion.

Lippert pointed to "the need for a return to the roots of Catholic tradition."

The diocese also hopes its religious practice will reach beyond its own borders and join a wider movement of liturgical recovery in the universal Church.

Synodality

In the same interview, Lippert also addressed synodality. He distinguished "a good synodality, which involves consultation at the local level" from what he considers bad synodality.

Good synodality, in his view, keeps discernment anchored in tradition and the teaching of the Church. Bad synodality, he said, would be the kind that undermines unity or dilutes doctrinal foundations.

Concerns about other denominations

Lippert said he was concerned about the "direction the Anglican Church has taken" and about "the situation in Germany." He added: "I don't want that for the Catholic Church."

He said he sees those precedents as warning signs, and that the Catholic Church must preserve doctrinal unity even as it practices community consultation.

Missionary context

Lippert has worked as a missionary in Papua New Guinea for years. The Church in the region is relatively young, and its communities are still defining their Catholic identity.

When the Traditional Latin Mass is celebrated, it links the faithful in Papua New Guinea to a practice that crosses cultures and languages and expresses the catholicity of the Church.