Cherubim Dambui
Encyclopedia
Cherubim Alfred Dambui, GCL, OBE (23 February 1948 – 24 June 2010) was a Papua New Guinea
politician
and Roman Catholic bishop. Dambui became the first Sepik
to be ordained a Catholic priest in 1974 and served as the first premier
of East Sepik Province beginning in 1976. Dambui also served as the auxiliary bishop
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Port Moresby
, Papua New Guinea
.
, Territory of Papua and New Guinea
. He was the oldest of his family's four sisters and six brothers born to his mother and father, Henry Nambau. Dambui attended Angoram Primary School in Angoram
from 1957 to 1961. Dambui then completed 7th-10th grades at Kerevat High School, which he attended from 1961 until 1966. Dambui enrolled at St. John's minor seminary
in 1966 for his 11th and 12th grade years.
In 1968, Dambui entered the Holy Spirit Seminary in Bomana, where he studied for the priesthood for six years. He was ordained a Catholic priest for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wewak
on 5 December 1974, becoming the first Sepik
to be ordained a Catholic priest.
gained independence from Australia
in 1975. Prime Minister
Michael Somare
appointed Dambui as the first interim
premier
of East Sepik Province in 1976, when the new provincial government was established. He served as the interim premier until 1979, when he became the permanent premier of East Sepik. Dambui remained in office as premier until 1983. Today, the head of East Sepik Province is now known as the governor due to the 1995 Provincial and Local Level Government Act.
rector
, teacher
and parish priest. In 1995, Dambui became the vicar general
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wewak
, based in East Sepik. He worked in the Wewak diocese until 2000.
Dambui was appointed the auxiliary bishop
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Port Moresby
on 30 October 2000, and was ordained on 6 February 2001. He remained in this position until his death in 2010. Additionally, Dambui served as the Roman Catholic titular bishop
of Sussar.
Cherubim Dambui died of kidney failure on 24 June 2010 at a hospital in Manila
, Philippines
, at the age of 62. A memorial service
, which was attended by dignitaries, including Prime Minister Michael Somare
and Lady Veronica Somare, was held at the shrine of the Don Bosco Technology Institute (DBITT) in Port Moresby
on 30 June 2010. In his eulogy
, Prime Minister Somare spoke of his relationaship with Dambui, "I have always been impressed with people who could accommodate and balance a traditional culture with Western and even Christian
values...I say this because the late Bishop Dambui was a master craftsman
, musician
and a truly modest Melanesian leader who believed the words of God
which he spread amongst us...My family connection with the late bishop existed long before we actually met, my uncle and aunty were employed at the Angoram Health centre where Henry Nambau – father of the late bishop also worked and lived with his family. It was at this time that the bond between our families was first established." Powes Parkop
, the governor of the National Capital District and mayor of Port Moresby, donated a USD $1,777 cheque to the Papuan Catholic Church to cover the costs of the funeral.
Dambui's body was flown to Wewak
, East Sepik Province, and flown by helicoptor to his birthplace, Timbunke, for viewing. He was then laid in state at the East Sepik provincial capital building in Wewak. A Roman Catholic funeral was held at the Christ the King cathedral in Wirui, Papua New Guinea.
Dambui was survived by his father, Henry Nambau, who was married to his mother for more than fifty years, until her death in 2009.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and Roman Catholic bishop. Dambui became the first Sepik
Sepik
Sepik may refer to places in Papua New Guinea:*Sepik River*East Sepik - a province*Sandaun - a province formerly known as West Sepik*Sepik region - consisting of East Sepik and Sandaun provincesIn languages it may refer to:...
to be ordained a Catholic priest in 1974 and served as the first premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
of East Sepik Province beginning in 1976. Dambui also served as the auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Port Moresby
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Port Moresby
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Port Moresby is a Metropolitan Archdiocese in Papua New Guinea. It is responsible for the suffragan dioceses of Alotau-Sideia, Bereina, Daru-Kiunga and Kerema.-Ordinaries:*Louis-André Navarre...
, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
.
Early life
Dambui was born on 23 February 1948 in Timbunke, East SepikEast Sepik
East Sepik is a province in Papua New Guinea. Its capital is Wewak. East Sepik has an estimated population of 343,180 people and is roughly 42,800 km square in size.-History:...
, Territory of Papua and New Guinea
Territory of Papua and New Guinea
The Territory of Papua and New Guinea was established by an administrative union between the Australian-administered territories of Papua and New Guinea in 1949...
. He was the oldest of his family's four sisters and six brothers born to his mother and father, Henry Nambau. Dambui attended Angoram Primary School in Angoram
Angoram
Angoram is a town and seat of Angoram District in East Sepik Province in northwestern Papua New Guinea. The area is noted for its rubber and cocoa plantations and the town is situated on the Sepik River. The town is served by Angoram Airport....
from 1957 to 1961. Dambui then completed 7th-10th grades at Kerevat High School, which he attended from 1961 until 1966. Dambui enrolled at St. John's minor seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
in 1966 for his 11th and 12th grade years.
In 1968, Dambui entered the Holy Spirit Seminary in Bomana, where he studied for the priesthood for six years. He was ordained a Catholic priest for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wewak
Roman Catholic Diocese of Wewak
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Wewak is a suffragan diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madang. It was elevated to a diocese in 1966.-Bishops of Wewak:*Camisio Teodoro Gellings, SS.CC. *Adalberto Ottone Rielander, SS.CC....
on 5 December 1974, becoming the first Sepik
Sepik
Sepik may refer to places in Papua New Guinea:*Sepik River*East Sepik - a province*Sandaun - a province formerly known as West Sepik*Sepik region - consisting of East Sepik and Sandaun provincesIn languages it may refer to:...
to be ordained a Catholic priest.
Political career
Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
gained independence from Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1975. Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, is Papua New Guinea's head of government, consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the National Parliament. Since 2 August 2011, the Prime Minister has been Peter O’Neill of the People's National Congress Party.-List...
Michael Somare
Michael Somare
Sir Michael Thomas Somare, GCL, GCMG, CH, CF, KStJ, MP was Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 2002 to 2011; he had previously been Prime Minister from independence in 1975 until 1980 and again from 1982 until 1985. Somare's first two terms were as a member of the Pangu Party, but he then...
appointed Dambui as the first interim
Interim
Interim is an album by British rock band The Fall, compiled from live and studio material and released in 2004. It features the first officially released versions of "Clasp Hands", "Blindness" and "What About Us?" — all of which were later included on the band's next studio album Fall Heads Roll —...
premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
of East Sepik Province in 1976, when the new provincial government was established. He served as the interim premier until 1979, when he became the permanent premier of East Sepik. Dambui remained in office as premier until 1983. Today, the head of East Sepik Province is now known as the governor due to the 1995 Provincial and Local Level Government Act.
Catholic Bishop
Dambui took a two year sabbatical. He worked in several poistions within the Catholic Church including a seminarySeminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
, teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
and parish priest. In 1995, Dambui became the vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wewak
Roman Catholic Diocese of Wewak
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Wewak is a suffragan diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madang. It was elevated to a diocese in 1966.-Bishops of Wewak:*Camisio Teodoro Gellings, SS.CC. *Adalberto Ottone Rielander, SS.CC....
, based in East Sepik. He worked in the Wewak diocese until 2000.
Dambui was appointed the auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Port Moresby
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Port Moresby
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Port Moresby is a Metropolitan Archdiocese in Papua New Guinea. It is responsible for the suffragan dioceses of Alotau-Sideia, Bereina, Daru-Kiunga and Kerema.-Ordinaries:*Louis-André Navarre...
on 30 October 2000, and was ordained on 6 February 2001. He remained in this position until his death in 2010. Additionally, Dambui served as the Roman Catholic titular bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Sussar.
Cherubim Dambui died of kidney failure on 24 June 2010 at a hospital in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, at the age of 62. A memorial service
Funeral
A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from interment itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honor...
, which was attended by dignitaries, including Prime Minister Michael Somare
Michael Somare
Sir Michael Thomas Somare, GCL, GCMG, CH, CF, KStJ, MP was Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 2002 to 2011; he had previously been Prime Minister from independence in 1975 until 1980 and again from 1982 until 1985. Somare's first two terms were as a member of the Pangu Party, but he then...
and Lady Veronica Somare, was held at the shrine of the Don Bosco Technology Institute (DBITT) in Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
on 30 June 2010. In his eulogy
Eulogy
A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially one recently deceased or retired. Eulogies may be given as part of funeral services. However, some denominations either discourage or do not permit eulogies at services to maintain respect for traditions...
, Prime Minister Somare spoke of his relationaship with Dambui, "I have always been impressed with people who could accommodate and balance a traditional culture with Western and even Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
values...I say this because the late Bishop Dambui was a master craftsman
Craftsman
Craftsman may refer to:* Craftsman , a brand of tools* Master craftsman, an artisan who practices a handicraft or trade* a style of architecture and furniture arising from the British Arts and crafts style...
, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and a truly modest Melanesian leader who believed the words of God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
which he spread amongst us...My family connection with the late bishop existed long before we actually met, my uncle and aunty were employed at the Angoram Health centre where Henry Nambau – father of the late bishop also worked and lived with his family. It was at this time that the bond between our families was first established." Powes Parkop
Powes Parkop
Powes Parkop is a Papua New Guinean lawyer and politician. He is the current governor of Port Moresby and the National Capital District. He was elected to the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea in July 2007....
, the governor of the National Capital District and mayor of Port Moresby, donated a USD $1,777 cheque to the Papuan Catholic Church to cover the costs of the funeral.
Dambui's body was flown to Wewak
Wewak
Wewak is the capital of the East Sepik province of Papua New Guinea. It is located on the northern coast of the island of New Guinea. It is the largest town between Madang and Jayapura. It is the see city of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wewak....
, East Sepik Province, and flown by helicoptor to his birthplace, Timbunke, for viewing. He was then laid in state at the East Sepik provincial capital building in Wewak. A Roman Catholic funeral was held at the Christ the King cathedral in Wirui, Papua New Guinea.
Dambui was survived by his father, Henry Nambau, who was married to his mother for more than fifty years, until her death in 2009.