# Three days by boat: A missionary bishop at the ends of the earth

> Bishop Jacek Tendej navigates Papua New Guinea's remote diocese by boat for three days to pray with communities.
- Title: Three days by boat: A missionary bishop at the ends of the…
- Summary: Bishop Jacek Tendej navigates Papua New Guinea's remote diocese by boat for three days to pray with communities. Bishop Jacek Tendej of Alotau-Sideia in…
- Keywords: papua new guinea, alotau-sideia, bishop jacek tendej, missionary bishop, three days by boat, diocese, pastoral visits, mosquitoes, prayer, religion, world, Three
- Source: Vaticannews — https://vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2026-10/three-days-by-boat-a-missionary-bishop-at-the-ends-of-the-earth.html
- Author: Vatican News
- Published: 2026-10-18T08:58:40.79+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: papua new guinea, alotau-sideia, bishop jacek tendej, missionary bishop, three days by boat, diocese, pastoral visits, mosquitoes, prayer, religion, world
## Bishop Jacek Tendej
Bishop Jacek Tendej of Alotau-Sideia in Papua New Guinea walks while praying before the Blessed Sacrament because mosquitoes make prayer impossible.

> It really is the end of the world
## Diocese geography
Only 5 percent of his diocese is land; the rest is water, with 95 percent of the geographical area being water.
## Three-day boat journey
Reaching some communities can take up to three days by boat to navigate the diocese's waterways.
## Missionary call
Bishop Tendej received an email from the General Curia of his religious congregation asking him to go to Papua New Guinea after Pope Francis was elected.
## Pope Francis' letter
Pope Francis wrote that a Church which does not go out to people becomes sick, while a Church that goes out may have an accident.
## Bishop appointment
In July 2025, Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Tendej as the Bishop of Alotau-Sideia, where he was ordained on September 27, 2025.
## Prayer practice
Bishop Tendej walks while praying before the Blessed Sacrament for three reasons: mosquitoes prevent prayer, he doesn't fall asleep, and it's good exercise.
## Community response
The faithful in Papua New Guinea look forward to the bishop's visits, with one journey taking four hours to reach a school after a delay.
## Key takeaway

Bishop Jacek Tendej of Alotau-Sideia in Papua New Guinea reaches remote communities by boat in up to three days to pray.