22/09/2026
Catholic Diocese of Aitape: Frank Evans, a dedicated lay missionary.
In Loving Memory of Frank Evans
A Faithful Missionary, Educator and Friend of Aitape
It is with profound sorrow that I learned of the passing of Mr Frank Evans in Brisbane, Australia, on 21 September 2026. On behalf of the clergy, religious and faithful of the Diocese of Aitape, I extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends in Australia and Papua New Guinea, to his former students and colleagues, and especially to the St Ignatius Secondary School community.
For the people of Aitape and West Sepik, Frank Evans was much more than a teacher and school principal. He was a dedicated lay missionary, a man of deep faith, a generous servant and a true friend who gave a significant part of his life for the good of our people. He came to Papua New Guinea in 1974 and joined St Ignatius Secondary School as a teacher. In 1978, he became its Principal and devoted many years to the education and formation of generations of young people.
Frank understood education as more than academic achievement. For him, it was about forming young people in discipline, responsibility, integrity, service and respect for others. Under his leadership, St Ignatius became one of the outstanding schools in the country, producing excellent results and, more importantly, generations of young men and women who went on to serve Papua New Guinea in many different professions and responsibilities. His influence therefore extended far beyond the classroom.
His service to education also reached beyond St Ignatius. He contributed to the work of the Aitape Catholic Education Board as a technical adviser and worked with many dedicated educationists who shared his vision for the development of education in the Diocese. He later served the wider West Sepik education system, including as Director of Education. In every position he held, he placed his knowledge and experience at the service of others. His contribution to education in the Aitape-Lumi and Nuku Districts and throughout West Sepik will remain an important part of our history.
What makes us especially grateful for Frank's life is that his service was not simply a profession. It was a generous offering of himself. He chose to live among our people, to walk with them, to believe in their young people and to work for their future. Over the years, Aitape became more than a place where he worked; it became a place he loved and a people to whom he remained deeply connected. His return to Aitape in 2025, at the age of 78, for the 60th anniversary of St Ignatius was a beautiful expression of that enduring love. The naming of Frank Evans Primary School is another lasting testimony to the gratitude of the people whose lives he touched.
We mourn Frank's death deeply, but our Christian faith does not allow death to have the final word. We believe in Jesus Christ, who died and rose again, and in the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting. We therefore entrust Frank with confidence into the loving and merciful hands of God, whom he sought to serve through his life of faith, dedication and voluntary service. We pray that the Lord will reward him abundantly for his generosity, his sacrifices, his love for young people and his many years of service to the people of Aitape and Papua New Guinea.
On behalf of the Diocese of Aitape, I express our profound gratitude for the gift of Frank Evans. His legacy is not only in buildings, schools, academic achievements or the many students he taught. His greatest legacy is found in the lives he touched, the people he encouraged and the generations he helped to form.
Dear Frank, thank you for coming to Aitape, for giving so generously of yourself, for believing in our people and for loving our young people. You came as a missionary and teacher, but you became a true friend and, in many ways, one of our own. We shall remember you with gratitude and keep you in our prayers.
May Jesus, whom you served through your love and service to others, welcome you into the fullness of His Kingdom. May He grant you eternal rest and console your family, friends and all who mourn your passing. May the Blessed Mother intercede for you and accompany you to the heavenly home.
May you rest in peace, dear Frank, until we meet again in the presence of our Risen Lord.
Siby Mathew Peedikayil, HGN
Bishop of Aitape
