In Papua New Guinea, accusations of witchcraft continue to endanger the lives of hundreds of women. In response to this violence, Sister Lorena Jenal, a Swiss missionary from the Franciscan Sisters of Divine Providence, has chosen to remain and resist. For over forty years, she has lived among the communities of the Southern Highlands, where she has witnessed both the beauty of a people — and their deepest wounds.

In an interview produced by Common Home TV, the digital platform of the Redemptorists of Oceania, Sister Lorena shares with clarity and compassion her mission: to rescue women accused of sorcery, often tortured, marginalised, and abandoned. The video, created in collaboration with Missio Aachen, gives voice to a story that challenges us all: defending the dignity of women as an act of faith.

“Strong women are seen as a threat,” she says. “It’s patriarchy that fuels these accusations.”

House of Hope: A Refuge to Begin Again

In 2021, Sister Lorena founded the House of Hope, a shelter and rehabilitation centre for women who have survived violence linked to witchcraft accusations. Located in the Mendi region, this house offers protection, medical care, psychological support, and spiritual accompaniment to those who have endured extreme experiences of torture and social exclusion.

To date, over 350 women have found refuge at the House of Hope. Some, after a journey of healing, have chosen to return to their villages to share their stories and break the cycle of fear. Activities at the House range from prayer to singing, dancing, and scream therapy — simple yet profoundly liberating acts that help women rediscover their voice, their dignity, and their inner strength.

“We teach them they can say anything, that they have the right to speak. Many of them have never had the chance to be heard.”

Sister Lorena calls these women “wounded healers”: witnesses of a hope that takes shape and becomes tangible, bringing transformation not only on a personal level, but also within communities.

As UISG, we are committed to sharing this powerful story with our network of sisters and communities around the world, so we may walk alongside those, like Sister Lorena, who transform pain into hope, and fear into acts of justice.