Fr Auram, whose birthday was yesterday, was born in Kandoka village in West New Britain, which at the time formed part of the archdiocese of Rabaul but now belongs to Kimbe.

He began his formation at the Saint Peter Chanel minor seminary in Ulapia and completed his philosophical and theological studies at the Sacred Heart major seminary in Rapolo.

Fr Auram was ordained a priest on 17 January 2004 for the clergy of the Diocese of Kimbe, the second priest ordained after the creation of the diocese.

Initially he was assistant parish priest of Kimbe Cathedral before being transferred to Saint John Vianney minor seminary in Vanimo in 2005 as vice-rector, becoming vice-rector of Saint Charles Borromeo major seminary in Vanimo in 2007.

After six months of pastoral work in the parish of Kaiai, in 2009 Fr Auram was appointed as professor at Saint Peter Chanel minor seminary in Ulapia and Sacred Heart major seminary in Rapolo. Two years later he was transferred to Silanga, Kimbe, as parish priest.

Following further study at the Institute of Priestly Formation in Omaha, USA and the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University in Rome, and pastoral ministry in the parish of Turuk, Kimbe, he became formator (trainer of seminarians) at the Holy Spirit major seminary in Bomana, Port Moresby.

In 2016, Fr Auram returned to Kimbe for some months, ministering in the parish of Sara, Kimbe, before still further study until earlier this year for a licentiate in pastoral theology at the University of Santo Tomas of Manila, where he also served as spiritual director in the seminary of Manila.