In his message for World AIDS Day, December 1, Cardinal Sir John Ribat said people in Papua New Guinea are almost forgetting about HIV and AIDS. Ribat is the Archbishop of Port Moresby and the chairman of Papua New Guinea Christian Leaders Alliance. “I’m afraid to say that people and the Government are thinking that Read more
The people of Samoa have raised over a million tala to help build a new Carmelite monastery in Tonga. Last Thursday there was a Mass and blessing ceremony in Apia. The Chairman of the Samoa Charity for the Carmelites Foundation, La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fossie Schmidt, told Talamua that the money has already been sent to Tonga. But they felt Read more
Nine Pacific beauties renewed their faith in the Lord and acknowledged His blessings at a church service at the beginning of a week of activities for the 31st annual Miss Pacific Islands Pageant in Nadi, Fiji. Executive Director of the Miss Pacific Islands Inc., Papali’i Sonja Hunter, says the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant was established Read more
The Archdiocese of Suva conducted a theological course for school teachers at the Pacific Regional Seminary last week. The week-long course, co-ordinated and supported by officials of the Fiji Catholic Teachers Association, was led by Archbishop Peter Loy Chong. Topics covered in the course included: Introduction to Theology, Liturgy and Sacraments, Church Stages of Growth, Read more
Papua New Guinea’s Labour minister says the work permits of all expatriates in the country will be reviewed, and the rules for new permits will be tightened. Mehrra Kipefa also said the rules for the issuing of new permits would be tightened. He said the review would ensure expatriate workers are only working the one Read more
A recent meeting in Manila focused on the theme of “building community in an intercultural world.” In her opening remarks, International Union of Superiors General (UISG), President Sr. Carmen Sammut spoke about how Religious congregations are changing. Communities in Europe, America and Australia are shrinking, with more younger members coming from Africa and Asia. Cultural Read more
The amount of plastic waste accumulating in the Pacific ocean and washing up on even very remote islands has become a serious problem. David Katz, the CEO of The Plastic Bank, a Canadian plastic-for-currency enterprise, thinks he has the solution. He met with officials at the Vatican last week to seek the Catholic Church’s support. Read more
The general secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (CBC-PNGSI) has called on all churches to do more to create greater awareness of sorcery in their communities and congregations, and preach more about Bible teachings on sorcery. Father Victor Roche made this call, after reports from many parts of the Read more
The Catholic archbishop of Rabaul in Papua New Guinea, Archbishop Francesco Panfilo, says he is facing an application for a restraining order from three landowners in Pomio. The restraining order application also applies to a New Zealand lawyer working for the church, Doug Tennent. It comes after Panfilo and Tennent tried to assist other landowners at Read more
Fiji’s Attorney-General and Minister for Education, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, has assured the Corpus Christi College management of the Government’s continued financial support. This year, the college received a grant of close to $200,000. Sayed-Khaiyum spoke at the graduation ceremony for 31 students on Saturday. In his address, Sayed-Khaiyum expressed his appreciation for the education the Marist Read more