Ten students of Pacific Regional Seminary of St Peter Chanel were ordained deacon by Soane Cardinal Mafi of Tonga on Sunday 8th May in at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Suva, Fiji.
The deacons come from six different Pacific Island nations.
Three were ordained for the Archdiocese of Samoa-Apia.
Two are members of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) from the Solomon Islands.
Three are Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, (MSC) two from Kiribati and one from Fiji.
Two are Marists (Society of Mary), one from Vanuatu and one from Tonga
See list of Deacons and Photographs
Cardinal Soane Patita Mafi is the first former student of the Pacific Regional Seminary to be named a Cardinal.
Since 1972 Pacific Regional Seminary offers training for the Roman Catholic priesthood for candidates from the various dioceses of Episcopal Conference of the Pacific (CEPAC) and for religious congregations with houses affiliated to the Seminary.
The Seminary offers a Diploma in Theology and a Bachelor of Divinity which are accredited by the South Pacific Association of Theological Schools (SPATS).
In addition, since it is affiliated to the Urbaniana University in Rome, the students of PRS who complete the requirements can also obtain a Bachelor of Theology degree.
The Archbishops and Bishops of CEPAC constitute the Seminary’s Board of Trustees which sets policies and sees to the supervision of priestly formation at the Seminary.
A Senate composed of four bishops is elected by the Board of Trustees for a term of three years.
The Senate looks after the general administration and supervision of the seminary.
The Rector and the members of Staff take care of the details of the day to day administration.
Two representatives of the affiliated colleges, elected from among the congregations who have affiliated colleges, also participate in the deliberations of the Senate.