Two priests who had been suspended by Archbishop Anthony Apuron have been reinstated. Monsignor James Benavente has been cleared of the allegations against him regarding irregularities and “financial mismanagement”. Father Paul Gofigan has also reinstated Apuron removed Benavente from his position as rector of the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in July. At the time Read more
Habitat for Humanity has a goal to build 300 homes in Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, where cyclone Winston has destroyed a lot of homes Habitat for Humanity’s Malcolm Whalley is looking for volunteers to join him…”we have 42 homes we want to build by November, before the typhoon season hits.” He says it’s a challenge, but Read more
Four churches based in Apia joined UN Women dedicating their sermons to the cause last Sunday to mark Orange Day. This follows on efforts for the same cause by Samoa rugby. Last Sunday, the four churches joined activists, governments officials and private sector representatives to highlight issues relevant to end violence against women and girls Read more
Reverend Nove Vailaau says during his research into pre-Christian Samoa he has discovered that smacking was not a feature of traditional Samoan language and culture. Accepting children into family life was a more inclusive process. Traditional Samoan values promoted the protection of children, not the infliction of suffering upon them. He says when the missionaries arrived Read more
A survey has found that the practice of giving money when there is a family fa’alavelave is places huge burdens on young New Zealanders who are ethnic Samoans. Robyn Lesatale a University of Auckland Pacific studies student surveyed more than 400 Auckland Samoans about the practice. A fa’alavelave is roughly defined as “anything which interferes Read more
A new homeless centre with a capacity to house 50 people at a time, is to be operated by Catholic Charities Hawaii. The State of Hawaii paid US$750,000 to renovate a converted maintenance shed to house the centre. The Family Assessment Centre is located next to Kakaako Waterfront Park in Honolulu which has become at persistent Read more
Guam’s Governor Eddie Calvo has signed into law a controversial bill that will allow victims of child sex abuse to sue their abusers and the institutions with which they are associated at any time. Mr Calvo said the new law “opens the doors of justice to those who suffered a terrible harm as children,” but Read more
About 700 workers from impoverished parts of Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands are working in Hawaiian fishing boats without proper works permits or basic rights and protection. A federal loophole allows American boats to employ workers in the dangerous industry for years at a time – provided they never step foot on shore. An Read more
A group of 12 teachers from the Port Pirie Diocese in South Australia have recently returned from a 12-day outreach experience in Kiribati. Known as the “Kiribati Commitment”, the programme aims to provide young teachers in the Port Pirie Diocese with an opportunity to live and work alongside the Good Samaritan Sisters in Kiribati and Read more
The Apostolic Administrator of Guam has asked the Holy See to remove Archbishop Apuron as Archbishop of Agãna (Guam), and to appoint a successor. In a letter entitled “Putting the house in order without burning it down” that was read out in all parishes in the archdiocese Archbishop Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-fai said: “I want Read more