A total of 4484 students are still studying under tents in schools in Fiji as a result of tropical cyclone Winston. This was clarified in Parliament by Education Minister Dr Mahendra Reddy, who said Opposition MP Salote Radrodro incorrectly informed the House that more than 85,000 students were studying under tents. “This is far from Read more
Asia Pacific
Priest leaves village after allegation of sexual misconduct
Friday, July 8th, 2016A priest from Vailoa Palauli on the island of Savai’i in Samoa has left the village after an allegation of sexual misconduct. It is alleged that he was caught sleeping with a Year 13 student. Spokesperson for the Catholic Church, Father Fereti said they have no comment to make. He also refused to confirm or Read more
St Mary’s Savalalo celebrates Marist Family’s 200th anniversary
Tuesday, July 5th, 2016
St. Mary’s School at Savalalo, in Samoa, has ended the school term with a commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the Marist Family. The Marist Family is made up of the Marist Brothers, Marist Sisters, Marist Fathers and Brothers, Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary and Marist Laity. The school was divided into four Read more
This Café provides a taste of Rome in Apia
Tuesday, July 5th, 2016
Since its opening ceremony some weeks ago, the religiously themed Immaculate Religious Shop and Café has already served many customers, no matter if they are devout Christians or not. “This is my first visit here, but I think it is really great. I would not consider myself a really devout or religious person, but I Read more
Kanak independence activist Susanna Ounei has died
Friday, July 1st, 2016
Susanna Ounei has died in New Zealand at the age of 70. Susanna was born in 1945 in Ouvea in the Loyalty Islands, but grew up in Poindimie on the east coast of New Caledonia. She was a member of the Foulards Rouges in the late 1960s, which mobilised young Kanaks and their supporters to Read more
Fa’afafines part of the Samoan culture a misconception says NCC chairman
Friday, July 1st, 2016
Fa’afafines might have become members of the modern Samoan community but in the traditional Samoan set up, they were not part of the picture. That’s the opinion of the Chairman of the National Council of Churches (N.C.C), Deacon Kasiano Leaupepe, in the wake of calls from Samoa Faafafine Association for the community to respect their Read more
Yoga to be taught in all Fiji schools
Tuesday, June 28th, 2016
Fiji’s education minister Dr Mahendra Reddy has announced that yoga will be part of the primary and secondary school curriculum from this year. “It is a beginning of a new era in education, an era that we are trying to develop to contribute towards character building, towards securing a physically and mentally stable fitter Fiji.” Read more
Ryan P. Jimenez new Bishop of Chalan Kanoa
Tuesday, June 28th, 2016
Pope Francis has appointed Father Ryan P. Jimenez to be the bishop of the diocese of Chalan Kanoa. The diocese is made up of the territory of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and is a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Agaña. Jimenez has been the apostolic administrator of the diocese since December Read more
Good Samaritan Sisters celebrate 25 years in Kiribati
Friday, June 24th, 2016
The Sisters of the Good Samaritan marked 25 years of presence and ministry in Kiribati recently, with a Mass and traditional community celebration, a Botaki, at South Tarawa. The Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated by Bishop Paul Mea MSC, the same bishop who originally invited the Good Samaritan Sisters to take up ministry in Kiribati Read more
Samoa Observer says sorry but complaints still laid with Ombudsman
Friday, June 24th, 2016
At least three formal complaints have been lodged with the Ombudsman’s office over the Samoa Observer newspaper’s front page treatment of a young transgender victim of suicide. There have been mixed reactions to the paper’s more personal apology published in the Samoa Observer on Tuesdayover the signature of the editor in chief Gatoaitele Savea Sano Malifa. Read more