An interdenominational Christian Ministry, The Fortress of Faith, welcomed three newly qualified prison ministry spiritual counsellors at a ceremony at their Moto’otua base last Friday. The Fortress of Faith founder, Ruta Poulos, told the Sunday Samoan that this is the second year of the programme. The first training was conducted by Pastors from Hawai’i, the Read more
A woman who had just begun a five month course with a view to entering religious life has accepted a plea agreement for voluntary manslaughter after killing her newborn infant in a convent in Washington DC last October. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors agreed to argue for a sentence between four and 10 years Read more
The Association of Diocesan Clergy of the Archdiocese of Agaña, (Guam), recently held a Mass of Thanksgiving for Consecrated Life at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Toto. Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron, was the presider and homilist for the Mass. Concelebrants included Monsigñor Brigido Arroyo and Palé Mike Crisostomo, officers of the clergy association. Read more
Methodist church communications secretary Reverend James Bhagwan says his church was impartial and does not endorse any political parties. Bhagwan said the church would stay neutral and it should not be seen to be favouring anyone. “But at the same time we are pastorally speaking to our members, encouraging them to pray before each major Read more
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands says it is appalled to hear of recent disturbances at the Manus Island detention centre resulting in death and injury for the asylum seekers. The The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands has consistently spoken against offshore processing in PNG Read more
Ater reconciliation meetings, Samoa’s former assistant police commissioner has dropped his court case against a minister of the Congregational Christian Church. Pagamalie Penani Lemuelu, and his wife had been accused of alleged theft of 5,000 US dollars of church money following a fundraising drive in Australia last year. Pagamalie says he dropped the complaint after Read more
The Anglican Diocese of the Banks and Torres Groups of Islands of Torba Province, Vanuatu may become the first Diocese in Anglican Church history to “object” to the ordination of its bishop. The ordination is scheduled to to take place this coming Sunday March 2. A spokesman for the objectors, Philemon Ling, whom the Vanuatu Read more
Churches in Papua New Guinea say they are seeking urgent talks with both Australian and PNG authorities in order to gain access to the asylum seeker detention camp on Manus Island. The churches say they want to provide counselling and reconciliation services for those affected by the violence. Fr Victor Roache, General Secretary, PNG Catholic Read more
In Fiji, Methodist Church ministers who want to enter party politics will have to resign from ministry. That is the message from church communications secretary Reverend James Bhagwan. “If any minister wants to join a political party and stand under the party’s banner, they will have to resign from their appointment,” he said. Bhagwan said Read more
In Samoa, the descendants of a Catholic Catechist gathered at the end of January for a family reunion. The event was an opportunity for the children, and grandchildren of the late Reverend Mikaele Fa’ata’ape-upu-olefaleao FK and the late Etevise Mikaele Toluono [nee Asuao Tofaeono] to gather together to renew family ties. The programme contained various Read more