Pacific Island Churches - CathNews New Zealand

Pacific churches condemn ‘silencing' of Papuan voices and media blackout

Ronan — Mon, 24 May 2021 07:50:48 +0000

Pacific churches have condemned the media blackout in West Papua, military crackdown in parts of the territory and the silencing of dissenting voices.

They have also criticised the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) for "allowing Indonesia into their fold".

In a statement, the Suva-based Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) said it had noted with deepening concern the humanitarian conflict in West Papua and the continued abuse of human rights perpetrated by the Indonesian security forces.

"This situation has been worsened in particular by the silencing of dissenting voices through increased military presence and suspension of electronic communication," it said.

Pacific churches condemn ‘silencing' of Papuan voices and media blackout

American Church and the pastoral needs of Asian and Pacific Island Catholics

admin — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 08:04:02 +0000

A new document focused on guiding the American Church in addressing the pastoral needs of Asian and Pacific Island Catholics was approved by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops during their annual spring assembly.

It is described as a "pastoral response" meant to provide support and to offer ideas for ministry to the nation's nearly 3 million Asian and Pacific Island Catholics.

The 71-page document offers suggestions for action at the national, diocesan and parish levels.

Bishop Oscar A. Solis of Salt Lake City, chairman of the bishops' Subcommittee for Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs, told the assembly a day before the vote that the document addresses the fastest growing minority community in the US Church.

"Asian and Pacific Islanders are ready for pastoral engagement in the Church's mission of evangelisation," he said.

One of every five Asian and Pacific Islanders in the US is Catholic. Filipinos comprise the largest segment of the community followed by Vietnamese, Chinese and Koreans.

The hope is that this document will assist dioceses, pastoral leaders, and other Catholic entities and Asian and Pacific Island Catholics in the pastoral care of Asian and Pacific Island Catholics wherever they are, and continue to welcome and integrate them," Sister Mryna Tordillo, assistant director of the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church said.

The document explains that harmony is a "very common theme in Asian and Pacific Island cultures, and therefore it makes sense that in the encounter with the Gospel, the Holy Spirit would transform this jewel of Asian and Pacific Island cultures and make it a blessing to the Church."

Being Catholic is part of being Asian and Pacific Islander and it becomes important when ministering within these communities to "recognize how religion and culture are so intimately intertwined," the document said.

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American Church and the pastoral needs of Asian and Pacific Island Catholics

Churches could be effective change agents in obesity campaign

admin — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 18:30:03 +0000

Professor Boyd Swinburn believes churches in the Pacific Islands could be effective preachers of the good news about weight loss because any effective obesity programme needs to address socio-cultural barriers and churches are often the custodians of culture.

He has reached this conclusion after a three-year project to reduce obesity levels in the Pacific which worked well in Australia but was ineffective in Fiji, Tonga and in the Pacific area in South Auckland.

He said some socio-cultural studies they had done at the same time to try to understand what some of the socio-cultural barriers might be to undertaking healthy eating and physical activity led him to conclude that these barriers are probably the major reason why this approach was not as successful in the Pacific populations as it was in the European populations.

After some discussion with church leaders Swinburn recognised that "the church was actually critically important as a if you like, a custodian of culture and determinant of culture, and so if there was going to be any shift in cultural norms, these leaders felt that it really needed to come from within the church or the church was the best kind of vehicle to be able to achieve that."

Boyd Swinburn is Professor of Population, Nutrition and Global Health at Deakin University, and one of Australia's leading experts on obesity.

Source

ABC
Image: Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Churches could be effective change agents in obesity campaign

Pacific Island Churches behind Advance Pasifika March

admin — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 19:29:53 +0000

Pacific Island churches have supported the Advance Pasifika March which took place in Auckland last Saturday.

The call to march came from the Auckland City Council appointed Pacific Peoples Advisory Panel, which says it wants to stop being a "rubber stamp" for council policies and create an independent Pacific forum.

The chairman of the Advisory Panel is Reverend Uesifili Unasa, Auckland University chaplain. He said the march is a community initiative to give visibility to the growing inequality of people, families and communities in New Zealand society.

"The decision by the organisers to march is a reluctant one. However, such is the concern and frustration by our communities for our families, children and communities that remaining silent or doing nothing is no longer an option," said Uesifili.

Church youth leader Harry Toleafoa said of the march: "My generation is standing up for our parents who have cleaned this city and worked its factory floors."

When the protestors gathered in Aotea Square, one of the speakers, Efeso Collins, from Advance Pasifika, called for the ministers, priests and MPs in the crowd "to come forth so the people could see their leaders." The The Auckland Now reporter did not say how many did so.

The March which, has been called "the march for the poor", attracted about 1000 people.

The organisers hope the march will lead to specific council initiatives to help Pacific Islanders and create better representation at council level.

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Pacific Island Churches behind Advance Pasifika March

Church preaches weight reduction

admin — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 19:30:03 +0000

Some churches in New Zealand are taking part in programmes to encourage Pacific Island people to live in a healthier way. Some of the programmes are directed toward weight reduction.

Aere Ki Mua is a new church-based health programme which has received $70,000 funding from the Waikato District Health Board's Healthy Eating Healthy Action (HEHA) programme.

Each church project received a pack containing a blood pressure monitor, first aid kit, scales, stereo, camera and tape measure for members to monitor their progress.

K'aute Pasifika Trust chief executive Peta Karalus, who is overseeing the project, said the programme came about by recognising the influence of spirituality in the Pacific community.

Around 85 per cent of Pacific people in the Waikato attended or were affiliated with a church and Mrs Karalus said it was an important way to drive home the message of healthy eating and physical activity.

Source

The Waikato Times
Image: Auckland Now

Church preaches weight reduction

Congregations feel pressure to donate

admin — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:00:34 +0000

Pacific Island churches in New Zealand say members of some congregations have gone into debt because of pressure to donate to churches.

The parishioners have fallen victim to loan sharks who promise easy borrowing but extremely high interest rates.

The Reverend Tavake Tupou, who heads an independent Tongan Methodist congregation in Auckland, told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat program the church leadership is partly responsible.

He said: "The leadership in this area should come from the churches.

"But unfortunately, traditionally the churches have been guilty of asking for money from people who they know realistically cannot afford to give any more."

Source

Island Business
Image: Pacific Scoop

Congregations feel pressure to donate