Item 34 - Press statements and pastoral letters from the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands

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AU PMB MS 1400-34

Title

Press statements and pastoral letters from the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands

Date(s)

  • 1996 (Creation)

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26pp.

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Biographical history

Catholic Missionaries came to Papua New Guinea in 1848. Marist Missionaries landed on 28 May 1848 in Siassi Island (Morobe Province) and then the Pontifical Institute of Foreign Missions (P.I.M.E.) started evangelising in Woodlark Island on 8 October 1852. Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) began the Mission in Matupit Island, Rabaul on 28 September 1882. The Catholic Church grew rapidly in different parts of PNG.

In 1848 the Catholic Church was called the “Vicariate of Melanesia” which included all the islands of Melanesia and Micronesia. On 15 November 1966 the Hierachy of Papua New Guinea was established with Archdiocese and Dioceses. The Catholic Bishops Conference (CBC) has 19 Dioceses in Papua New Guinea and 3 Dioceses in Solomon Islands with a total of 23 Bishops.

PNG Dioceses: 1. Vanimo, 2.Aitape, 3. Wewak, 4. Madang, 5. Lae, 6. Wabag, 7. Kuniawa, 8. Mendi, 9. Goroka, 10. Mt. Hagen, 11. Kavieng, 12. Rabaul, 13. Kimbe, 14. Buka, 15. Alotau, 16. Port Moresby, 17. Berena, 18. Kerema, 19. Daru/Kiunga.
Solomon Islands Dioceses: 1. Auki, 2. Gizo, 3. Honiara

The Catholic Church is the largest Non-Government body to provide services – including education and health care – in Papua New Guinea.

The office of the first Catholic Bishops Conference in 1966 was at the residences of the Priests who were the General Secretaries. The First General Secretary with a structured office was Fr. Dennis Rochford, MSC in 1983. The first buildings housed CBC, Caritas offices and one residential building. Many Commissions of the CBC were operating from Port Moresby, Goroka, Rabaul or other cities as the need arose. As more offices were needed, additional buildings were added in 2000.

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Statement on the Serious state of PNG health services (February 1996, 1p.), Statement of the Catholic Bishops of PNG and Solomon Islands: Upsurge in Violence on Bougainville a call for restraint (March 1996, 1p.), Press release on Catholic Bishops prepare for conference (10 April 1996, p1.), Pastoral letter on the Year of the bible (April 1996, 2p.), The Great Jubilee year (Apr 1996, p1.), Press statement on Bougainville a cry for peace (April 1996, 1p.), Press statement on Family life gives PNG a life-line (April, 1996, 1p.), Press statement Rural health centres close to collapse (April 1996, 1p.), Press statement new logging code needs full Government backing (April 1996, p1.), Press statement on the Repeal of the internal security Act (April 1996, p1.), Letter to priests and seminarians and religous (April 1996, p2.), Letter from the Bishops to the Vatican about the CBC conference for 1996 (April 1996, p1.), Letter to Bishop Isaac (18 April 1996, p1.), Letter to Bishop Gregory Singkai (1p.), Statement re Appointment Recotr Holy Spirit Seminary (26 April 1996, p1.), Press statement on "How good and dlelightful it is for all to live together like brothers (May 1996, p1.), LEtter to Sir Julius Chan (1 June 1996, p2.), Statement at the funeral mass of Bishop Gregory Singkai, Hahela, Buka (September 1996), ress statement on Urgent appeal to BRA leader (Sep 1996), Press release on the Assaassination of Bougainville Premier Theodore Miriung (14 October 1996, p1.)

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Language of material

  • English
  • Tok Pisin

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Archive of the Catholic Bishops Conference, Waigani, NCD, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

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