Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Honiara (Agenzia Fides) - Recently the Catholic community in Solomons rejoiced for the solemn profession of Sister Loretta Arohikeni, who took her final vows as a Dominican Sister in Honiara Cathedral. Locally born Sister Loretta is from Tarapaina and she has 6 brothers and 4 sisters. The solemn Profession was presided by the newly installed as Bishop of Honiara Bishop Luciano Capelli. The Dominican Community, religious and missionaries, and numerous local people took part. The Mass was followed by a reception and traditional song and dance.
The profession of Sr Loretta is another proof that vocations to the religious life and to the priesthood are flourishing in the Solomon Islands. The Pacific Islands were evangelised by Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts, Marist Fathers, PIME Italian missionaries, Divine Word Missionaries, Franciscans and Salesians. Part of the work was to encourage local vocations and the building up of a local clergy and local religious communities. Today the Pacific is experiencing a springtime of vocations.
Religious men and women in Solomons are active in the fields of pastoral work and social assistance. During the time of civil war, besides their normal duties, they worked to promote reconciliation and a culture of peace and non violence. A testimony among those most dear to the local people is that of Sr Aloisa Alathamalefao, a local women religious who died recently. Sr Aloisa will be remembered for her great zeal in teaching, collaboration with parish priests and caring for the sick.
In various meetings the local Religious community have stressed the centrality of the Eucharist in the religious life as a source of apostolate. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 31/10/2007 righe 29 parole 290)
