Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Nouméa (Agenzia Fides) – The Marist Community has been present in New Caledonia for over 150 years. The first priest from the Society of Mary arrived in 1842, 10 years before the French regained possession of the islands in the southwest of the Pacific Ocean. The first Mass was celebrated on December 21, 1843 in Mahamate. At that time, Oceania was divided into 3 Apostolic Vicariates and in 1836 Pope Gregory XVI, had entrusted the Apostolic Vicariate of Western Oceania to the Society of Mary.
Between 1853 and 1863, 10 missions were founded thanks to the efforts of the Marist priests and lay brothers which were oftentimes decisive in the work of inculturation within the heart of the community. The laity assisted the priests and dedicated much of their time to teaching catechism classes. “Without them,” wrote Fr. François Grossin SM, the author of a study on the history of the Church in Oceania, “the evangelization of New Caledonia would never have been the same.” In a matter of a decade, the missions had already been established in the three provinces of the land.
The establishment of a native-born clergy, in comparison to the other Polynesian missions, however, was a slow process. This was due, in part, to the colonial presence and the rivalries that existed between the Caucasian population (Caldoches) and the natives (Kanaka). Finally, in 1946 there was an ordination of two priests from Melanesia. After 1968, the seminary in Nouméa was closed and its students transferred to Fiji Island.
New Caledonia now has a population of nearly 224,000 inhabitants, of which 114,000 are Catholics. There are 29 parishes and 131 other places of worship. There are 14 diocesan priests, 24 religious priests, 11 permanent deacons, 22 religious brothers, and 100 religious sisters. There are also 199 catechists. Alongside the lifestyle of the big city is that of the smaller villages, where religious practice is most common and the faith is lived with a stronger sense of community. One of the hopeful signs for the life of the local Church is the constant increase, in recent years, of vocations to the permanent diaconate. (AM) (Agenzia Fides 28/7/2008)
