OCEANIA/SOLOMON ISLANDS One hundred years of service and blessings in the Solomon Islands for the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary

Monday, 7 June 2004

Honiara (Fides Service) - For one hundred years the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary have worked in Solomon Islands, tirelessly announcing the Gospel, giving pastoral care to the faithful, serving in education, offering support to families, caring for the sick and other social services. This congregation of women religious linked with the Marist Brothers is marking the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the first SMSM Sisters in this region. Authentic pioneers of the faith they gave rise to various lay groups and associations.
The anniversary will be celebrated by the local Church on June 12 with a Mass of Thanksgiving at Honiara Cathedral followed by a reception for priests, religious, friends and benefactors.
To mark the event Superior Provincial , Sr Cristina Mac Lean, addressed a letter to the people in which she said: “ As we, the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary, celebrate 100 years of Missionary Service in Solomon Island we wish to take this occasion to thank you the people of Solomon Islands, for allowing us to minister within your country.
It is you, the people who have made these years possible. You have welcomed us to your land and have shared with us the richness of your country, your faith, your language and your cultural diversity. You, the people, have shared with us in the ministries of teaching, nursing, catechetical and pastoral work. For this support we are very grateful. You have stood beside us in good times and in difficult times. Our Sisters will especially remember your care and protection of them at the time of the Second World War. You helped to strengthen their courage, their hope and their trust in God and Our Lady. In more recent times we have suffered with you as we have seen the Solomon Island divided by war and strife. We have mourned with you the loss and violation of good men and women. Today, we hope to stand with you as healing and reconciliation continues to take place. During these 100 years we have seen both the fragility and the strength of the people of the Solomon Islands and we are proud to be a part of your heritage. At present there are two Solomon Island women are in training in New Zealand: Sr. Catherine Diau and Sr. Janet Ninipua Their presence in our Congregation is truly the greatest gift that we can receive, for through them the work of God continues to spread throughout the world, in the Spirit of Mary”.
The first Marist Priests and Brothers, the Society of Mary came to Oceania in 1836, entrusted with the care of the Apostolic Vicariate of West Oceania. The Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary were started as a Third Order 1881. In 1931 they became a religious congregation of women with the approval of Statutes of Pontifical Right. Today there are 560 Sisters, working in 26 different countries. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 7/06/2004 Lines: 38 Words: 385)


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