Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Pohnpei (Agenzia Fides) - For many years Mercedarian Missionary Sisters of Bérriz have borne witness to Christ among the young people on the small Island of Pohnpei, in Micronesia. The Sisters opened a school, Nuestra Señora de la Merced, which, until 2009, was a centre for “alternative education” and professional training for girls. Today, with a new project, the school is an Academic Centre for students in preparation for University. It offers courses with a profoundly Catholic spirit and rooted in Christian values. Students study theology, take part in retreats and liturgical celebrations and perform community services: 40 hours for first and second year students and 50 hours for 3rd, 4th and 5th year students. This service consists in acting as support teachers for pupils at Pohnpei Catholic elementary school, caring for bedridden elderly and sick people, visiting prisons and praying with the prisoners, helping in parishes, even sweeping the streets. The students are enthusiastic about this service, in their own district and would love to serve all over the island. However they cannot go without a means of transport which would be most useful in order to serve the whole community. (AP) (24/6/2010 Agenzia Fides)
