Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Papeete (Fides Service) - Thanks to years of missionary activity in this local Church and the high quality of formation offered at the major seminary Our Lady of Pentecost in Tahiti, there is a steady rise in the number vocations to the priesthood in these Islands. The Catholic community in Tahiti is celebrating a for the recent ordination of Father Landry Boyer and Father David Leou Tham, diocesan priests from Papeete, in Tahiti, ordained on 27 August by Bishop Hubert Coppenrath at Saint Paul’s church in Mahina.
Both priests studied theology at the major seminary in their diocese where several men from the diocese of Papeete and other dioceses, as well as Religious members of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart, have trained for the priesthood .
The church was filled to capacity with at least 3,000 people who participated with joy and deep devotion. In his homily Bishop Coppenrath underlined the need for unceasing prayer that young men of all ethnic groups may respond generously to the Lord’s call. “I call on Catholics everywhere in French Polynesia to continue to pray for vocations to the priestly and religious life” the Bishop said.
The Major Seminary of Our Lady of Pentecost in Tahiti fulfils its task with great honour. It was opened in 1984 thanks to the precious work of the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate who left the Islands on 31 July this year after 27 years of service in French Polynesia. Now the diocese aims to provide even higher formation for the clergy in Polynesia .
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 1/9/2004 lines 20 words 233)
