Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Honiara (Agenzia Fides) - A flourishing Catholic community including many young people, deeply devout in the celebration of the Sacraments, rich in vocations despite a situation of material poverty and hardship, welcomed the recent first visit to Solomon Islands of Papal Nuncio Archbishop Francisco Montecillo Padilla Archbishop Padilla appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands earlier this year on 1st April, resides in Port Moresby, PNG and is travelling around to get to know the people and the land he is called to serve.
While in Honiara on August 24 the Nuncio presented his letters of credential to the governor general Sir Nathaniel Waena and had a meeting with prime minister of Solomons Manasseh Sogavare.
Besides diplomatic duty calls the Archbishop took part in meetings and liturgies with the local Catholic community. On a visit to Holy Name of Mary Seminary in Tenaru, he told seminarians: “Vocation is a process by which a seed needs to be nurtured to maturity. Training to be a leader in the Church requires following the seminary programme of discipline, being loyal to Church teaching and loving the Holy Father. It means listening to the voice of the Lord, discerning His call and making daily sacrifices as one goes along in this path of formation that is human, spiritual and intellectual”.
The Papal representative presided a concelebrated Mass at Holy Cross cathedral Honiara with the local clergy. In his homily Archbishop Padilla stressed the role of Christ the Good Shepherd, highlighting commitment and dedicated leadership and encouraged the lay faithful to heed and respond to their own special vocation in life including the need to work to guarantee education and health for the people.
Archbishop Padilla spent a whole morning visiting prisoners at Rove Prison encouraging them to be open to God’s mercy and forgiveness, not to lose hope but to build on their human dignity as persons. Everywhere he went the Archbishop concluded with an Apostolic Blessing on the part of the Pope. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 4/9/2006 righe 28 parole 296)
