OCEANIA/SOLOMON ISLANDS - Sisters of Mary Help of Christians open first community to help in the field of youth pastoral for girls

Friday, 16 February 2007

Honiara (Agenzia Fides) - The number of Catholic women religious in Solomon Islands recently increased with the arrival of three Sisters of Mary Help of Christians called to open a new local community. Sr. Sialei Taofinou, Sr. Anna Maria Gervasoni and Sr. Sonia Murari, accompanied by Sr. Edna Mary MacDonald, were welcomed by Archbishop Adrian Thomas Smith of Honiara, and Rev. Luciano Capelli, head of the local Salesian Community. According to ANS Salesian Bullettin Mamma Margherita is the name of the new Sisters of Mary Help of Christians community. The Sisters will work in the field of education and pastoral care for young people, mainly girls particularly the most disadvantaged.
The local Church gives special care to the formation of catechists, pastoral care for young people and promoting respect for the dignity and rights of women.
In all its articulations the local Catholic community works to counter widespread violence and crime and abuse of drugs and alcohol among young people and crime. The problem is serious because 50% of the population of 450,000 is under 18, unemployment is high and only about 20-25% of children go to school and only 35% of these continue their studies. Cultural formation of youth is important for the future of the country, and is a task for civil society as well as religious communities. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 16/2/2007 righe 25 parole 256)


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