Migration and ministry top of mind for Oceania bishops

The largest of the Mariana and Micronesian islands in the western Pacific hosted the Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania Executive Committee meeting, which ran from May 18-20. It was the first such meeting to be led by Archbishop Ryan Jimenez of the Archdiocese of Agaña (Guam), president of the FCBCO.

A former vice-president of the FCBCO, Archbishop Jimenez was automatically elevated to president when Australian Archbishop Anthony Randazzo relinquished the position as he prepares to take up his appointment as Prefect of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts in Rome.

Also attending the meeting in Guam were Executive Committee members Wellington Archbishop Paul Martin SM, Suva Archbishop Peter Loy Chong, Bishop Justin Ain Soongie of Wabag (Papua New Guinea), Bishop Peter Houhou of Auki (Solomon Islands), Dunedin Bishop Michael Dooley and Melbourne Archbishop Peter A. Comensoli.

FCBCO vice president and Bishop of Wollongong Brian Mascord participated remotely.

The opening day of the meeting featured a traditional welcome ceremony on a beach in Tumon, featuring songs and prayers in the Chamoru indigenous language presented by children from the Chief Hurao Academy charter school.

After discussions on the FCBCO’s statutes and synodal implementation on the first day, among other matters, the bishops visited the Shrine of Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores, a Spanish Jesuit missionary who was martyred in 1672 while bringing Christianity to the island.

Discussion at the meeting centred on the future role of FCBCO and how it can become more effective, synodal, and collegial – building networks and relationships across the region and strengthening ministry. The bishops also discussed how the body could assist in the formation of laity, priests and bishops, as well as make better use of digital technology to foster relationships across the region. Migration’s impact on both sending and receiving countries was also discussed.

A key issue was modern slavery. The bishops engaged with the FCBCO’s submission to the inquiry into modern slavery risks faced by temporary migrant workers in rural and regional New South Wales. The FCBCO affirmed its ongoing work through the Migrants and Refugees Oceania Network.

Initial discussions took place regarding the plenary assembly of all bishops in Oceania in 2028. The Executive Committee will solicit ideas and recommendations from all bishops across the region on topics of pastoral and ecclesial relevance for consideration during the assembly.

The 2028 plenary assembly, to be held in Sydney, will take place in the lead-up to the International Eucharistic Congress.

An islandwide Mass was celebrated on May 19, attended by more than 1000 people at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagåtña.

The FCBCO is made up of the four bishops’ conferences in Oceania – the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference; the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference; the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands; and the Episcopal Conference of the Pacific (CEPAC).

FULL STORY

Ministry and migration on agenda for Oceania bishops (ACBC Media Blog)