In a historic move, the APVC (Asia-Pacific Visitors Conference) has pledged to assist in providing personnel to the international mission in the Solomon Islands. This assistance covers personnel for the Holy Name of Mary Seminary, the Nazareth Apostolic Center, and the Good Shepherd parish – all located near the capital city of Honiara.
As an international mission it will continue to encourage and welcome volunteer confreres from other Provinces outside of the region of APVC, especially those with expertise in the different fields of philosophy and theology.
From being a basic seminary engaged in the pre-theology formation of diocesan seminarians, Holy Name of Mary is now gradually being expanded into a full seminary, starting in February 2007.
At the moment, the confreres presently working in Honiara consist of volunteers from Australia-Fiji (2), Indonesia (2), Philippines (2), Slovenia-Croatia (1) as full-time staff, and part-time lecturers from India.
The Nazareth Apostolic Center serves to prepare catechists for their work in the various parishes of the dioceses in the Solomons.
The parish is a relatively new foundation.
The signing of the agreement between the General Curia and APVC took place on 14 June 2007 during the International Meeting of Visitors, in Mexico City.
M.Ginete
