Solomon Islands The Solomon Islands’ mission began in 1993. The population is around 700,000. A predominantly Christian country, the Catholic population constitutes around 23% of it. The Solomon Islands’ church is comparatively young, facing many challenges. It needs the help of the missionaries to grow and develop. The Vincentians are engaged in two important ministries in the Solomon Islands: spiritual and intellectual formation of the diocesan seminarians in Holy Name of Mary Seminary at Tenaru, Honiara, and pastoral care of the faithful at the Red Beach parish. For many years, the Vincentians have contributed substantially to the formation of good priests for the three dioceses of the Solomon Islands. Besides staffing and administering the seminary, which caters to diocesan seminarians, we also started a formation program for candidates to the Congregation. We
already have four priests ordained as Vincentians from the Solomon Islands for the Province of Oceania. The mission is celebrating its silver jubilee of foundation this year. The General Council has decided to put in place a new administrative arrangement. It reached an agreement with the Provinces of Indonesia and Oceania, which will be operative by the end of this year. The Province of Indonesia will staff Holy Name of Mary Seminary and, in partnership with the Province of Oceania, the Parish of the Good Shepherd. However, the mission will remain open to confreres from other provinces who volunteer their services.
