Solomon IslandsIn 1956 the Dominican Sisters of Australia established a mission in the Solomon Islands in conjunction with the Dominican Friars. As at June 2008 there are twenty-four Solomonese Sisters, eight novices and three postulants. The Sisters minister in the Western Solomons – Gizo, Loga, Canaan, Nila, Wagina, Sirovanga, Moli and Honiara in the areas of nursing, teaching and pastoral care.
Click on the Solomon Islands above for a more detailed map (opens in a new page)
Solomon Islands Update, July 2008
The Solomon Islands celebrated 30 years of being an independent nation on 7 July, 2008.
There were many celebrations. One took the form of a National Agricultural Show , held in Honiara over two weeks. There were displays by every Government and most non-government organisations and businesses. There were live cultural performances. (photo)
Where people gather, there is laughter, sharing and giving thanks for their families and the beautiful islands and seas of the Solomons. It is a great tribute to the resilience of the people, most of whom are faithfully trying to get a better life for themselves and their children.
There are still major problems : many are not of the country’s making. World- wide sudden rises in the price of rice and flour are hurting urban families. World-wide rise in the price of fuel is affecting all families, but particularly those in town where electricity supplies have been cut due to failure to pay increased costs and transport costs for buses and trucks are higher. Rural people, are dependent on canoe (outboard) travel and costs have risen sharply for them.(photo)
The Solomon dollar is currently worth less than 16c Australia. Wages have risen only slightly in the past 15 years. Sisters working full-time in pastoral work receive less per month than Australian sisters here receive as pocket money. Teachers are being underpaid. Some go for months or years without receiving their salaries. If it were not for the food gardens and gathering of the women and the fishing of the men, there would be starvation.
There are health problems with diabetes, malaria, skin infections, TB and difficulties getting essential medical supplies to rural areas. Schools still lack teaching resources. Community High Schools lack libraries and equipment for practical work in agriculture, science and home economics.
The Solomon Islands College of Higher Education is restructuring its courses. The country is in need of good local graduates in all fields. The problem is finding paid employment for them. The future of the Vanga Rural Training Teachers’ College is uncertain. There is a need for more Rural Training Centres and teachers.
A new Catholic primary school was blessed at Vanga with Br Henry fms as Head Master.(photo)
The Western Province is gradually recovering from the tsuanami. The people in Gizo are less traumatized. However, there are still over 600 houses to be rebuilt. The Dominican Relief Fund, administered by the Sisters and Dominican Brethren is being used to help families with special needs.
Our Dominican Sisters are more with the people than they used to be. They are developing their own form of Dominican life, suited to their culture, while retaining the essentials. It is a time of growth and maturity for them and a time for Australians to continue to support them, in a way that will encourage them to explore new ways of ‘ being good news’ to the people.
A large contingent from the Solomons, over 450 people, attended World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney. There were difficulties in processing such a large group. The Australian High Commission staff in Honiara worked very hard and long hours to issue visas on time.
The Australian Dominican Sisters and Colleges sponsored two sisters (Teresa Tebaia and Stephany Puru) and 8 young people from the Solomons. The Dominican Brethren sponsored Brs Johnson Tola , Paul Cheka and Tani Thuqea from Solomons and Edwin and Joseph from PNG. Avalon parish sponsored six young people and Dandenong two. Others were helped by families, parishes , their dioceses and other donors. Young people did not realise the importance of keeping the same name and spelling it the same way! This caused major complications with tickets and visas! The Solomon Islanders made a great impression on other pilgrims and local people they met. They enjoyed meeting up with each other in the huge crowds, coped somehow with the cold and we hope they will all be ‘ good news ‘ for their families and villages on their return.
Rose Mary Kinne, 7 August 2008 Links:
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