From August 29th, 2023, to September 1st, 2023, the Conference of Major Superiors of the Pacific Islands (CMSPI) was held at the Pacific Regional Seminary of St. Peter Chanel in Suva, Fiji . This Conference is an annual Conference that is attended by the Major Superiors and delegates of the religious orders and institutes that do ministry across Oceania. This year, the Conference focused on four major topics that affect the Catholic Church in the South Pacific. These are: Synodality, Moana (Oceans/Climate Change), Human Trafficking, and Initial Formation. There were over 200 attendees and of those, were 99 seminarians. All the Sacred Hearts seminarians of the U.S. Province were in attendance, as well as Father Michael Kamaouha, ss.cc.
The Conference hosted a variety of speakers. Bishop Vincent Nguyen Van Long, OFM Conv., D.D. of the Diocese of Parramatta (Sydney) and Sister Maria Cimperman, RSCJ of the Chicago Theological Union spoke on Synodality. Bishop Peter Loy Chong of the Archdiocese of Suva and Archbishop Emeritus Dr. Winston Halapua of the Anglican Diocese of Polynesia spoke on Moana (Oceans/Climate Change). Sister Colleen Jackson, RSC, Sister Abby Avelino, MM, and Father Peter O’Neil SSC spoke on Human Trafficking. Father Simon Mani, MSC, Father James Kyaw Hoe, SDB, and Dr. Bridget Taumopeau spoke on Initial Formation.
We applaud our Sacred Hearts Brothers who have been involved in the planning of this Conference since August 2022. Father Johnathan Hurrell, ss.cc., serves as the President of the Conference of Major Superiors of the Pacific Islands, Brother Juan Carlos Martinez, ss.cc., served as the Facilitator of the Conference, and Brother Marc Roque, ss.cc. who helped with the Budget and Hospitality Committees of the Conference. Thank you Brothers for your service.
Let us pray that the recommendations that came out of the 2023 CMSPI Assembly will come into fruition.
Photos of the SSCC at the CMSPI
