SOME SIGNIFICANT APRIL DAYS FOR THE CHEVALIER FAMILY, 2019

 If you have visited Rome, have you been to Piazza Navona, not just as a tourist but to visit the first MSC Church there, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, and the headquarters of the Italian Province? The other entrance is in the parallel Corso de Rinascimento.

3 April, 1857

First meeting of the "Oeuvre des Campagnes" ("Work of the Countryside") arranged by Father Vandel, held in the house of Madam de la Rochejaquelin. This was a social and spiritual outreach to diocesan priests working in isolated areas. This groups continues to the present day, and meets in Issoudun once a year.
 

5 April, 1925

Arrival of the first three MSC Sisters from Hiltrup, in Vunapope (PNG), after World War I.
                   

6 April, 1864

Bishop de la Tour d'Auvergne (of Bourges) presents the Statutes of the Fraternity of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Issoudun and signs as first member. To make membership in the Fraternity possible for everyone,
Father Chevalier stipulates that the only requirement is to pray daily: "Our Lady of the Sacred Heart pray for us".
               

6 April, 1904

Death of the first Superior General of the MSC Sisters, Sister Servatia Rath, Congregation of the Sisters of Divine Providence.

7 April, 1872

Official installation of Father Chevalier as parish priest of St. Cyr parish, in Issoudun.

8 April, 1850

Jules Chevalier is ordained sub-deacon in the seminary chapel in Bourges. "On the very day of his ordination, he showed himself completely renewed, from silent and severe to affable and gentle." (Piperon)
                   

9 April, 1866

Fathers Chevalier and Vandel planned the foundation of an "apostolic" school, which did officially open in Chezal-Benoît on 10 October the following year, about 17 kilometers from Issoudun.

This was an apostolic school for boys interested in becoming missionaries in the MSC's. In order to meet the cost of this work, an appeal was made to give a penny a year - thus the name the "Petite Oeuvre" (the "Little Work").

11 April, 1868

The Chapel of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart is opened in Issoudun.
                   

12 April, 2012

Feast of Saint Jules, (Pope Jules I, who protected Saint Athanasius from the Arians), name day of Father Founder.

16 April, 1881

Chevalier accepts the two Vicariates of Melanesia and Micronesia offered by the Congregation of the propagation of the Faith.

20 April, 1876

First mission departure ceremony in MSC history:

Father Durin and two scholastics are sent from Issoudun to Watertown, in New York State, USA. They arrive in Watertown on 6 May, 1876.
The previous General of the MSC's, Father Mark McDonald, is from Watertown!

24 April, 1879

Canonical erection of the first MSC House in Rome, at Piazza Navona.

26 April, 1877

Father Jean Marie Vandel, founder of the Apostolic Schools, dies in Issoudun. Chevalier said of him: "His life ... is that of a saint."

30 April, 1907

Sale by auction of the confiscated property of the MSC and FDNSC in Issoudun. Count de Bonneval buys the MSC property for 100,000 francs; ten minutes later Madame de Lapparent buys the house of the Sisters for 40,000. The property is thus saved for both the MSC and FDNSC.

WEEKEND GOING THROUGH PHOTO FILES

Looking at our photo files, we discover some pictures and stories that did not yet use - there may be some people and situations you know.

Fred & Sue Stubenrauch’s farewell:

The Douglas Park community farewelled Fred and Sue Stubenrauch on Saturday 8^th December. Barry Smith thanked the couple on behalf of the community, especially for his role as caretaker manager when Steve was called up to Treand House. They were presented with a small token of appreciation. We wish them well as they begin/return to their life of retirement in Bathurst.

American MSC Walter Downs turns 87.  Brian Gallagher writes:

Walter in the wheelchair with the MSC Center Valley community

When I was studying in Boston (1976-78), I discovered that there were MSC parishes in Rhode Island, about one hour away by bus.  I phoned and was invited for a weekend, beginning a firm friendship with Walter Downs, the parish priest, and discovering a home away from home in St Francis parish. I visited fairly regularly, enjoying Walter's company and meeting many parishoners.  Walter's family came from Boston and were all avid fans of the Red Sox.  As I was by the end of that season.  He loved his parish and was a very popular pastor.  I recall a lunch time conversation towards the end of my stay when Walter told me that he had been asked to move to the MSC retreat house in Youngstown.  He gave me a long list of good reasons why he should not accept the appointment, ending with ‘what do you think?’  I said ‘I think you will go.’  He went -- and began a very fruitful ‘second career’ in spiritual direction and later mission preaching. 

Lauro Rufo CS:

In student days

Scalabrinian priesr, Lauro Rufo, died recently. He did his early years of seminary training with the MSCs in 1971-2 in Croydon and Canberra.

In recent years

With greatest sadness, the whole Scalabrinian Congregation announced the death of Fr. Lauro Rufo,cs after a long battle with cancer. Fr. Rufo is one of our Scalabrini Fathers working in Sydney, especially at St Therese parish, Mascot..

Downlands College home page remembers its origins: 1931 photo

Downlands College is owned and conducted by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC), alongside a committed group of teachers and support staff. The College was opened in 1931 as a boarding school for boys with a total enrolment of 68. Today, it is fully co-educational, with more than 850 day and boarding students from all parts of Queensland and beyond.

Protest ceremony against Adani

outside Tony Burke's Punchbowl office. Claude Mostowik, director of the MSC Justice and Peace office.

Celebration of Paul Guy MSC, Golden Jubilee of Profession.

Paul, standing, with Brian Cahill, Ben Flemiing, Paul Jennings, John Ribat

ACKNOWLEDGING PETER HARVEY JACKSON MSC

In recent years we have been acknowledging Australian MSC on the occasion of a significant birthday, especially when they turn 80.

Today is the 80^th birthday of Peter Harvey Jackson, born in 1939.  Peter went to primary school at OLSH College, Bowral, then to St Stanislaus College, Bathurst.  He made his first profession on February 26^th, 1957 – so 62 years of MSC life and ministry.

Amongst the communities where he served are Chevalier College, Sacred Heart Monastery Croydon, Kew Community Melbourne - where he worked with the Lay MSC,, Treand House, St Mary’s Towers Douglas Park, and superior of the Sacred Heart Monastery, Kensington. He also served on the Provincial Council.

For some years he worked in the Mission of Eastern Papua.

He also studied theology at the Yarra Theological Union and in Dublin.

At present, he is Novice Director at Douglas Park.

Our congratulations.

BISHOP PETRUS CANISIUS MANDAGI MSC, RECONCILIATION BETWEEN MUSLIMS AND CATHOLICS.

Over the last two weeks we have been moved, have grieved, have felt great solidarity with New Zealand, with the horror of the massacre in Christchurch, the mourning for those who were killed at prayer, for their relatives and friends.

And, the killer was an Australian.

The way that New Zealanders, Muslims, Catholics, non-believers have joined in solidarity, especially with the leadership of Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern – a fine example for us to appreciate and learn from.

Visitors to this site may not know of Bishop Mandragi MSC, a bishop for several decades –

Google entry: Bishop Petrus Canisius Mandagi, MSC was born in Kamangta, North Sulawesi, on April 27, 1949. He was ordained a priest of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on December 18, 1975. He was appointed bishop of Amboina on June 10, 1994 and his Episcopal ordination took place on September 18, 1994. Bishop Mandagi’s motto is Nil Nisi Christum (Christ alone, Galatians 2:20).

He has been a pioneer in fostering reconciliation in his diocese in Indonesia – something for us to admire, and imitate.

Bishop Petrus Canisius Mandagi MSC has

nurtured interfaith dialogue in the conflict-torn

Maluku islands in Indonesia for the last two

decades. It began in January 1999, when a fight

between a Christian transport driver and a Muslim

youth spiralled out of control, triggering a wave of

sectarian violence that raged for four years. Hundreds

of churches and mosques were destroyed, thousands

of homes razed, more than 5000 people killed and

half a million others displaced.

On the occasion of Eid al-Fitr (the feast at the

end of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting),

Christians were too afraid to visit the homes of their

Muslim neighbours. But Bishop Petrus, believing that

Eid al-Fitr was a time for Muslims to forgive, put on

his cassock and boldly visited his Muslim neighbours.

His smile overcame their hesitance. His warmth

dissolved the tension. He showed that love could

break through the walls separating them. The

experience was a turning point for the bishop, who

has been active in interfaith dialogue since.

In February 2002, along with religious and civic

leaders and representatives from the two opposing

communities, he attended mediation talks in Malino,

South Sulawesi province. At the end of two days, the

35 Christian and 35 Muslim delegates signed an

agreement to end the conflict and to work together

to maintain peace in Maluku province. This meeting

was made possible because the then minister for

people’s welfare, Muhammed Jusuf Kalla, having read a

book in which Bishop Mandagi had written that “conflict

in Ambon could only be settled through dialogue”,

finally hosted the talks.

"Harmony is not something we just talk about, it's

something which we have to show," he said. "How?

When neighbours celebrate their religious feasts or hold

religious programs, we need to support them," he said.

And he practises what he preaches! In 2012, he

accommodated Muslim participants in the 24th National

Quran Recital Competition in Ambon. He showed the

same hospitality when the 9th National Protestant Choir

Festival was held in the town in 2015. Last September, he

attended the 83rd anniversary celebrations of the Maluku

Protestant Church in Maranatha Church, Ambon. It was

the twentieth time he had attended the congregation’s

anniversary celebration. Interfaith and ecumenical

efforts like this have made him highly respected among

other communities. He was once asked to lead a groundbreaking

ceremony for a new mosque in a nearby village.

With only about six years left before reaching the

retirement age of 75, Bishop Mandagi says he will

never stop working for interfaith dialogue. He says,

“We should not forget that ‘Satan’ still roams and

wants to ruin our brotherhood. But do not be afraid,

there is the Holy Spirit. So bring along the spirit of

brotherhood everywhere we go.” ¢

Adapted and condensed from Katharina R. Lestari’s article,

‘Nurturing interfaith dialogue in Indonesia’s conflict-torn Maluku

Islands’, La Croix International, 13 Nov. 2018, http://bit.ly/2U5g8RQ

Patrick McInerney, left, with Bishop Vincent Long OFM.Conv at the blessing of the centre

With thanks to Patrick McInerny, Columban, Director of Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations. He is editor of The Bridges Newsletter, available on line and by email. The Bridges Newsletter features the latest news and stories on Interfaith and Christian-Muslim Relations.

Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

WORKSHOP OF MSC MEN MORE RECENTLY ORDAINED

The photo shows from left: Peter Anthony (Randwick), Kimi Vunivesilevu (Kippax), Thang Nguyen (St Mary’s Towers Retreat Centre), Khoi Nguyen (Blackburn), Pat Mara (Nguiu), Krish Mathavan (Henley Beach), Frank Dineen, (facilitator) and Peter Hendriks (Nightcliff). (Tru absent in Vietnam.)

The accompanying photo of these young men (with the exception of myself) was taken at the end of February at a workshop for our men more recently ordained.  This is part of their continuing journey as they move fully into ministry in our circles.  As we know the first years are of prime importance as one settles into his life commitment.  Our formation documents take up this topic to assist our men in this.  Thus, foundations that have been laid, personal skills that each owns, outcomes that are lived with, all come to light, heard and affirmed as needed. This took up a significant part of the week.   In addition, other input comprised: 

• Updating on Professional Standards issues (with the emphasis on Integrity in Ministry)
• Healthy living skills with a balanced life-style
• Skills in listening (particularly in relation to counselling / companioning)

As can be imagined adequate time was also given to socialising and keeping up the bonding process.  The week was positively entered into and appreciated, I suggest.

Frank Dineen, msc

FOUNDATION DAY OF THE MISSIONARY SISTERS OF THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS, MSC SISTERS, MARCH 25^th.

This year the Foundation Day, 25^th March (1900), was celebrated at the Sisters’ House of Hospitality in Balwyn, Melbourne. The Sisters are based in Victoria – not so well-known in other states.

OLSH Sisters, Liz Taylor and Robyn Reynolds, joined for the Mass and dinner, as did the MSC Kew Community, with Philip Malone presiding at the Liturgy.

Special visitors were two members of the Sisters’ General Administration from Rome, Sister Nicola (from Germany) and Sister Bonaventura (from Korea).

Visitors to this site may be interested in the following quotation:

CHRONICLE OF THE MISSIONARY SISTERS, 25^th MARCH 1900

The Apostolic Vicar of New Pomerania, the mission Bishop Couppe, had recently arrived at the MSC Fathers’ monastery.  It was a great joy for him to perform the first reception ceremony. How fervently he had written from the missions asking for missionary sisters and now Divine Providence had arranged it for him to hand the religious habit to the first German Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The foundation of a religious congregation is not accomplished through the external development and organisation alone. Of far greater importance is the inner formation, finding one’s own character. Our Founder realised this from the very beginning. He was aware of his responsible assignment and remained committed to it to the very end – really trying to form genuine Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Photos: Carmel Butler MSC and Peter Malone MSC

HINDMARSH PARISH, MSC SOON TO HAND BACK TO ADELAIDE ARCHDIOCESE

Noel Mansfield MSC, part of Hindmarsh parish, has sent this report on a meeting about the handover. He titled it,

People Renew Their Own Parish

On Saturday, March 2^nd, 2019, about one hundred parishioners gathered to discuss and decide on the future of the Sacred Heart Parish of Hindmarsh Findon. The whole flavour of the meeting was to stress that every process was being kept out in the open so that it would be transparent to all.

The process began when we, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC), announced that we could no longer provide priests to serve the parish.

Instead of the parish falling in a heap and wondering what to do, some parishioners took the ball and ran with it. They saw it as an opportunity to renew their parish. They enthusiastically took up the challenge. They wanted their parish to survive. They were not going to fall in a heap and walk away.

This group reached out to other parishioners whom they knew were of the same mind-set. Over the past few months, they have met on regular occasions. They wanted to reach out even further. They called a meeting of interested parishioners. This was the meeting that took place on Saturday, march 2. It is only the beginning of the process.

This first meeting was held at Findon. There they have facilities that are needed for such meetings.

It was chaired by Tania Cavaiuolo. She began the meeting by reading a prayer for the Ghana people, the traditional custodians of this land on which we held the meeting. After a short greeting of the people gathered, she handed over to Narita Perrotta.

Narita assisted the members of the gathering to come into contact with their inner being. We were asked to allow the Spirit of God to speak to us and be with us throughout the day.

Then Mary Hemmings reminded us of the Parish Vision which had been composed a number of years ago. It is still at the head of our Weekly Bulletin.

“As a people who believe and trust

in the love of God for us,

revealed in the Heart of Christ,

we live out this love

in a welcoming and inclusive community

that provides life-giving support and service

to all people.”

She completed her contribution by widening it out with a comment from Pope Francis’ “Joy of the Gospel.”

Father Bill Brady, the Parish Priest, presented a summary of the theology on which the parish is based. In this he made particular reference to Bishop Vincent Long’s comment: “I firmly believe that were on the threshold of renewal of the priesthood. Like the Wedding Feast of Cana, the wine of old has served the Church well but it is running out. He old way of being a priest has served the church we love. But that model of the exalted, separated and elite priesthood is drawing its last breaths, at least in many parts of the world, including Australia.” As it is with the old model of priesthood, so it is with the old model of parish where the priest ran the parish and the people simply turned up for mass and sacraments. “Pray, pay and obey” was the model of church we grew up with. That has to change. 

THEN

Some further points raised by Bill were:

• There is a paradigm shift within the Church and within ourselves
• Vatican 2 named the Church as the ‘People of God’…all of us have gifts that we bring to it
• Clericalism stifles the gifts of the other baptised
• Threshold of renewal: Old wine running out
• Time to demythologise priesthood
• The community has the right to take ownership of the parish and to be part of its governance: to use your gifts, to serve NOW
  

The final speaker was Fr Philip Marshall, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Adelaide. He was asked to make his comments on the last two of the points in the programme presented to the Archdiocese for renewal last year.

Our renewal is about renewing our parishes and communities by inspiring ourselves and them in the fundamental tasks of the Gospel. The eight marks of renewal outlined in the renewing parishes document are primarily drawn from the Gospel and Tradition. They are not additional burdens added to our ordinary life and duties, but just a focussed way of articulating them. They are reminders of what we are doing or need to be doing.”

Then he went on to elaborate on the last two marks of parish renewal.

We ae meant to be communities:

#7 Who form, encourage and coordinate the variety of gifts and charisms the Spirit gives to each in most effective ways

#8 Who support and preserve the life of every viable community of disciples, even if they are small.

In connection with these points, he raised the following.

• We are all in communion with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
• In Jesus we see that all are drenched in love: woman to be stoned, tax collector…
• The parish is a communion of the baptised. We need to be such that people look at us and think “that’s’ something I want to be a part of”
• The ministry of a priest: We as priests are ‘appointed’ by you as the people. It is a ministry of service. Together we are all instruments of an orchestra, with each of us having a part to play to ensure that all are in tune…. all have a voice
• We are in a time of uncertainty, of great change
• Unable to name clearly at this time what will be in place in Hindmarsh – Findon Parish…. the Diocese will work with us as a Parish over the coming months.

From then on, the groups discussed various questions presented to them. Finally, they shared some o their conclusions with the whole group. The meeting concluded with a shared meal.

Noel Mansfield, MSC

MSC GROWTH IN WORLD PROVINCES.

Every so often this site ranges around the MSC society and various provinces, especially highlighting growth in professions and ordinations.

This weekend we visit the Philippines, Brazil, PNG, Pacific Union – encouragement for future ministry and heart spirituality.

Newly ordained Ronaldo Lobo, Philippines

Renewing Vows in Brazil

Brazil

Philippines December 2018

Deacons, Pacific Union

CUSKELLY HOUSE, BLACKBURN, MSC FORMATION 10th ANNIVERSARY

From 21 March 2009 to 21 March 2019 - 10th Anniversary of Cuskelly House.

MSC ministry in the parish of St Thomas the Apostle in Blackburn began in 2008 with the arrival od Chris Murphy as PP - although parishioners had a longtime encounter with MSC through parish picnics in the grounds of the Sacred Heart Monastery at Croydon.

During 2008 planning was underway for establishing a house of studies for post Novitiate students and St Thomas Parish seemed ideal because of its opportunity for ministry formation in the parish and because of its proximity to Yarra Theological Union (at which many MSC had studied  - and taught - previously). A house was rented from the Parish, renovated and readied for 2009.

THEN

The house was not without precedent in education and formation terms, as Christian Brothers and Loreto Sisters Communities had lived there while working in their local schools, and 'Ballarat Mercies' stayed there while studying at YTU.

NOW

Pat Mara, fresh from the Novitiate, was to be the first MSC student in residence, with Philip Malone as post Novitiate formator. Unexpectedly, but nonetheless welcome, Tru Nguyen and Kimi Vunivesilevu joined the community as pre Novices.

Cuskelly House? It was felt the house should have the name of a significant Australian MSC involved in formation and post Vatican 11 renewal. Jim Cuskelly 'fitted the bill' admirably, and so on 21 March 2009 (the anniversary of his death) the Provincial Superior (Tim Brennan) blessed and officially opened Cuskelly House, with MSC religious, Lay MSC, representatives of the Parish, YTU staff and students, religious congregations and friends in attendance.

Over the 10 years Cuskelly House has continued its double function as post and pre Novitiate formation house, with - as well as the three mentioned already - Khoi Nguyen, Nicholas Chua, Krish Jon Mathavan, Sandy Abbey, Kenji Konda as members of the community, and Frank Dineen and Chris Murphy as post Novitiate and pre Novitiate Formators.

As well as being our MSC formation house, over these years Cuskelly House has been busy in other ways. James Maher lived in Cuskelly House while completing his Masters Degree at YTU as did Fr Joseph and Alo Lamere while participating in the Siloam Program at Heart of Life. Many other MSC have stayed or visited while assisting the formation program, helping in the parish, en route to and from wherever, having a break ... Archbishop Hart was hosted as part of his parish visitation, Cardinal Aziz (Prefect of the Congregation of Religious) and his entourage came to lunch, Brian Cahill had his Melbourne celebration of Silver Jubilee of Ordination there and Cuskelly House has offered regular hospitality to the Melbourne MSC Community, our Lay MSC members, family members of our students, students from YTU and Heart of Life, Parishioners and more.

Now ten years on MSC ministry continues in Blackburn with Terry Bowman as PP and Cuskelly House continuing as house of formation, hospitality and welcome. Our MSC pre Novices are Trieu Nguyen from Vietnam, Dean Fonseca from India, New Zealand and Sydney and Daniel Magadia from the Philippines and Adelaide, with Khoi Nguyen as Director; Tuan Anh is living in while continuing studies at language school at YTU, hopefully joining the pre Novitiate program next year.

Ad multos annos!

To capture all the selves present, a selfie!

From Philip Malone MSC

MSC MISSION EASTERN PAPUA, WORTH KNOWING.

Recently, Chris McPhee, MSC Provincial visited PNG confreres, not so many Australians there these days. PNG MSC province and confreres ministering there.

We noticed that this week, March 19^th, saw the 80^th anniversary of the death of Fr Hubert Tomlinson MSC – at the age of 32. His obituary noted that he was one of the earliest of the Eastern Papuan missionaries. After his ordination in 1933, he spent two years in Papua, on Basilaki – but contracted black water fever and almost died.  Back in Australia, he recovered, a year as chaplain at St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill, and a year at Douglas Park. Back to Eastern Papua, but not long after, he contracted cerebral malaria and died at the age of 32. He wrote many articles about PNG for the Annals.

We also Googled MSC in Eastern Papua.  Here is the report for some background.  Actually, it came from this site in 2007 on the 75^th anniversary of the foundation of the Mission.

An opportunity to pay tribute to the many MSC Brothers and priests, OLSH Sisters and Lay Missionaries who worked and work in Eastern Papua.

Although the photo comes from Yule Island - from where the missionaries set out for Eastern Papua.

On April 22nd 1932, Father Francis Lyons MSC, accompanied by a group pf lay missionaries from Yule Island: Camillo Loula and Basilia Obi, together with her husband, Solomon, and their two young children, and a young man, Edimondo, dropped anchor in a small bay on Sideia Island in Eastern Papua. Their quiet arrival marked the beginning of the Mission of the Australian MSC Province in what is today the Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea.

Frank Lyons and his parents - some years ago Archbishop Denis Hart told us that Fr Lyons was his mother's cousin.

The islands of Eastern Papua were at that time part of the Vicariate Apostolic of Yule Island (entrusted to the care of the French MSC Province) but had been rarely visited by Catholic Missionaries. Protestant Missions were already well established on some of the islands. The first attempt at the evangelization of New Guinea had, in fact, been made in Eastern Papua, on Woodlark Island. In 1852 Italian missionaries of the Society of Foreign Missions of Milan (PIME) started a mission there but after a few years were forced to withdraw. A few years later the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart were able to establish a permanent mission in Rabaul in 1882 and thus begin the work of the evangelization of the New Guinea islands. Soon after this another foundation was made at Yule Island in Papua. Although the Yule Island Mission was a work of the French Province, young Australian MSC were also working in the mission, especially in the administrative capital of Port Moresby.

Then in 1929, the Holy See entrusted the Mission of Eastern Papua to the Australian Province – its first foreign mission, although Australian MSC had been working among the Aboriginal people of the Northern Territory for many years. In 1930 Father John Doyle MSC visited Samarai to investigate the possibilities for a new missionary foundation. It was decided to make the first foundation on the island of Sideia. Initially the new mission remained part of the Vicariate Apostolic of Yule Island, under Bishop Alain de Boismenu MSC.  

Alotau

The mission slowly spread to other islands. When the Japanese invaded Milne Bay in 1942 mission stations were already established on the islands of Basilaki and Samarai, and in the Trobriand Islands, as well as on the mainland at Ladava. OLSH Sisters had also joined the MSC. The war years witnessed the complete destruction of much of the mission. Though the war years brought great material destruction and many setbacks, the local people – many of them only school children - not only remained loyal to their faith but also displayed zeal and initiative in finding ways to preserve and even spread their faith (as an example: one boy had 33 baptisms to his credit!).

Bishop Des Moore MSC, in retirement at Kensington Monastery

In 1944 the first missionaries were able to return to Sideia and begin the re-construction of the mission. Because the mission consists of so many isolated islands, boats are essential and some of these were actually built on the missions themselves. In 1951 the mission was erected as a separate Prefecture Apostolic with Monsignor John Doyle MSC as the first Prefect Apostolic. In 1957 the mission was raised to the status of a Vicariate and Monsignor Doyle was ordained as the first bishop. In 1967, the Vicariate became the Diocese of Sideia. Two years later the first local priest was ordained: Father John Mathew Sinou MSC. In 1970 Bishop Desmond Moore MSC succeeded Bishop Doyle as the second bishop. Bishop Francesco Panfilo SDB is succeeded Bishop Moore and is now archbishop of Rabaul. The present Bishop is Rolando Santos CM, Bishop of Alotau.  Fr Joe Ensing MSC is the community leader.