From Zephaniah Legumana, Presiding
Bishop of the Solomons and Pacific Basin
Dear Clergy, Catechists,
Chiefs, Mothers and good people of AOC Isabel and Honiara Parishes
Re-AOC Mission to Bimbir,
Santa Cruz, Temotu Province:
I wish to inform you all that
our Mission to Ordain Rev Wilson Menoia to the Order of Priests in AOC and the
establishment of AOC in Santa Cruz, Temotu Province has been very successful.
Like what we have already
experienced in the past (in Isabel), it was normal that we have met some
negative reactions to disrupt the occasion but they did not prevail and the
Ordination continue to take place according to plan ie Pentecost Sunday 19th
May 2013.
We Ordain in a tent Church
house built some distant from Bimbir village (as the final resort), to avoid
any disturbances during the onset of the ordination as well as to become the
new site and land area for the new church building. The AOC members should then
build up their own village community whereby they will be free to carry out
their ministry with their Priest Rev Wilson Menoia in the future.
Those of us who went as
mission group have played our part successfully despite tense atmosphere around
us. Rev Richard Sopamana trained Rev Wilson Menoia on the Eucharist and other
roles of a priest, I teach (explaining and interpreting) him the ordinal and
constitution and canons of the church, My wife and Lillian Vahia had meeting
with the women and elected office bearers and identified 8 new members for
admission into Mothers Fellowship group.
On Pentecost Sunday 19th
May 2013 we ordained Rev Wilson Menoia to the Order of Priests in AOC as well
as confirming 3 children.
There was a large
congregation attending the Ordination, estimated to be 100 plus people including
children.
After the ordination there
was a big feast which everyone enjoyed. In addition greetings and speeches
(including from Bishop Jerry Ogles and Betty) became highlights during the
occasion.
Finally, and above all, wish
to thank you for your prayer support for without which we could not have
achieved the success of this mission.
Bishop Z
