Youth Leaders Workshop and Training Program Achieves.

20 youth participants have successfully received their certificates after completing a four-day training program, which was held from July 6th to July 9th at the St. Peter's Youth Center, Gizo.

The workshop aimed primarily to assist these young individuals in understanding the seven priorities of the CBC PNG/SI Catholic Youth Ministry and to explore potential actions. This initiative encouraged them to participate in group discussions and deliver presentations.

The workshop was facilitated by Sr. Sharon Palencia, a Youth Commission for Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. In her concluding remarks, she emphasized that the main goal of the Youth Ministry is to guide young people in meeting, accepting, and committing themselves to Christ.

Her speech underscored the central aim of the Youth Ministry, PNG/SI, which is to disseminate the gospel among young people, empowering them to take an active role in evangelizing the world.

Sister Sharon stated that their program has now progressed to phase 3. However, the Solomon Islands is currently unable to advance to that stage, but can participate from phase 3 back to phase 1.

Significant moments during the workshop included the celebration of Solomon Islands Independence Day, which coincided with the event, as well as the observance of the Feast of Blessed Peter To Rot in anticipation of his forthcoming canonization as a saint in October 2025.

The youth participants hailed from Vanga, Gizo, and Noro, encompassing the two parishes involved.

  After the event, 20 individuals were awarded their certificates.

A Youth Encounters Seminar that was facilitated by the Youth team from the Diocese of Gizo has commenced on the 25th and ended successfully on 27 June 2021 this weekend at St. Eusebius parish Noro.

     

A formation seminar is purposely to equip the 19 participants to become trainers, which they may organize themselves and they can facilitate the program to their parishes.

Sr. Matrina Qilaziutu OP Celebrates Golden Jubilee.

Sr. Matrina Qilaziutu was so happy to celebrate her Golden Jubilee with her Dominican family and the communities in St. Peter Cathedral, Gizo, on 26 April. 

Preside over her Jubilee Mass, Fr. Henry Paroi thanked God for the Blessing through Sr. Matrina for her journey as a Dominican sister. He also challenged other Dominicans to follow Sr. Matrina’s steps.

Sr. Matrina Qilaziutu comes from Tabarato Village in Choiseul, and she was accompanied by the late Sr. Joana Tebitara of Wagina Parish. On April 25, 1975, they made their first profession and took their vows from M.M. Josephine Campton OP, Prioress, in the presence of Bishop Eusebius Crawford.

She spent seven years in primary school before assisting Sr. M. Christopher at Moli Primary School from 1966 to 1968.

She completed her grade 4 teaching training at Honiara's Nazareth Apostolic Center before spending two years teaching at elementary schools run by the Diocese of Gizo.

 She then underwent the formation for three years before joining the Dominican family on April 25, 1975. She taught in Gizo Primary School after completing part-time training at Teaching College. She taught at Titiana, Nila, Pirakamae, Moli, and St. Anna's Vocational Training School for Girls.

Then, in 1993, she was named Vicarress Leader of the Dominican Sisters and was re-elected for four more years.

She studied theology at Nungulina College in Darwin from 2001 to 2002. And returned to Solomon to work as a formator for novices from 2006 to 20011. 

To shape and mold her as a Dominican Sister, she had her renewal in Australia while performing pastoral duties in the Diocese of Gizo and for the Sirovanga Catholic Women's Group.

She once served as a Vicariate Bursa for the Dominican Sisters of Gizo and the congregation.

Sr. Matrina is celebrating her Jubilee at Gizo, where she began her professional career 50 years ago.