District of Melanesia

Nearly 50 people gathered for the Assembly and Chapter  of District of Melanesia, in Port Moresby (14-20 July). The Assembly gathered Lay and Brother Marists from all across the District – PNG, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and MAPAC. Brothers Jeffrey Crowe, Michael de Waas, David McDonald and Siaosi Ioane participated as representatives of the Institute and other Oceania Units.

A very important part of the Assembly was a thank you and celebration for all that Br Ken McDonald has contributed to the District over the last thirty years and especially in leading the District over the last nine years. Ken handed over leadership of the District to Br Jean Marie Batick. Jeff Crowe offered thanks to Ken on behalf of Province of Australia and the Oceania Region. Jeff also congratulated the Marists of the District, assured them of the Region’s support and observed that the occasion marked the conclusion of a process begun at the Concurrent Chapters in 2010.

The Assembly was a great gathering and prepared the Brothers for the Chapter that immediately followed. 

The Chapter focussed mainly on the life of Brothers and the communities within the District and the delegates elected the new District Council joining Br Jean Marie in the leadership of the District. The new council is formed by Brothers Stanley Bakere, Rodney Pauru, Mark Kenatsi and Clement Pekube.