Meeting of Melanesian Community Leaders and Bursars

Brothers from the Provincial Council and Br. Peter Carroll, Provincial of Star of the Sea, on 16 August, met with our Melanesian Community Leaders and Bursars at St Joseph’s High School, Solomon Islands. The meeting started with a prayer at the small Tenaru Cemetery, where three Marist Brothers are buried: Alphonsus Laumanasa, Edwin Meresinihinua, and Mark Poro. It allowed the participants to remember Mark, in particular, who died during COVID when many were prevented from attending his funeral.
The main topic was community finance and budgeting. The Brothers, however, agreed that it is not possible to separate this topic from other aspects of life as Brothers. Finance and stewardship of the resources are integrally tied to the fraternity, community, mission, and spirituality. These are the bases on which the Brothers in that region apportion their priorities.
In the end, Brother Peter commented: “It was an interesting and helpful gathering, where many practical issues were raised and discussed. Now, all participants have important follow-up work ahead of them.”