5024(II)_Fr Alfred Maravilla elected President of Federation of Religious of PNG and Solomon Islands

March 2, 2019

By PGS Viceprovince Secretary's Offic

Madang, Papua New Guinea, 2 March 2019 -- At the conclusion of the annual meeting of the Federation of Religious (FOR) in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, Fr Alfred Maravilla, Provincial Superior of PGS was elected President for a term of two years.

The FOR is made up of Major Superiors of male and female Religious Congregations and Societies of Apostolic Life in both countries. Its purpose is to promote their welfare while respecting each institute's autonomy and charism, give joint witness and invigorate, encourage and enthuse members of their Gospel witness as well as sustain structures for collaboration and coordination with the Bishops.

As early as 2005 the FOR and the Catholic Bishops Conference have collaborated in formulating guidelines and protocols for Right Relationship in Ministry. This was approved in 2013 by the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith. During this annual meeting all the members of the FOR renewed their commitment to follow the approved protocol in cases of allegations of sexual misconduct by clerics, religious and church workers to ensure transparency, responsibility and accountability.

During this assembly the body also resolved to reflect more deeply on Consecrated life and Melanesian cultures today, not only traditional cultural values and practices as enablers but also those which could militate against consecrated life, social media (which forms culture) and different forms of human trafficking (many aspects of these have cultural elements) particularly through an annual meeting of formators.