Subject: 'austraLasia' # 362
SOLOMONS: SDBs PUSH AHEAD DESPITE TROUBLES
SIBC News room – Julian Maka
Catholic Web site
The Catholic Church in Solomon Islands now has a website on the internet. This is revealed by Father Ambrose Pereira of the Salesians of Don Bosco who is the Director of Catholic Communications in Solomon Islands. Fr Pereira says the website is possible through the help of the Diocese of Cleveland in the United States of America. He says Bishop Anthony Pillar of Cleveland agreed to the idea following a request from his office. The site started on June 10th - five days after the joint operations took control of the armories of Solomon Islands.
All training facilities retrieved
The Don Bosco Trust of Solomon Islands has retrieved its training facilities at Rove prison following the mass walk-out by prisoners last week. Head of the Trust, Father Luciano Capelli says they were able to get their stuff and are still eager to go ahead once things come back to normal. Meanwhile, Father Ambrose Pereira says Don Bosco is keen to secure part time jobs from local companies for some prisoners who are still in Honiara.
He also says they may yet look at the possibilities of running classes for prisoners either at Holy Cross or a convenient venue if they find eight to ten of them. He says he has personally met four of them already in the past two days.
Don Bosco acquire site
The Don Bosco Trust in Solomon Islands is set to start building its much awaited Youth Centre soon. Head of the Trust, Father Luciano Capelli reveals this saying they have been allocated 10-hectares next to the Airport Motel, opposite Henderson airport. Fr Capelli says upon completion in 2001, the Centre will start with 90 standard six push-outs in January 2002. He stresses that they will start with Honiara push-outs only and then take forms 3 and 5 push-outs later. He says standard six push-outs will get three levels of training which will include secondary curriculum and two streams of skill training. On the other hand forms 3 and 5 will get self-employment and Christian values training which will both make them contribute to the economy and be better law abiding citizens. He also emphasizes that Don Bosco won't leave Solomon Islands.
Fr Capelli adds, the Trust will look at setting up on other islands after the Honiara Centre is up and running.
