Family Life Commission Reawakens the Flame of Faith and Family in Honiara

Honiara, Solomon Islands: A wave of spiritual renewal and healing swept through the Archdiocese of Honiara as the Family Life Commission of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (CBCPNGSI) conducted a deeply moving and spirit-filled workshop for Catholic Family Life Coordinators from March 19 to March 23, 2025.

(Group picture of the participants and the facilitators after the sessions...picture supplied)

Held in the heart of the Archdiocese, the workshop brought together 35 dedicated married couples—true witnesses to the sacrament of marriage—who came with open hearts and a desire to deepen their vocation and service to God’s family.

Under the gentle guidance of Sr. Lucy D’Souza, Noel Langu, Fr. Piotr Michelski, and Miss Leotina Akwai, participants were led through key areas that are critical to modern Catholic family life: Drugs and Alcohol, Gender and Communication in Marriage, Prenatal and Postnatal Care, Human Dignity and Responsibility, and the profound teachings of Theology of the Body.

Each session was not merely a lecture, but an invitation—to healing, to conversion, and to holiness within the family unit. Hearts were touched, tears were shared, and lives were changed as couples encountered not just information, but Christ Himself at the center of family life.

In his heartfelt remarks, His Excellency Archbishop Christopher Cardone, OP, expressed great joy and gratitude for the Commission’s visit, noting that it had been 31 years since their last presence in the Diocese, back in 1994. He said, “Such visits from the head office strengthen our people and echo the spirit of synodality—walking together as one Church, one 

Body in Christ. It is a visible witness of Christ’s love for every family.”

The workshop concluded with a stirring address from the Archbishop, who reminded all in attendance of their sacred calling:“To build strong families in the Church, we must share our own joys and struggles within the family and with others. Let us reflect the values of the Holy Family of Nazareth—Jesus, Mary, and Joseph—and let our homes become small domestic churches where faith is lived and love is practiced daily.” He inspired us with his great enthusiasm and pastoral approach towards the people around him. Indeed he is synodality in action of the gospel. We noticed it everyday after the Mass. 

This unforgettable week has left a powerful imprint on the Catholic families of Honiara—rekindling their faith, renewing their mission, and reminding them that the family is truly the heart of the Church and the foundation of a holy society.