Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania Executive Members gather at CBC PNGSI for meeting

Port Moresby: The Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania Executive Members are currently in Port Moresby for a meeting hosted by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

FCBCO Executive Members with the Sareke Bamboo Band members.

The Executive Members were given a warm traditional welcome to the CBC PNG headquarters by the Sareke Bamboo Band from Bougainville and witnessed by the CBC staff on Monday May 12, 2025.

In his welcome remarks, His Lordship Auxiliary Bishop Justin Ain Soongie from Wabag Diocese welcomed the Executive Members to CBC PNGSI saying that it was a pleasure hosting them for their Annual General Meeting.

Bishop Anthony Randazzo from Broken Bay Diocese, Australia in his remarks said it was a delight for those who traveled in from other parts of Oceania to be here in PNG for the FCBCO AGM.

“I was very blessed to be here in September last year when the late Holy Father Pope Francis was here and since his visit, we have also received great news of the Canonization of Blessed Peter ToRot to be the first Martyr and Saint in Papua New Guinea and another great inspirational Saint and Martyr to all of us in Oceania”

Bishop Randazzo concluded by asking everyone to keep the Executive Members of the FCBCO in their prayers for the duration of their meeting.

The Executive Members include:

·      President: Bishop Anthony Randazzo, Bishop of Broken Day Diocese, Australia.

·      Vice President: Archbishop Ryan P Jimenez, Archbishop of Agaña, Guam.

·      Archbishop Paul Martin SM, Archbishop of Wellington, New Zealand.

·      Archbishop Peter Loy Chong, Archbishop of Suva, Fiji.

·      Auxiliary Bishop Justin Ain Soognie, Bishop of Wabag, Papua New Guinea.

·      Bishop Peter Houhou, Bishop of Gizo, Solomon Islands.

·      Bishop Michael Dooley, Bishop of Dunedin, New Zealand.

·      Bishop Brian Mascord, Bishop of Wollongong, Australia.

·      General Secretary: Fr Chris De Souza, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.

All Executive Members are present except for Vice President Archbishop Ryan P Jimenez who could not make it due to health reasons.

The Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania comprises of the Episcopal Conferences of Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific and Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.