Society of Saint Francis

04/11/2024

Farewell to Solomon Islands. Managed to see about maybe 80% of the brothers. Plus a number of former brothers and Third Order and Companions. We've made good progress in some areas. Getting things set up for distance education at Hautambu. Hopefully a supply of solar recharge reading lights for study. Upgrade to IT at Patteson House. Planning for next year on our environment mission. Some good networking for that. Exploration of government subsidy for line for getting electric power from Selwyn College to Hautambu and the other places between.

Our finances are still a mystery but hopefully we've made a few steps forwards. The challenge will be to get the farm producing a profit once again after several years of losing money.

Patteson House has more regular prayer times. Now if all the brothers could get to them that would be a miracle 🙏. And if the brothers can do more to restrain the crowds there, that would be even better ... We live in hope!

Looking forward to returning in April next year and helping nudge things forward a bit more.

03/11/2024

Does anyone in Honiara know any business able to do a rooftop installation of a Starlink antenna for us at Hautambu?

02/11/2024

A very full celebration coming up at All Saints, Honiara.

30/10/2024

Good morning from Patteson House. Morning Prayer was at 5am. Now going across to All Saints for Eucharist. It's early morning, but good to enjoy being out in slightly cooler temperatures.

25/10/2024

Notice of the International Peace Research Assn conference to be held in Aotearoa, 2025. The theme: Peace, Resistance, Reconciliation. Te Rongo i Tau, Te Riri i Tū, Te Ringa i Kotuia.

Details at:

Celebrating sixty years since International Peace Research Association was first founded in 1964, the 30th IPRA biennial conference, warmly welcomes you to join the largest body of global peace researchers, students, academics and community-based practitioners to Aotearoa New Zealand from 5-8 Novemb...

25/10/2024

One of the fun things I get to do here. The oldest computer in the office was 20 years old, and its younger partner not that much less. With reconditioned micro PCs I carried over from Australia and reconditioned monitors bought here we now have fast zippy computing which doesn't crash every few minutes. New on the left. Old on the right and heading out for the graveyard for old IT.

21/10/2024

Smaller numbers at Hautambu now the chapter brothers have left. Just around 25 novices and 9 aspirants (soon to be received as postulants), and the 10 or so of the professed who run the place and who teach those in formation and those priest brothers who preside at our daily Eucharist.

With a smaller household we can gather round the altar for the Eucharist and administer the Sacrament to each other.

18/10/2024

Planting coconuts on the friary picnic beach at Hautambu. The pole in the sea is part of the Anglican Church of Melanesia climate observatory and for recording sea levels each day.

18/10/2024

The roof is going on the library and study hall and dormitory block. Because every building needs a good name the chapter today decided today to name the building after Brother Daniel SSF in memory of him and his pioneering work in Solomons.

17/10/2024

Mission is the dog's name! Welcome to midday prayer at La Verna Friary, Hautambu.

16/10/2024

The new library and study and dormitory block is nearly complete. Downstairs are 5 bedrooms. Upstairs a large hall for lectures and study and a smaller enclosed library area. We'll be connected up for remote learning with screen and internet connection when it's finished.

16/10/2024

Chapters need breaks. We're well looked after here with plenty of tea and biscuits.