Columban missionaries at UN Oceans Conference

The world’s oceans are groaning from the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss, coastal development, over-fishing, exploitative mining and pollution - Photo:canva.comThe world’s oceans are groaning from the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss, coastal development, over-fishing, exploitative mining and pollution - Photo:canva.com

The world’s oceans are groaning from the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss, coastal development, over-fishing, exploitative mining and pollution.  Pacific Island nations including Fiji where Columban missionaries have lived and served for seventy years, are increasingly at the forefront of the consequence of these perils.

For the first time, a cohort of Church leaders including Columban missionaries are attending the United Nations Oceans Conference to amplify the voices of the most vulnerable and advocate for care for God’s creation.  Archbishop Peter Loy Chong, President, Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania and Archbishop, Archdiocese of Suva, Fiji is one of the delegates.  Archbishop Peter stated: "Caring for the environment and addressing climate change must go together. We cannot simply advocate against the climate crisis while continuing to damage our common home. Our Holy Father urges political and business leaders to stop thinking of short-term gains and work for the common good.  In addition, Catholic Social Teaching instructs that human beings and the care for God's creation must be at the centre of economic development. We will lift up that prophetic advocacy throughout the UN Ocean Conference."

Church leaders are hosting a side-event titled “Oceania Talanoa: Faith, Indigenous, and Nature’s Moana Shaping and Safeguarding Innovations of the Sea,” which will take place at 3.00am AEST on Wednesday June 29th.  The event will be broadcast live on the Laudato Si’ Movement YouTube and Facebook channels. (see link below)

The following UN Ocean Conference delegates are scheduled to participate:

  • Cardinal John Ribat, Chairman of the Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania and Member of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
  • Theresa Ardler, Research Indigenous Liaison Officer at Australian Catholic University, Director and Owner of Gweagal Cultural Connections
  • Archbishop Peter Loy Chong, Archdiocese of Suva, Fiji and current President of the Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania
  • Amy Woolam Echeverria, International Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation for Columban Missionaries and Co-coordinator of the Ecology Taskforce of the Vatican Covid 19 Commission
  • Pelenatita Kara, Program Manager with the Civil Society Forum of Tonga
  • Malialosa Tapueluelu, Program Officer of Caritas Tonga
  • Fr. Pedro Walpole, SJ, Global Coordinator for Ecojesuit, Research Director for the Environmental Science for Social Change, and Network Coordinator for the River Above Asia Oceania Ecclesial Network.
  • Dr. Robyn Reynolds, OLSH, Senior Lecturer at Yarra Theological Union 
  • Tevita Naikasowalu, Coordinator for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation for the Columban Mission Society in Fiji
  • Musamba Mubanga, Senior Advocacy Officer at Caritas Internationalis*
  • Fr. Prem Xalxo, SJ, Faculty Member at Pontifical Gregorian University*

 *participating as a delegate at the UN Ocean Conference but not speaking at the parallel event


Sr Caroline Vaitkunas RSM
Peace, Ecology and Justice Team member
Columban Mission Centre, Essendon

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