During their three-day meeting in Guam, the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences in Oceania focuses on modern slavery and migration, formation, pastoral care, globalization, and social injustices.
Catholic Bishops from across Oceania convened in Guam May 18–20 to address regional challenges, including modern slavery, migration, and the future of ministry in the Pacific.
The Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania (FCBCO) Executive Committee met to consider how the Church can support vulnerable migrant workers and foster dignified, respectful migration throughout the region, stated a press release from the Federation.
A key focus, it noted, was the Federation’s recent submission to the New South Wales inquiry into modern slavery risks facing temporary migrant workers in rural and regional areas. In particular, the Bishops affirmed their ongoing commitment to the Migrants and Refugees Oceania Network, which advocates for the rights and well-being of displaced and migrant communities.
Discussions also explored the broader impact of migration on sending and receiving countries, as well as strategies for strengthening pastoral care and formation for laity, priests, and Bishops.
The meeting, led by Archbishop Ryan P. Jimenez of Guam, began Monday with a traditional welcome by the Indigenous CHamoru people of the Mariana Islands, with local children performing prayers and songs in the indigenous language.
The Bishops also visited the Shrine of Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores, the 17th-century Spanish Jesuit missionary martyred in Guam, and attended a reception showcasing CHamoru culture.
Moreover, the statemenet notes that Bishops initiated discussions on the 2028 Plenary Assembly of all Oceania Bishops, to be held in Sydney ahead of the Eucharistic Congress. Initial suggestions for the assembly agenda include continued reflection on synodality, youth engagement, safeguarding, indigenous ministry, and environmental stewardship.
