SR Veronica Vasethe, who is also an ordained priest, now heads the Community of the Sisters of the Church (CSC) in the Anglican Church of Melanesia.

She was ordained into the Anglican Priesthood while serving her religious community in England.

Sr Veronica from Isabel was elected to the post of Sister Provincial last year, replacing Sr Kathleen Kapei whose term lapsed in 2016.

Reverend Sr Veronica was officially blessed and inducted by the community’s Bishop Visitor, the Bishop of Guadalcanal the Right Reverend Nathan Tome at Tete Ni Kolivuti, east of Honiara on Sunday (March 26, 2017).

In his short but very encouraging sermon, Bishop Tome highlighted that to become a leader, one has to ‘replace the garments of title and status with a garment of service’.

He was reflecting on the gospel story of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet during which he removed his outer garments, and put on a towel before proceeding to wash his disciples’ feet.

Rev Sr Veronica brings with her Wealth of experiences and knowledge as a Sister and ordained priest serving at St Andrews parish in Ham, England.

In her speech at the gathering on Sunday, she said, upholding the Spirituality of her community as the body of Christ is one amongst her priorities.

“I would like to encourage this community (CSC) to work together as servants and co-workers of the Lord,” the new Sister Provincial said.

Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Melanesia, the Most Reverend George Takeli, who was the chief celebrant at the important service, also pledges his continuous support to Sr Veronica as she begins her new role in Melanesia.

She was also congratulated by the other three religious orders, families and supporters of the community.

Sr Veronica joined the CSC in 1989 and was later made her profession from 2001 to 2006.

In 2007 she left for studies at Trinity College in Bristol, UK and was awarded Bachelor Theology in Arts with Honours in 2012.

In September the same year, she was ordained into priesthood and served as a priest in UK until early this year.

According to Archbishop Takeli, Sr Veronica will carry out her role as a priest only at TNK and Christian Care Centre (CCC) under a hospitality decision offered by the Church’s Council of Bishops.

The decision was given in light of the fact that the issue of ordination of women is still being discussed by the Church’s General Synod.

The ACOM General Secretary Dr Abraham Hauriasi, Vicar General of the Diocese of Central Melanesia (DOCM) Reverend Philip Rongotha, representatives from the other three religious orders and family representatives also came to witness the event.

–ACOM MEDIA