GIVE
LOVE
PROTECT
Purpose and Mission
The Spiritan Fathers are dedicated to the Holy Spirit, the author of all holiness, and we place ourselves under the protection of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. We, therefore, live in willing obedience to the Holy Spirit, taking Mary as our model.
The Spiritans are committed to:
- helping those who have not yet heard the Gospel message or who have scarcely heard it
- helping those oppressed and most disadvantaged, as a group or as individuals
- helping the Church where it has difficulty finding workers
- The Spiritans are committed to the poor, and we do this by promoting justice for the individual.
Through our work in our individual parishes, schools, aged care facilities, hospitals, and the broader community we:
- are committed to the care of, support for, and evangelisation of all people but particularly the poor and oppressed.
- provide an opportunity for people of all ethnic groups, walks of life and ages to grow in faith and discipleship.
- Foster Christian communities and the education and training of a committed and responsible laity.
- provide vocations, ministry, and training for ministries, missionary, and religious life.
- engage in social and educational work in line with the Spiritan calling.
One heart and one soul (cf. Acts 4:32)
History
Spiritan History
The Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans) is an international Apostolic Missionary Order founded in 1703 by Claude Poullart des Places. In 1848 it amalgamated with the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, founded by Francis Libermann, to become the Congregation it is today.
Three Guiding Principles
Preaching the Good News, the practice of evangelical counsels, and life in a fraternal and praying community are the three essential elements that give our apostolic life its basis and unity.
Spiritan Rule of Life
The Congregation has its own Spiritan Rule of Life guidelines, which can be found here and operates within the parameters of the Catholic Church in Australia and Papua New Guinea, respectively.
Our Purpose And Mission
The Spiritan Fathers are dedicated to the Holy Spirit, the author of all holiness, and we place ourselves under the protection of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. We, therefore, live in willing obedience to the Holy Spirit, taking Mary as our model.
If you want to read more details about the Spiritan History, you can do that on the Spiritan Roma Website.
SPIRITANS OCEANIA
Spiritans Oceania History
Spiritans to come to Australia
The first attempt of Spiritans to come to Australia happened when the first Bishop of Perth, John Brady, visited Spiritan Co-Founder Fr Francis Libermann in 1845 at AMIENS (120 KM North of Paris) to seek Missionaries.
Fr Libermann appointed three priests and two brothers who joined 27 brothers, priests, and sisters who accompanied Bishop Brady from Europe to Swan River Colony, where Bishop Brady was ordained Bishop on May 18, 1845.
On arrival to Perth on 9 January 1846, Fr Maurice Bouchet fell seriously ill and died on 24 January 1846. Fr Maurice Bouchet was buried behind the Church of St John the Evangelist on the grounds of Mercedes College. The mission was unsuccessful, and the surviving Spiritans returned to France while one moved to Mauritius.
The second attempt happened between 1888 and 1892 when the Holy Ghost Fathers were invited to Ballarat by the then Bishop James Moore. St Patrick’s College was started in 1888 and was initially called Holy Ghost College and administered by Holy Ghost Fathers. The senior school closed after a promising start due to the Holy Ghost Fathers’ departure for France.
Christian brothers re-opened the college doors on 24 January 1893 and renamed it St Patrick’s College.
The third and more successful return of Holy Ghost Fathers to Australia took place in 1971 when they first arrived in Queensland. were asked to administer St Michael’s Church Dorrington, which is situated in Ashgrove, Queensland.
The Holy Spirit Parish in Bray Park, Queensland, was established shortly after in 1974 when Archbishop Rush handed the Pine Rivers area to the Spiritans. Parishes in Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia followed.
Parishes in other parts of Australia followed, 1977 in Victoria, New South Wales in 1991 and Western Australia in 1992.
Spiritans PNG History
Since 2013, Papua New Guinea has welcomed Spiritans in four Parishes.
Spiritans Oceania (AUS/PNG) Today
The Spiritans have a worldwide presence in 60 countries on all continents.
Headquarters are in Rome, Italy, where the General Superior and the General Council operate.
The group in Oceania has Spiritan priests from Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, Uganda and Vietnam.
In the 2021 ABS Census report, some 5.076 million people counted themselves as Catholics in Australia, down from 5.3 million in the previous Census In PNG, approximately 2 million people identify as Catholic.
PARISHES (AUS/PNG)
Australian Parishes
The Congregation in Australia has seven parishes, most with schools attached, located in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia, and requires at least sixteen members to carry out its mission effectively. Currently, the group has ten members.
- Holy Spirit, Bray Park, QLD
Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School (CPS), QLD – Archdiocese of Brisbane - St Francis Xavier, Goodna, QLD – Archdiocese of Brisbane
- Myall Coast Parish, St Stephen’s Parish, NSW
– Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle - St Dominic’s, Broadmeadows, VIC
St Dominic’s Catholic Primary School (CPS) – Archdiocese of Melbourne - St Francis Xavier, Frankston East, VIC and St John the Evangelist, Frankston, VIC
St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School (CPS) – Archdiocese of Melbourne - St Cecilia’s, Port Hedland, WA and
St Cecilia’s Catholic Primary School (CPS) – Geraldton Diocese - St John the Baptist, South Headland, WA – Geraldton Diocese
PNG Parishes
The PNG Congregation currently has four parishes and six members and would need three additional members to meet the parishes’ needs fully.
- St Joachim Parish, Aitape Diocese, West Sepik Province
- Holy Spirit Parish, Wewak Hill, Wewak Diocese
- Good Shepherd Parish, Haiwan, Wewak Diocese
- Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pumakos Parish, Wabag Diocese
PNG Congregation
Aitape PNG
St Cecilias Church
Port Hedland WA
Sr Francis Xavier Catholic Church
Goodna Qld
SPIRITANS OCEANIA
Our Vision
Informed by Gospel values and inspired by our Rule of Life, we, an international group of Spiritans, share the Good News, committing ourselves to the needs of the Australian Church in cooperation with Church leadership and in collaboration with other religious Congregations, discerning together the signs of the times.
We work especially with the marginalised towards reconciliation and in fraternal support of the needs of our collective needs.
SPIRITANS OCEANIA
Our Leadership​ Team
Please contact us for any question you might have.
Head Office
Spiritans House Oceania
4 Valiant Crescent
Strathpine, Qld 4500 Australia
Phone: +61 (0)7 3889 6460
E-mail: oceaniacssp@gmail.com
The organisation of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit in Oceania
Spiritans in Oceania hold an annual conference in Australia and, every four years, elect one of its members as its Leader for an initial term of four years with a provision for a further term.
The Congregation Leader is responsible for the community of Spiritans. He helps it respond faithfully to its calling and lead a joyful fraternal life. He is also responsible for the welfare of the Congregation’s members and for ensuring a life in the community.
Four members, including a bursar, are in the leadership team and have been elected for four years. These are:
Superior
Rev Edward Odhiambo Khaemba C.S.Sp
Spiritan House Australia
4 Valiant Crescent
Strathpine QLD 4500
Australia
Phone: +61 (0)7 3889 6460
E-mail: oceaniacssp@gmail.com
First Assistant
Rev George Zubuga Ayikande C.S.Sp
Spiritan House PNG
PO BOX 101
Aitape, Sandaun Province
Papua New Guinea
Phone: +67 5 8572 0221
E-mail: kandwez@gmail.com
Second Assistant
Rev Edward Chinua Okeke C.S.Sp
St Francis Xavier/St John the Evangelist Frankston
60 Davey Street
Frankston VIC 3933
Australia
E-mail: chinua94@hotmail.com
Bursar​
Rev January Victor Mkude C.S.Sp
St Francis Xavier Catholic Community
6 Church Street (PO Box 450)
GOODNA QLD 4300
Australia
Phone: +61 (0)7 3818 0111
E-mail: mkudetz@yahoo.com
SPIRITANS OCEANIA
Appreciation to Bishops
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759
Volunteers
23,090
Pounds of Food Given
356
Bibles Given Out
1,640
Families Served
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Spiritans Oceania comprises two countries, Australia and Papua New Guinea. With your kind, monetary and non-monetary support, we at Spiritans Oceania can assist missions in Papua New Guinea.