About Us

The Congregation of Sisters of Nazareth, established in 1933, is a religious order of women of the Catholic Diocese of Bougainville. The Congregation is a member of the Conference of Women Religious of Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands and the Federation of Religious of Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands.

 

The Autonomous Region of Bougainville has two main islands, many small islands, and atolls with coastal and mountainous areas. The population, estimate at 641,431 (National Statistics Office 2021), are Melanesian with some descendants of Micronesian and Polynesian origin.
There are three sub-regions – North, Central and South – and three main town centres with most of the population residing in villages.

• Buka, In North Bougainville

• Arawa, In Central Bougainville

• Buin, in Southern Bougainville

There are at least 29 indigenous languages (SIL-PNG) with Tok Pisin the common language.

The Region experiences earthquakes, is vulnerable to tsunamis and has active volcanoes.
Bougainville was explored for copper and gold mining, in the 1960s, which resulted in the Panguna Mine opening in 1969, managed by Bougainville Copper Limited (a subsidiary of Rio Tinto).

Activists proclaimed the independence of Bougainville (Republic of North Solomon’s) shortly

before Papua New Guinea in 1975 but this was not recognised.

 

Tensions over the mine rose in the late 1980s. Acts of sabotage on the mine led to the closure of the mine in 1989 and escalated into civil conflict between the Bougainville Revolutionary Army and the Papua New Guinea Defence Force. Conflict continued until 1998. It is estimate that 20,000 lives were lost due to fighting and the impacts of the blockade.

 

The Bougainville Peace Agreement was signed in 2001 and autonomy of governance was granted.

 

In November 2019, 97.7% of Bougainvilleans voted for independence rather than remaining as part of Papua New Guinea with “greater autonomy.”

 

While peace has been maintained at national level, the trauma of the crisis continues to impact individuals and communities. This continues to be seen, by Nazareth Centre for Rehabilitation, in the use of violence in communities and in the disrespect for law and order.

 

Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth

 

The Congregation of Sisters of Nazareth, established in 1933, is a religious order of women of the Catholic Diocese of Bougainville. The Congregation is a member of the Conference of Women Religious of Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands and the Federation of Religious of Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands.

 

During their 1993 Chapter, the Congregation of Sisters of Nazareth, decided to research their charism, spirit and spirituality. This led to a review of the Congregation of Sisters of Nazareth’s constitution in 1997 which gave the Congregation a clear vision and mission and mandate to establish the Nazareth Centre for Rehabilitation.

 

Due to the needs of the church and the signs of the times, in response to the Bougainville Conflict, the Congregation of Sisters of Nazareth in their concern for the flight of the people, especially women, children and youths, voted in support of the establishment of a rehabilitation centre at their 2001 General Chapter.

 

Nazareth Centre for Rehabilitation Inc. was incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act in 2016.

 

Nazareth Centre for Rehabilitation was initially established to provide services to women and children victims / survivors of violence but has expanded to include community programs focused on gender-based violence, and peacebuilding. Nazareth Centre for Rehabilitation also manages the Mabiri Juvenile Rehabilitation Centre on behalf of the Autonomous Bougainville Government.