Mothers’ Union members celebrate 100th anniversary in the Pacific Islands

Mothers’ Union members in the Pacific Islands have been celebrating their centenary with a week of events in the Solomon Islands.

Last month some 2,000 members gathered at Saint Barnabas Provincial Cathedral to mark 100 years of the Mothers’ Union (MU) in the Anglican Church of Melanesia.

Celebrations included a drama telling the story of Mrs Emily Sprott, a missionary wife who started the Mothers’ Union in Ysabel in 1919. There was also dancing and singing from all the dioceses, helping retrace the history of the MU over the past century.

The Archbishop of Melanesia, Leonard Dawea, who led the Eucharist Service, challenged all members to be agents of change in their homes and communities, and to continue the social policy work pioneered by Mary Sumner.

Speaking at the event, the Provincial President, Pamela Abana, challenged members to practice self-reliance. She said: “Working in Prisons and Hospitals in Honoria. The MU visits with food and leads bible studies. The MU delivers life skills, parenting and literacy to inmates… The next 100 years will see rapid changes. We must remain faithful in winning homes for Christ and tackling social issues.”

The week-long celebrations aimed to honour the work, achievements and life of MU pioneers in Melanesia and further strengthen its work with faith and action. Talks from different speakers sharing the current work across the Province, were also a time to reflect on the future of the MU in Melanesia and how it continues to be a pioneering force.