Ten Pacific men were ordained deacons of the Roman Catholic Church at a ceremony in Suva's Sacred Heart Cathedral in Fiji at the weekend.
Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi of Tonga called on the men - from Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Tonga and Samoa to remember their roles as servants.
"Our Pacific people treat us (priests) as chiefs, matai or nopele and we are thankful to them for that honour," Cardinal Mafi said.
"But never forget that walking in the footsteps of Jesus we must first be servants - servants of the people and servants of God."
Islands Business reports relatives of the men travelled from across the Pacific to attend the ordination.
The deacons will serve 12 months in parishes across the region before a final determination is made on their ordination as priests.
All 10 are graduates of the Pacific Regional Seminary, Veiuto in Suva.
The 10 Seminarians ordained were: Bakatete, Beniata MSC (Kiribati), Lutua Epeli MSC (Fiji), Tebaiuea Robati MSC (Kiribati), Werner, Jeffrey Richard CM (Solomon Is), Kinika Lorensio CM (Solomon Is.) Olie Lutuviko SM (Tonga), Melsul Louis Maite SM (Vanuatu), Tanielu Archdiocese of Samoa - Apia, Godinet Mark, Archdiocese of Samoa—Apia and Hazelman Marcus Archdiocese of Samoa—Apia.
Pic: Islands Business. Cardinal Soane Patita Mafi Paini of Tonga celebrates Mass for the ordination of 10 Pacific men as deacons of the Catholic Church