The Catholic Bishop Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands will build a new head office in Port Moresby.
Away from politics, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare turned the soil with Catholic Bishop Rochus Tatamai to signify the construction.
The new headquarters will house CBC departments in the coordination, planning and implementation of the evangelical and social outreach programs of the Catholic Church in the region.
Cardinal Sir John Ribat was also present with other dignitaries to witness the occasion.
The new headquarters is funded by local and international donors.
Bishop Rochus said that he was reminded that the church had been planted in the soil of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands many years ago by the first missionaries, and that the seed had continued to grow and flower since then with the blessing of God and power of the Spirit.
The old facilities located on the same Godwit Street location had proven inadequate to meet the needs of the growing Catholic community and its ever-extending service to the wider communities through PNGSI.
