From Liberation Theology to Mother of Peace: Mary’s role during the Bougainville crisis (1988-1998)

Description

Since Marist missionaries introduced the Catholic pantheon in the early 1900s, the mother of Jesus has played a significant role in Bougainville, an autonomous region of Papua New Guinea. In Bougainville’s predominantly matrilineal and Catholic societies (65% of the population is Catholic), Mary is venerated as a mother, or rather as Mama Maria, as she is called all over Bougainville. The popularity of Mary grew to unprecedented heights during the Bougainville crisis (1988-1998). This civil war caused immense suffering but also triggered a surge in popular devotions as people looked for spiritual guidance to deal with the hardships of the crisis. This paper shows how in Bougainville, Mary has been seen as both an enabler of political transformation and liberation, but also as a Mother who protects her devotees and has brought peace to Bougainville.

Period	26 Jun 2025
Event title	Something About Marys: : Analysing the Reception of the New Testament Marys
Event type	Workshop
Location	Fitzroy, AustraliaShow on map
Degree of Recognition	National