Some Significant Australia/ Pacific March Days for the Chevalier Family,

1 March, 1968

Opening of St Pauls National Seminary for Late Vocations at Kensington, Australia.

1 March, 1976

Archbishop Virgil Copas resigns as Apostolic Administrator Bereina, PNG, and Bishop Louis Vangeke is transferred to the see.

1 March, 1985

MSC house canonically erected in Fiji. .

2 March, 1965

First profession of a number of first MSC members: the first from Alotau, Eastern Papua, the first two from Kavieng diocese, New Ireland, the first from the Archdiocese of Port Moresby, in the first three from Kiribati, Pacific Union.        

10 March, 1933

Death of Father Jules Vandel, first Novice Master and first superior at Kensington, Australia.

11 March, 1942

World War II: Kabuna, Papua: “many aeroplanes in the air this morning. Brother Jean Koewiede is very sick; in the valley there is no more hope for the Carmelite Sister Marie de la Croix.) (De Boismenu, Notebook)

17 March, 1943

Three FDNSC, three MSC from Manus, PNG, eight MSC from New Ireland, PNG, together with 39 SVD missionaries and Holy Spirit Sisters, are killed at sea between Kavieng and Rabaul, PNG, during the Japanese war in the Pacific.

18 March, 1900

Father Alain de Boismenu, appointed coadjutor to Bishop Navarre, is ordained Bishop in Montmartre, Paris.

20 March, 1886

Father Hubert Linckens, MSC, who becomes historical founder of the MSC Sisters, is ordained at s'Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.

25 March, 1881

The Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith officially offers the MSC the two Vicariates of Melanesia and Micronesia.

25 March, 1901

First Profession ceremony of 11 MSC Sisters in Hiltrup, Bishop Louis Coupe presiding.

25 March, 1918

Centenary photograph 2018

Foundation of the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Lord in Papua New Guinea by Monsignor Alain de Boismenu.

25 March, 1955

Archbishop Carboni opens new Regional Junior Seminary for the eight vicariates apostolic of PNG. Australian staff, Father Kevin English MSC, first Rector.

28 March, 1898

From March 22 to April 6, Father de Boismenu makes a dangerous journey from Yule Island to Thursday Island via Cooktown: rough sea, the main sails are lowered, water enters the ship, the captain is terrified. On March 28, he writes: “terrible night. We pass the coral reef at 2 p.m..”

29 March, 1938

The name of the diocese of Victoria-Palmerston, Australia, is changed to diocese of Darwin.

31 March, 1902

Mission appointment of first 12 MSC Sisters by Father H. Linckens MSC to the Marshall Islands and New Pomerania, New Britain, PNG.

31 March, 1950.

Agreement signed between Father Provincial Aidan Breene, Australia, and Monsignor Matsuoco, Bishop of Nagoya, concerning Mission in Japan.