Among those present in the Holy Cross Cathedral for the ceremony were the Governor General Sir Frank Kabui, government ministers

Overseas dignitaries, and family and friends included the retired archbishop of Gizo western province, Bishop Bernard O'p Granty, from Australia, who had spent almost 30 years doing religious work in Solomon Islands, Sr Mary McCarthy PBVM Religious education coordinator CBC in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, the superior of the Salesian Sisters, Sr Edner Mari, and Fr Moses Paluku SDB from Congo Africa.

Cardone succeeds Archbishop Adrian Smith, who served the church for more than 50 years.

The Honiara Diocese covers Honiara town and the provinces of Guadalcanal, Makira, Temotu and Central.

Archbishop Christopher Michael Cardone OP was born was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1957.

He was ordained to the priesthood on in May 1986 and assigned to the Dominican Novitiate and parish of St Gertrude in Cincinnati, Ohio.

In 1988 he answered a call from the Australian Dominicans to spend three years in Solomon Islands teaching and doing pastoral work in Gizo Diocese in the Western Province.

In Gizo he was cathedral and administrator, Vicar General, founding parish priest in Noro Catholic Community and parish priest and secondary school teacher in the most far western parish of Holy Rosary in Nila in the Shortland islands.

The original three years commitment was extended four times and on March 25th in 2001, he was appointed by St. John Paul to be the auxiliary bishop of Gizo Diocese where he was vicar for youth and Education.

In October 2004, on the retirement of the Marist Bishop Gerald Loft, Cardone was appointed Bishop of Auki Diocese in Malaita.

Auki is one of the fastest growing dioceses in Oceania with one of the highest percentage of local priests.

Source

• solomonstarnews.com
• theislandsun.com
• Image: photos1.blogger.com

He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Gizo in 2001 and from 2004 to the present he has been Bishop of Auki, Malaita Province.

A statement from the Archdiocese released to the media read, "On behalf of our Church Leaders, the clergies and the Catholic people of the Catholic Church of Solomon Islands we congratulate the newly appointed Archbishop Christopher Cardone OP, on your new appointment."

"Our prayers are with you as you generously accept this appointment to continue serving our people in the Solomon Islands."

The date for installation of the new Archbishop in the Archdiocese of Honiara is yet to be confirmed.

Cardone has served the Solomon Islands for the last 27 years.

He replaces Archbishop Adrian Smith who as retired on reaching the age of 75. He was Archbishop for 32 years

Honiara also has an auxiliary Bishop John Doaninoel. He was previously the auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea,

The area under the care of the Archdiocese of Honiara includes the five Provinces of Guadalcanal, Makira and Ulawa, Temotu, Central Islands and Rennell and Belona and the area governed by the Honiara Town Council. Total land area measures 10,726sq. kms.

Cardone born on December 20, 1957 in Long Island, New York, United States of America. After his studies at the Dominicano College (Rode Island), he made his religious profession on August 15th 1981.

He completed his studies at the "Dominican House of Studies" (Washington DC), before being ordained a priest on May 30, 1986.

After his ordination, he worked for two years as Assistant priest in Madeira, Cincinnati (Ohio).

In 1988 he moved to the Dominican Vicariate in the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, where he held the following positions: 1988: assistant in Nila; 1988-1995: Director of the Church of St. Peter in Gizo, director of vocations; 1995-2000: parish priest in Noro; 2000-2001 parish priest in Nila.

In 2001 he was appointed titular bishop of Tuburnica and Auxiliary of Gizo.

On 19 October 2004 he was appointed to be the bishop of the Diocese of Auki.

Source

• fides.org
• foreignaffairs.co.nz
• solomonstarnews.com
• myinforms.com
• Image: kellenberg.org

Chapuru is a village on the northwest coast of Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.

According to John Toki, Solomon Star's Guadalcanal correspondent, close to a thousand people braved the heavy downpour on Saturday to witness the blessing of the new church.

"These people came from communities in Guadalcanal, the nearby Savo, Russell, and Ngella Islands, Honiara, and also Malaita province.

"Members of other denominations were also part of the event."

Mr Toki said Archbishop Adrian Smith carried out the dedication of the new Church.

"That was a historic event for the community and one that they have been looking forward to because they started building the permanent church building some 20 years back."

Speaking at the occasion, Chairman of the Chapuru community Joseph Rios thanked those that contributed towards the completion of the building.

"Some of those who initiated the plan have passed on, but many were happy to finally witness the consecration of the building."

According to John Toki, Solomon Star's Guadalcanal correspondent, close to a thousand people braved the heavy downpour on Saturday to witness the blessing of the new church.

"These people came from communities in Guadalcanal, the nearby Savo, Russell, and Ngella Islands, Honiara, and also Malaita province.

"Members of other denominations were also part of the event."

Mr Toki said Archbishop Adrian Smith carried out the dedication of the new Church.

"That was a historic event for the community and one that they have been looking forward to because they started building the permanent church building some 20 years back."

Speaking at the occasion, Chairman of the Chapuru community Joseph Rios thanked those that contributed towards the completion of the building.

"Some of those who initiated the plan have passed on, but many were happy to finally witness the consecration of the building."

Source

• solomonstarnews.com
• Image: solomonstarnews.com

On Sunday the Archbishop Honiara, Adrian Smith reported that Brother Joris had been isolated from the centre, stranded between two damaged bridges.

Joris eventually managed to return to the Society of Mary's Regional House at Tanagai, but he had to leave his truck behind.

Smith said the good news was the centre, which is to the west of Honiara, is not damaged by the floods.

In an interview with the Catholic Reporter PNG, on Sunday afternoon April 6th Archbishop Smith thanked people for their concern. He said it not was possible as yet to give not a comprehensive report on the serious floods in Guadalcanal.

"This is just an attempt to share with you the bits of information I have been gathering since the floods started."

He said information about the situation of the church's communities and institutions was very scant because institutions were without power and even the mobile phone connections were not working well.

"On April 2nd it was already clear that we were going to have problems as we had a lot of heavy rain. It would seem that the flooding problem is on the lee side of Guadalcanal and not on the weather coast. "

Going towards Visale, Sacred Heart Parish, "which is over 20 kilometers west of Honiara a number of the bridges have been spoiled. It may not be the actual bridge that has been spoiled but the approach to the bridges as the rivers in flood when they are obstructed by the bridges they eat away the approach to the bridges on both sides."

Smith said that the situation to the east of Honiara has been the cause of much worry for him.

• "The some of the bridges on the road to Tetere, Christ the King Parish, have been spoiled; again I am not sure of the details."
• The Good Samaritan Hospital at Tetere lost their ambulance, it seems that it was on a rescue mission and got taken away by the flood and is now useless.
• St. Joseph's Catholic Secondary School had to evacuate many if not all their students. The flooding waters covered the school area and went into the girls' dormitory. With difficulty they were able to get a high truck that could wade its way to reach the school and evacuate the students. Many of them are in Honiara with relatives and others are sheltered in Kukum parish hall.
• St. Martin's a Rural Training Centre close to St. Joseph's Catholic Secondary school had also to evacuate their students, "some of them are with us here at Holy Cross."
• Nazareth Apostolic Centre Tenaru has been under water, but there are no reports of buildings being destroyed.
• Holy Name of Mary Interdiocesan Seminary also in the Tenaru area has been under water, again there have been no reports of damage of building.

Smith said, "Of course in all three places the food gardens have been destroyed."

Read more firsthand reports from the Solomon Islands
Source

• Supplied by Fr Giorgio Licini Catholic Reporter PNG
• Image: Radio New Zealand

The newly built church was consecrated by Archbishop Adrian Smith and was named St. Peter Chanel Church. The church is part of Holy Cross Parish which is headed by Archbishop Smith.

During the celebration Archbishop Adrian thanked catholic residents of Mataniko community in initiating and fulfilling their plan to build the church.

He urged young people in the community to take responsibility to look after the newly built church.

Source

• Solomon Star
• Image: Solomon Star