Diocese of Gizo in the Solomon Islands

The Diocese of Gizo is one of three Dioceses in the Solomon Islands and was formed from the Vicariates of North and South Solomons in the early 1960s. It encompasses three Provinces: Choiseul, Santa Isabel and the Western Province. It spreads over an area of 12,600 square kilometres, populated by 92,000 people, of whom approximately 16,000 are Catholics.

There are a few larger settlements. Gizo, a town of 3,000, is the headquarters of the Diocese and is an administrative centre for the Western Province. Noro, the offical overseas port for the area, has a fish cannery and other light industry. At Ringi Cove is one of the few sustainable logging industries in the Solomons, and Taro, the Provincial Centre for Choiseul also is a small administrative centre. Otherwise, most of the people of this area live in small coastal villages, acessible only by outboard powered canoes.

In 1956 the first group of Australian Dominicans arrived to assume responsibility for the Diocese of Gizo which was created on the 15th of November 1956. The first Bishop was Eusebius John Crawford OP who was appointed Bishop on the 1st of March 1960 and retired on the 3rd of February 1995. He is shown here, close to his retirement.

Most priests of the Diocese are locally trained Dominicans and Diocesan clergy from the local communities. Dominican nuns also help to serve the needs of the local communities, with contributions as teachers, nurses, and in a variety of pastoral positions. The early mission was well assisted by many men and women volunteers from other countruies like Australia and New Zealand. Now all sisters working in the Diocese are from local communities.

The Diocese consists of six parishes, all of them spread over several villages. Catechists care for the Catholic needs of these communities on a day to day basis, supported by regular visits from the Parish Priest.

Education has always been a priority for the Gizo Diocese. During the 1950s and 60s, Catholic primary schools were established in several centres, with many young people travelling to them from outlying villages. With Independence in 1978, the Solomon Islands Government took over these schools, establishing in the process mostly village schools. A recent development means that most will again be coming back under the control of the Diocese. In Gizo there is a thriving kindergarten which has prepared children for school and there are three Regional Training Centres, at St Anne's, Nila, (for girls), at St Dominic's Vanga (for boys) and a Community college, St Therese's Wagina, for young men and women of post- school age.

The future of the Gizo Diocese will be strengthened by the further education of its people. There are several young men and women training for the priesthood and the religious life, and the role of the laitiy is a very important one here as in the the Catholic Church as a whole. A Pastoral Centre has been established at Moli, on the Island of Choiesul, where catechists are trained for their important role in the life of the Church. Over the last few years, representatives from the Movement for a Better World have been promoting Renewal throughout the Parishes to engage all Catholics in the life of the Church and in planning for the future.

Father Cyril O'Grady OP was appointed as the second Bishop on the 3rd of February 1995 and ordained Bishop Bernard O'Grady on the 19th of May 1995.

Bishop Chris Cardone OP, for many years a priest of the Diocese, was appointed Auxiliary Bishop on the 27th of March 2001. On the 12th of December 2004, Bishop Chris started new duties as the Bishop of Malaita, succeeding Bishop Gerry Loft who retired at that time.

Bishop Luciano Capelli was ordained Bishop of Gizo on October 21st , 2007 at Gizo by His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Zen– Cardinal of China.

Bishop Luciano Capelli sdb

“Lift up your hearts and all will be fine”

Luciano Don Capelli was born in Tirano (So) Italy on October 19th, !947. He attended primary school at Cologna di Tirano– Sondrio and went to high school at instituto Salesiano Montodine, in 1961.

He did his pre– aspirantate year in 1960-1961 and he went to instituto Salesiano San Bernardo for his aspiratate year. He did his novitiate at Missiagila Como from 1964– 1965 and made his first profession on August 16th, 1965.

From 1965– 1971 he was in the Philippines. He obtained his Bachelor Degree in Education– Philosophy studies in 1968, work as Biology instructor for Don Bosco Technical College of Engineering in 1969– 1970. Then in early 1971 he obtained Perpetual Profession and was a Classical Latin teacher in Don Bosco Seminary college.

In 1972 he returned to Italy to study theological studies at Instituto teologico Sam Tommaso. He was ordained a Deacon on December 10, 1974 at Sondrio. He completed his theological studies at 1975 in which he obtained his Bachelor Degree in theology. He was ordained a Priest in June 28, 1975 at Cologna di Tirano Sodrio (Italy).

In 1975 he went back to the Philippines and worked there until 1999. During those times, In 1976 to 1977 he was a Youth Center director for Don Bosco Technical College of Engineering. From 1977—1982 he become a Spiritual Director for Don Bosco Technical College of Engineering. In 1982 he was Rector for Don Bosco Technical institute at Tarlac, Philippians.

From !985 to 1991, he went for further studies and obtained his masters Degree in Education at Saint Joseph college of Graduate School, Manila. He was also Rector of Don Bosco Technical College of Engineering.

In 1991 to 1992 Bishop Luciano Capelli was Rector of Don Bosco Hall, for the boarding house for university Students in the Philippines. IFrom1992 to 1993 Bishop Capelli become a provincial council member and from 1993 to 1999 he was the Provincial for Manila and Papua New Guinea.

He came to the Solomons in 1999 as Rector for Don Technical Institute at Henderson in Honiara and this continued until 2007.

He was ordained Bishop of Gizo on October 21st , 2007 at Gizo by His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Zen– Cardinal of China.

Bishop Bernard O'Grady

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP BISHOP BERNARD O'GRADY OP

Bishop Bernard was born in Adelaide and educated there by the Dominican Sisters and the Christian Brothers. In 1950 he entered the Dominican Order and studied in Melbourne and Wahroonga, Sydney before being ordained in Adelaide on December 1^st 1956. Following one year of further study in Wahroonga he was appointed in 1958 to the newly opened Dominican Mission in the then Western Solomons.

He worked in various parishes and was also Catholic Education Director for the Gizo Diocese which had been formally established in 1964. During this time many new schools were opened and he was awarded an MBE for educational service as well as development work within the Western Solomons.

In 1981 he was elected at Prior (Superior) of the Dominican Novitiate and Retreat House at Blackfriars in Canberra where he spent six years engaged in giving Retreats and Spiritual Direction.

Following another two years back in the Solomons, in 1989 he was appointed to the Dominican College part of the Holy Spirit National Seminary in Bomana Papua New Guinea. There he was engaged in priestly and religious formation and lecturing at the Seminary.

The first part 1994 was spent working in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia at the Cross-Cultural Retreat Centreat Mirilinki (Turkey Creek). The later part of the year he joined a Domincan Parish Preaching Renewal Team for three months.

In May 1955 he was ordained Bishop of Gizo where he spent the next 12 years. During his time as Bishop he oversaw the dicoesan renewal program “We are Church” conducted with the assistance of the Movement for a Better World.

The major earthquake and tsunami that hit Gizo on Monday of Holy Week last year caused a great deal of damage within the Diocese and as Director of Caritas Solomon Islands Bishop Bernard was able to assist with the rehabilitation work that still continues and which has received generous support from Pittwater Parish.

While in Rome in June last year to attend the Caritas Intenationalis Meeting, Bishop Bernard's resignation was accepted and his successor Bishop Luciano Capelli SDB was appointed by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. Bishop Capelli was ordained as Bishop of Gizo on October 21^st. Bishop Bernard then returned to Australia and is now at Avalon, NSW.

Bishop Chris Cardone

Bishop Chris Cardone OP, for many years a priest of the Diocese, was appointed Auxiliary Bishop on the 27th of March 2001. On the 12th of December 2004, Bishop Chris started new duties as the Bishop of Malaita, succeeding Bishop Gerry Loft who retired at that time.