50 years ago, a priest, a brother, four sisters and two lay nurses came to the then British Protectorate. All six belonged to the Dominican family and arrived at Nila in 1956. Four of the pioneers are still alive and two will be joining in the celebrations in Gizo on Saturday and Sunday, the 17th and 18th June, 2006. Several church and other dignitaries from the Solomon Islands and overseas are expected to join in the celebrations.

Members of the Dominican Family, mainly the friars, sisters and lay people are involved in various kinds of pastoral ministry throughout the Diocese of Gizo. These include  educational works such as teaching in schools, administration and parish pastoral work. Priests, brothers and sisters join forces and form pastoral teams to visit the villages and the numerous logging camps that are not always easily accessible and most often demand outboard powered canoe trips.

The church has been blessed by several priestly and religious vocations. Many persons are in formation both at Holy Spirit Seminary, Bomana, PNG and at the Holy Name of Mary Seminary, Tenaru, Solomon Islands. Several sisters assist in educational and other ministries. This has been the most significant development of the church  since the arrival of the Australian sisters in 1956. The congregation now is fully localized and has the right to elect its own leader and council as well as appoint their own formation team.

Lay catechists were a basic part of the early church evangelized by the Marist congregations. After Vatican II, lay ministries to assist in pastoral work received even greater prominence. To foster pastoral training  a formation centre was established at Moli in the 1960s. The lay church workers have been a very powerful force in the Diocese of Gizo. The Diocesan renewal, during the past eight years, which culminated in the Diocesan Pastoral Assembly in 2005, owes much of its success to the commitment and hardwork of these lay people.

The Golden Jubilee celebrations open with the Eucharistic celebration at St. Peter's Cathedral, Gizo at 9am on 17th June, 2005. A display historical artifacts and photographs will follow. The guests and visitors will then have the opportunity of a visit to the site of the first school and mission station on Loger Hill. A Thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration will be held on Sunday, 18th June, at 9 a.m. Entertainment, a festive meal, speeches and the cutting of the Jubilee cake will conclude the celebrations.

WELCOME to Holy Cross Cathedral and the Archdiocese of Honiara in the Solomon Islands!

The area under the care of the Archdiocese 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

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Dominic Gapiurutara and Howard Deli were ordained deacons by Archbishop Adrian Smith sm, Archbishop of Honiara at Holy Cross Cathedral, on 25th June, 2006. Over 1500 people were present for a very lively liturgical celebration. Dominic Gapiurutara hails from the Immaculate Heart of Mary parish, Manivovo, while Howard Deli, comes St. Michael's parish, Avuavu. They are now on their final step for the priesthood.

Fr. Gregory Gay cm, Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission arrived in Solomon Islands on 26th August, 2006. He is on his visit of the Asia Pacific works and institutions.

Fr. Greg was elected Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission in July 2004 and is based in Rome. Before his election he served as a missionary priest for 20 years in Latin America. 15 years was as a formator in Panama and for 5 years he was Provincial of Central America, and was based in Guatemala.

While in Solomon Islands he will meet with his confreres of the Holy Name of Mary Seminary, Tenaru and the Nazareth Apostolic Centre, Tenaru.

The Congregation of the Mission is a community of Roman Catholic priests and brothers founded by St. Vincent de Paul in 1625 for the evangelization of the poor and the formation of the clergy. They are working in about 120 countries of the world and arrived in Solomon Islands in 1990.

- Fr. Ambrose Pereira sdb

19 DBVG Japanese Volunteers, 10 boys, 7 girls and two Salesians spent three weeks in Solomon Islands. They assisted with the construction of a refectory at the Don Bosco Rural Training Centre, Tetere, together with the students and people. The evenings were spent interacting with youngsters who frequented the parish. They visited  Sali, Swagi, Komporo and Tururana  spent time in song and dance and shared the simple custom food of the people. Cultural presentations and exchanges were held at Don Bosco Henderson and Nouva Community school, Tetere.

Don Bosco Volunteer Group is based in Tokyo, Japan. The group arrived on 14th August and returns to Japan on 1st September, 2006.

A beautiful 224 page coloured pictorial souvenir entitled: 'Presim Blesim Prisim - To praise, to bless, to preach' was released by Sr. Rosemary Kinne op, on 18th June, 2006 at the Golden Jubilee celebrations in Gizo.

The publication - a project of the Dominican Sisters of Eastern Australia and the Solomon Islands speaks of joy, laughter, commitment, zeal and the many attitudes and values needed for the Solomon mission. Beginings, Bishops, Catechists, Sisters, Friars, Lay Missionaries, Mission Boats, Pan Pipes, Local Sisters, Local Friars, Visitors are some of the many chapters of the publication. Copies can be obtained from the Dominican sisters in Gizo and Honiara.

The stage was set for a very enjoyable celebration as over 1200 friends and well wishers gathered on 18th June, 2006 at St. Peter's Cathedral, Gizo. Joseph Lalaubatu welcomed the gathering and outlined the programme. The enactment of the departure and arrival of the first Dominicans from Australia to the Solomon Islands, by the young Dominicans opened the celebrations at 9 a.m. on a very fine Sunday morning. The actors very humorously brought out the difficulties of the Solomon Islands mission, drawing cheers, laughter and applause from the audience. The procession led by the Vanga panpipes moved to the cathedral to begin the Eucharistic celebration.

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