The Catholic Church in Solomon Islands is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome.
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Catholic evangelisation of the Solomon Islands archipelago in the nineteenth century was mostly in the hands of the Marist Fathers.[1]
There are just over 90,000 Catholics in Solomon Islands; just under a quarter of the total population. The country is divided into three dioceses: the Archdiocese of Honiara, the Diocese of Gizo and the Diocese of Auki. Solomon Islands sent a delegation of young people for the first time to World Youth Day 2008 when it was held in Sydney, Australia.[2] In 1957 the current cathedral, Holy Cross Cathedral in Honiara, was blessed and opened to the public.
Holy Name of Mary Seminary at Tenaru in Guadalcanal was founded in 1995 and serves the three dioceses. It is under the care of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentian Fathers and Brothers).
References
- ^ Laracy, Hugh (1976). Marists and Melanesians. A History of Catholic Missions in the Solomon Islands. Canberra: Australian National University Press. ISBN 0708104045.
- ^ "Oceania Plans Bigger Turnout for Youth Day '08". Zenit News Agency. September 8, 2006. Archived from the original on May 10, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-09.