Diocese of Gizo in the Solomon Islands
Opening of Gaomai Church and Michael Kisu's Jubilee

In January 2004 a new Church was blessed and officially opened by Most Rev Bernard O'Grady OP. The Church is situated on the north-west coast of Shortland Island some 30 kms ( as a canoe travels) from the main Parish Centre at Nila. The Church was some eight years in building. There was financial assistance from the Catholic Missions but the people themselves worked hard to fund-raise to cover main costs. Part of the delay in completing the Project was both the Bougainville (still part of Papua New Guinea ) Crisis and the ethnic tension and fighting that plagued the Solomons for 4 years. The village of Gaomai is very close to Buin in southern Bougainville so that when the border was closed during the Crisis the people were cut off from the their main source of cash, the sale of fish both dried and fresh at Buin Town.

But despite these problems, the people managed to complete a building that will serve them for some years to come. The celebrations that marked the opening by Bishop Bernard continued the whole day with music and dancing, both traditional and modern. As is always the case several pigs and a large amount of fish were enjoyed as part of the traditional feast.



BROTHER MICHAEL KISU'S OP SILVER JUBILEE OF PROFESSION.

The day following the opening of Gaomai Church, Brother Michael Kisu, a native son of Gaomai Village, celebrated his Silver Jubilee of Profession as Friar Preacher midst his family and many friends, including the Honorable John Momis from Bougainville, his cousin. Many of his local Dominican community were also in attendance as was Bishop Bernard who celebrated the Jubilee Mass. Brother Michael is a quadriplegic brought about from a driving accident he suffered some 15 years ago. He now lives in Australia but visits ' home' every two years. The celebrations included traditional dancing and feasting. Brother Michael Kisu is a lively character whose determination to live as full a life as possible has been an inspiration to many people both in Australia and the Solomons.



The new Church

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Brother Michael Kisu in procession

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Blessing the Altar.

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Brother Michael renews his vows

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Cutting the ribbon- Fr Theodoro

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Clearing the Spirits

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Blessing the plaque

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Last change: Apr. 20, 2006 at 23:14

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