The Church in the South Pacific

Bishop Chris Cardone, O.P. is a Dominican friar currently serving as Bishop of the Diocese of Auki, Solomon Islands. The remote island country sits in the South Pacific, one thousand miles northeast of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, and immediately east of Papua New Guinea. Auki is one of three dioceses in the country, recently erected in 1982. In 30 short years, the number of Catholics and of native priests has more than quadrupled, with 50,000 Catholic faithful and 32 priests. There are 11 full parishes, as well as parishioners scattered among 60 different small islands (to which priests commute by boat). Dominicana is thankful to have this opportunity to hear from Bishop Chris and learn more of the good work he is doing abroad.

What values did growing up in a Catholic family teach you? What experiences or lessons still remain with you today?

I grew up on Long Island, NY, in the parish of St. Raymond of Penyafort in Lynbrook. We were richly blessed to grow up in an incredibly active parish, where church was not just a part of our life but was at the heart of our family. My parents were both active in school and church activities, and my Dad, who is a lawyer, wrote the first Parish Council Constitution and was even on the parish Finance Committee into his 80s. My three siblings and I all attended 8 years at St. Raymond’s School, under the direction of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters, from Scranton, who made a great impact on our lives. We still keep in contact with sisters who taught us there!

Growing up in a diocesan parish, I did not know much about men’s religious life, but coincidentally our family regularly sat in a pew that was under the stained glass window of St. Dominic receiving the rosary. The main altar also had a carving of St. Raymond “traveling” across the water on his Dominican cappa! Our parish was a real community of faith, and it was a great seedbed for a vocation to Dominican life.

Growing up we always got Maryknoll Magazine, and I quite vividly remember waiting for each month’s edition to arrive, to devour the mission stories which always seemed interesting, faith-filled and exciting.

I attended Chaminade High School, run by the Marianists, whom my older brother joined. Sometimes people ask why I did not join, but I knew that I was not cut out to be a high school teacher. The Marianists gave a great example of hard-working religious, dedicated to education in the spirit of Mary our Blessed Mother!

In senior year of high school, 1976, I went to visit colleges. It was the custom then just to apply to a few places, and I applied to schools that were popular: Villanova, Boston College, and Providence College. Luckily at the time all three were relatively easy to get into, and I was accepted at all three. During a visit to Providence with my Dad, I saw my first Dominican friar, and something about the Order seemed attractive to me right from the beginning! I began at PC as a Business major but eventually changed my major to Humanities, where I concentrated on history and languages—Spanish and Italian. My 4 years at PC were very happy ones, and I discovered my vocation there. Daily mass with the Dominicans, who always preached a thoughtful homily, and seeing the friars live their faith joyfully, attracted me to apply senior year. Then, upon graduation I began my novitiate that August!

Bishop Cardone and the People of the Solomon Islands

What do you remember most in looking back on your early years as a Dominican student and as a young priest?

I entered with the hopes of being a missionary, and having Fr. Steve Fitzhenry as my novice master—a former missionary in Pakistan—I learned more about Dominican mission life. As a student brother in Washington, I was given permission to apply for a Pakistani visa, but with the tension with Afghanistan at that time and the fact that Pakistan was not open to more American missionary priests, I was declined a visa twice. At ordination, I was posted to St. Gertrude’s in Madeira, OH, and initially I was disappointed not to have a missionary posting, but it was a great place to begin the priesthood. Even though I served there nearly 30 years ago, they remain some of my best mission supporters! I always like to say that in the seminary you learn a lot about theology and philosophy, but it is the good people in the parish who teach you how to be a priest.

How did you first react to getting the call to the Solomon Islands, and how did you initially react upon arrival?

After being at St. Gertrude’s for 2 years, the provincial asked for men to help the Australian Province in their mission in the Solomon Islands. The only thing I knew about the Solomon Islands was that it was famous during WWII for the Battle of Guadalcanal, and for JFK’s PT-109 shipwreck/rescue story!

I began my 3 year mission assignment in November 1988, which was to help with formation and pastoral work in the western Diocese of Gizo, working with the Australian and New Zealand Dominicans. My mission journey began with Fr. Terence Quinn, O.P., who was an experienced former Pakistani missionary, and everything about the new mission life was enjoyable for me!

After 3 years, the saintly Irish bishop, Eusebius Crawford, O.P., asked me to spend 3 more years, then after that 3 more years. Then, during a final extension to that initial 3 years, I was appointed auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Gizo, assisting Bishop Bernard Cyril O’Grady, O.P. It was assumed that I would take his place upon his retirement, but when one of the bishops in the eastern part of the country got sick and asked to retire early, I was moved to be ordinary in the young and fast growing Diocese of Auki!

How would you describe the personality of the people of your diocese? As a bishop, what are your most common joys and your most common challenges?

Auki Diocese is famous—and I often joke—we have all the best and all the worst people in the Solomons. The Province of Malaita, where the diocese is located, has the most doctors, lawyers, teachers and priests. But we also have the most people in the prison! The Malaita people are famous for being faith-filled and hardworking. This year I begin my 11th year as diocesan bishop, and it is exciting and challenging to be in a young and fast-growing community. We are blessed with an abundance of vocations to the diocesan priesthood, and we even have 10 priests serving outside the diocese!

As the Province of St. Joseph has been richly blessed with vocations, so also have the Dominican friars of Solomons-Papua New Guinea region, as part of the Australian Province. They have 37 student brothers, studying at Bomana-Papua New Guinea and in the Solomon Islands.

Bishop Cardone

Looking back on your many years – as a Dominican, a missionary, and now a bishop – what kind of shape do they take? What are your basic thoughts for the future years ahead?

So, an assignment that was to be only 3 years has been “extended” by the Lord to 27 years! The Church continues to grow and flourish with the great power of the Spirit. It is a great grace to witness that throughout my life. What is my greatest hope? I would be happy to retire and have a local Solomon Islander be bishop! The work of a missionary is to put yourself out of a job. As the founder of Maryknoll used to say: a missionary is to go where he is (perhaps) not wanted, and to stay until he is wanted but not needed. The Church and the Dominican Order in the Solomon Islands are growing. May God continue to watch over this great work that He has begun!

If readers wish to offer financial support to the Diocese of Auki, donations are tax deductible. Please make checks payable to “Dominican Mission Secretariat” and write “Bishop Chris/Solomon Islands” in the memo line. Checks may be mailed to Bishop’s sister, Nancy Yurek, 647 Lincoln Ave, Winnetka, IL 60093. You may also contact Bishop Chris at [email protected]