Msgr Peter Houhou is the first native Solomon Islander to be appointed as Bishop in the Solomon Islands. As Agenzia Fides learns, the diocese of Auki, Malaita province, has in fact been the protagonist of a historical event: in the Cathedral of St Augustine the ordination of the first Catholic Bishop of the nation was celebrated in recent days. An important step forward for the local church.

The celebration was presided over by Abp Kurian Mathew Vayalunkal, Apostolic Nuncio of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands and concelebrated by Abp Christopher M. Cardone OP, of the Archdiocese of Honiara and Abp Douglas Young SVD, of the Archdiocese of Mount Hagen, in Papua New Guinea.

“The Holy Mother Church entrusts you with three important responsibilities: teaching, sanctifying and governing the people of God,” said Archbishop Vayalunkal, addressing the new Bishop during the homily. The Apostolic Nuncio also thanked Msgr Houhou’s family of origin and the whole local community “for the precious gift of this son” and invited everyone to “pray and support Bishop Houhou”.