In the vast expanse of the South Pacific, where pristine blue waters meet lush green landscapes, the U.S.-born Archbishop Christopher Cardone, OP, serves as archbishop of Honiara, in the Solomon Islands. For more than 30 years, he has dutifully ministered to the islands’ 60,000 Catholics.
In this exclusive interview, Archbishop Cardone witnesses to some of the most dynamic missionary activity in the Church today. His journey, from the tranquil shores of Long Island to the idyllic yet challenging landscapes of the Solomon Islands, is a testament to the enduring power of faith and the profound impact of missionary work.
Our Sunday Visitor: What inspired you to become a missionary and serve in the Solomon Islands?
Archbishop Cardone: As a young student at our parish school (St. Raymond’s in East Rockaway, New York), I received a wonderful introduction to Catholic education through the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I grew up in a family where the Faith was loved and practiced. That helped begin my vocation to religious life. We also received the Maryknoll Missionary Magazine, and I enjoyed reading every story each month about missionary priests, brothers and sisters all over the world helping the poor and sharing the Gospel.
After grammar school, I went to a Marianist High School, Chaminade, and I also received a great education that led me to Providence College as a business major. I did not know much about the Dominican friars, but after a few weeks of being at PC, I saw the friars in action at Mass with great homilies, in the classroom and participating in every aspect of campus life. I was also impressed that everyday we would see white-robed friars heading to the Harkins Hall’s fourth floor chapel for Mass and prayers.
The opportunity of attending daily Mass spurred me on to ask more about the Dominicans. After my freshman year, I began to see that God was “hitting me over the head” inviting me to join the Dominican Order. Good spiritual advice came from the late Father James Driscoll, OP, and Father Jack McMahon, OP. In contemplating Dominican life, I was eager to hear that the Dominican Province of St. Joseph at that time had missionaries in Pakistan and Peru. While I enjoyed every aspect of campus life, I knew that if I was to be a Dominican I would love to serve overseas as a missionary. In the beginning of my senior year, I applied to join the order. I was overjoyed when I was accepted! I entered the novitiate a few months after graduation.
As I approached ordination to the priesthood, I was thrilled to be assigned to our Dominican mission in Pakistan. But my visa application was denied three times! I was disappointed then, to be assigned to Cincinnati. Anything west of the Hudson River is mission territory for a New Yorker! St. Gertrude Parish and Priory was a wonderful experience for me and I loved every bit of parish and novitiate and priory life there. After two years, the Australian Dominicans asked the New York Province to send two men to the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific. I told the provincial I was willing to go there for three years; I have been here 34 years as a missionary! It has been a most blessed and grace-filled experience.
Our Sunday Visitor: What are the unique challenges and opportunities of being a missionary in a remote and diverse region like the Solomon Islands?
Archbishop Cardone: There have been many blessings and challenges along the way. The challenges include being 9,000 miles away from family. I live in a totally different culture and climate. There are 900 islands here; my people live on about 300 islands. I have spent a considerable amount of time traveling by small outboard motor boats, paddle canoes, small ships and planes to visit the scattered islands of the Southwest Pacific! The Melanesian and Micronesian people were fierce headhunters and cannibals up until the 1920s. Thanks to the goodnews of the Gospel, tribal fighting and island rivalries were tamed by Christian peace and reconciliation! The first missionaries from the Marist Order brought formal education and medical help and people willingly accepted the Catholic faith that was firmly planted here.
Our Sunday Visitor: How has your work as a missionary bishop impacted your own faith and spirituality?
Archbishop Cardone: One of the main jobs of a missionary is to put yourself out of a job: to train local people to be religious, priests and lay leaders. When I first came to the Solomon Islands there were only 10 native Solomon Island priests and about 50 missionary priests. Now, 34 years later, we have almost 80 local Solomon priests and fewer than 10 missionary priests. Being a bishop here the past 22 years, I have ordained most of those 80 priests!
We are also blessed to have our own seminary called Holy Name of Mary and three Indonesian Vincentians and seven local Solomon priests with advanced degrees from Providence College, Fordham University, the Angelicum, the Gregorianum and the Alphonsianum [that] are educating our 60 local Solomon Island seminarians.
My episcopal motto is taken from Psalm 100: “Serve the Lord with gladness.” I believe that if we serve the Lord with joy and gladness, it will help us bring the love of the Lord into our troubled but beautiful world!
Our Sunday Visitor: What are some of the key priorities and initiatives you’re focusing on as a bishop in the Solomon Islands?
Archbishop Cardone: In the states, some dioceses are closing and combining Catholic schools and parishes. Here, we are a young and fast-growing Catholic population. We are opening Catholic schools, convents and parishes!
There are three dioceses in the Solomon Islands because there are many scattered islands. Today we have our first Native local bishop and a second is soon to be appointed. So thankfully, the Church is growing and becoming a local Church that is now sending missionary priests and sisters to other countries too!
The past 22 years as bishop, I have focused on education and our youth and the formation of our seminarians and young priests. If our young people are well formed in the Faith, it will give us a Church and community that is strong in all aspects of Christian life.
Our Sunday Visitor: The Solomon Islands have a rich cultural heritage. How do you incorporate local traditions and customs into your ministry?
Archbishop Cardone: Interestingly, for most Solomon Islanders, the Church is the most important part of their life. Church services and activities are always well attended and joyful music and dance help nurture the Faith and life of the community. At Holy Cross Cathedral, more than 8,000 people come to our four packed Sunday Masses. The “Archbishop’s Mass,” which is the 9 a.m. Mass, has more than 3,000 people attending each week. In that crowd, 70% of the people at Mass are under the age of 30! Currently, at 65, I am usually one of the oldest people at every Mass!
As a young and fast-growing Church, we are currently building a youth and family retreat center named for St. Mother Teresa. This large center will host all kinds of retreats, religious formation and recreational programs.
Our Sunday Visitor: What advice would you give to individuals interested in pursuing a missionary vocation or engaging in similar work?
Archbishop Cardone: We have had many dozens of lay missionaries come to serve here as teachers, nurses and builders. Interestingly, two of our former volunteers are now priests and two more are Dominican brothers preparing for priestly ordination! If anyone would like to come for as short as a month or up to several years, I would encourage anyone to write to ask how they might serve here.
Everyone who has ever served here has had a positive, life-changing experience. Living in the islands is physically a beautiful place and the people are warm, kind, friendly and FULL of faith, hope and love!
