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.
Brother Michael Kisu in procession
Blessing the Altar.
Brother Michael renews his vows
