Project MAST -- Eighth Edition

The seeds of Project MAST were planted in 2000 when Fr. Christopher Cardone, a Domincan missionary and a 1976 Chaminade graduate, was ordained as the auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Gizo in the Solomon Islands. Along with many other family and friends, Chris’s brother, Marianist Fr. Tom Cardone, and Bro. Kenneth Hoagland made the long trek to the remote archipelago in the South Pacific. After the ceremonies, the Marianists and the new bishop discussed ways in which the Brothers in New York could help the young church of the Solomons, a country where most people have only been Christian for two or three generations. Bishop Chris described the tremendous need for the development of committed Catholic teachers and a strong corps of youth . Fr. Tom committed the Marianists of Long Island to the task, and Bro. Ken provided the acronym: Marianist Apostolic And Spiritual Training. In June of 2003, the first pair of Brothers set off to the Solomons uncertain of what they would find. They returned full of enthusiasm and possibilities, andsince then 10 Marianists have spent their summers in the Solomons, traveling to almost every parish in the country and bringing education and encouragement to over 3,000 paricipants in the MAST workshops.

A unique feature of this year’s MAST program will be a retreat that Fr. Tom and I will give to all of the priests of the Solomon Islands. This first-ever national gathering of priests is part of the celebration of the Year of the Priest, and will provide a rare opportunity for the priests of the Solomon Islands, mostly young native men who are spread out over the many far-flung islands and isolated villages of the Solomons, to gather in community for prayer, reflection, and fraternity.