"Rebuild My Church"

As some of you will recall, in April 2007, a strong earthquake and tsunami hit the western part of the Solomon Islands. Gizo bore the brunt of the tumult. Hundreds of homes along the coast were washed away and many of the more substantial buildings in town were damaged or destroyed. It was a blessing that only two lives were lost. St. Peter's Cathedral was among the casualties. For over a year, the church of Gizo gathered in amakeshift tent alongside the ruins of their cathedral.

The Church, of course, is not a building but a body. When Luciano Capelli, SDB was ordained as the new bishop of Gizo, he set about rebuilding both the people of God and the structurre where they worshipped. Spiritual renewal and physical construction began immediately. Thanks to the vision of Bishop Capelli, the efforts of dozens of Italian volunteers who designed and supervised the construction, and the untiring efforts of the people of the diocese, a splendid new cathedral now stands in the center of town, a fitting home for the worship of God by the vibrant faith community of Gizo.



The new cathedral is not completely finished. It awaits the arrival of stained glass from the Phillipines, mosaics from China and, crowning the whole edifice, church bells from Italy. Nevertheless, the church was filled to capacity on this Sunday morning as hundreds of worshippers gathered for the Eucharist with their bishop and all the priests of the diocese. In his homily, Bishop Luciano made reference to the struggles of the parish over the past years as he preached on Christ's challenge: "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." "There is no Christ without the Cross, there is no Church without the Cross," the bishop urged. "No one comes to heaven without tears."

The choir for Mass was composed of the young Dominican Brothers and Sisters whose novitiate is located on a small island across from Gizo. Several dozen young children served as an auxiliary choir. They sang in English, in the pigin dialect commonly used in the Solomons, and in the Lauru language used by the local people. The offertory procession was accompanied by dancing women of the parish. As I prayed with them, I could not help but thank God that the Church is young, the Church is alive, and the Church is strong. Eartquakes may shake buildings to the ground, but on the Rock of the Church we can always stand strong.

"Jesus yu kam kisim ofa / Mipela I like bringim long yu."

The offertory song in pigin: Jesus come and take this offering

that your people are pleased to bring to you.

The priests and deacon of the Diocese of Gizo with their Bishop and Fr. Tom after Mass.

Mary, Mother of the Church, help us to rebuild your Church where it is weak, and to encourage and support it where it is strong. Teach us to imitate your Son more perfectly and so build up the Body Christ. May young men and women willingly echo your "yes" to God's call to serve Christ and His Church all around the world.