Gizo (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Peter Houhou, Bishop
Luciano Capelli, S.D.B., Bishop Emeritus
Bernard Cyril O’Grady, O.P., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 15 November 1966
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Honiara
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Solomon Islands
Square Kilometers: 8,573 (3,311 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 22, Saint Peter's Compound, Gizo, Solomon Islands
Telephone: 60.265

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Western Solomon Islands
- Latin Name: Insularum Salomonicarum Occidentalium
- Erected: 11 June 1959
- Vicariate
- Country: Solomon Islands

Past and Present Ordinaries

Eusebius John Crawford, O.P. † (1 Mar 1960 Appointed - 3 Feb 1995 Retired)
Bernard Cyril O’Grady, O.P. (3 Feb 1995 Appointed - 5 Jun 2007 Retired)
Luciano Capelli, S.D.B. (5 Jun 2007 Appointed - 16 Jun 2023 Retired)
Peter Houhou (16 Jun 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Western Solomon Islands
11 June 1959	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Solomon Islands (Tresury, Shortlands and Choiseul and their neighbors, and Otong Java and their neighbors) Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Solomon Islands (Santa Isabel and the neighboring islands and New Georgia and the neighboring islands)	Vicariate Apostolic of Western Solomon Islands (erected)
Diocese of Gizo
15 November 1966	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Western Solomon Islands	Diocese of Gizo
15 November 1978	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Gizo (from Rabaul)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Gizo

1970 3,557 33,046 10.8% 1 5 6 592 6 11 5 ap1971

1980 4,300 51,831 8.3% 1 6 7 614 11 21 5 ap1981

1990 6,636 83,300 8.0% 1 7 8 829 13 18 5 ap1991

1999 10,643 109,899 9.7% 2 7 9 1,182 9 15 5 ap2000

2000 9,000 135,000 6.7% 2 7 9 1,000 15 14 5 ap2001

2001 9,000 135,000 6.7% 3 7 10 900 15 16 5 ap2002

2002 10,000 100,000 10.0% 3 5 8 1,250 16 15 5 ap2003

2003 10,325 110,325 9.4% 3 5 8 1,290 19 17 5 ap2004

2004 11,325 102,000 11.1% 3 6 9 1,258 10 17 5 ap2005

2006 10,966 105,116 10.4% 4 4 8 1,370 17 18 5 ap2007

2013 14,000 137,000 10.2% 5 5 10 1,400 16 14 7 ap2014

2016 15,214 136,347 11.2% 6 5 11 1,383 12 12 7 ap2017

2019 16,040 143,400 11.2% 5 15 20 802 20 19 8 ap2020

2021 16,920 148,900 11.4% 8 14 22 769 15 19 8 ap2022

2023 17,605 154,900 11.4% 7 8 15 1,173 10 19 8 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Gizo
1970	3,557	33,046	10.8%	1	5	6	592	6	11	5	ap1971
1980	4,300	51,831	8.3%	1	6	7	614	11	21	5	ap1981
1990	6,636	83,300	8.0%	1	7	8	829	13	18	5	ap1991
1999	10,643	109,899	9.7%	2	7	9	1,182	9	15	5	ap2000
2000	9,000	135,000	6.7%	2	7	9	1,000	15	14	5	ap2001
2001	9,000	135,000	6.7%	3	7	10	900	15	16	5	ap2002
2002	10,000	100,000	10.0%	3	5	8	1,250	16	15	5	ap2003
2003	10,325	110,325	9.4%	3	5	8	1,290	19	17	5	ap2004
2004	11,325	102,000	11.1%	3	6	9	1,258	10	17	5	ap2005
2006	10,966	105,116	10.4%	4	4	8	1,370	17	18	5	ap2007
2013	14,000	137,000	10.2%	5	5	10	1,400	16	14	7	ap2014
2016	15,214	136,347	11.2%	6	5	11	1,383	12	12	7	ap2017
2019	16,040	143,400	11.2%	5	15	20	802	20	19	8	ap2020
2021	16,920	148,900	11.4%	8	14	22	769	15	19	8	ap2022
2023	17,605	154,900	11.4%	7	8	15	1,173	10	19	8	ap2024

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Luciano Capelli, S.D.B. (Bishop: 5 Jun 2007 to 16 Jun 2023; Apostolic Administrator: 16 Jun 2023 to 27 Aug 2023)
Christopher Michael Cardone, O.P. (Auxiliary Bishop: 27 Mar 2001 to 19 Oct 2004)
Peter Houhou (Bishop: 16 Jun 2023 - )
Bernard Cyril O’Grady, O.P. (Bishop: 3 Feb 1995 to 5 Jun 2007)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Eusebius John Crawford, O.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 1 Mar 1960; Bishop: 15 Nov 1966 to 3 Feb 1995)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Western Solomon Islands
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 51, Page 888, to Page 890
Diocese of Gizo
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 59, Page 480, to Page 482
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 71, Page 87, and Page 88

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Diocese of Gizo

Dioecesis Ghizotana