Diocese of

Gizo

Solomon Islands

Continent: Oceania

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Gizo / Ghizotan(us) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Honiara

Neighbouring Dioceses: Alotau–Sideia (↙), Bougainville (↖), Auki (→), Honiara (↘)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1959.06.11: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Western Solomon Islands (English) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Solomon Islands and Apostolic Vicariate of South Solomons)
1966.11.15: Promoted as Diocese of Gizo / Ghizotan(us) (Latin) (became suffragan of Rabaul)
1978.11.15: Became suffragan of Honiara

Present Prelates

Bishop (2023.06.16 – ...):

Bishop Peter Houhou (59)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Gizo (Roman Rite)

Bishop Peter Houhou (59)
(2023.06.16 – ...)

Bishop of Gizo (Solomon Islands)

I came not to be served but to serve

Born:	1966.10.10 (Marau, Solomon Islands)
Ordained Priest:	1999.07.03
Consecrated Bishop:	2018.10.14

Priest of Honiara (Solomon Islands) (1999.07.03 – 2018.07.03)

Bishop of Auki (Solomon Islands) (2018.07.03 – 2023.06.16)

Bishop of Gizo (Solomon Islands) (2023.06.16 – ...)

Bishop Luciano Capelli, S.D.B. (78)
(2007.06.05 – 2023.06.16)

Bishop emeritus of Gizo (Solomon Islands)

Sursum corda tibi bonum erit

Born:	1947.10.19 (Cologna di Tirano, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1975.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	2007.10.21

Bishop of Gizo (Solomon Islands) (2007.06.05 – 2023.06.16)

Bishop Bernard Cyril O’Grady, O.P. (94)
(1995.02.03 – 2007.06.05)

Bishop emeritus of Gizo (Solomon Islands)

Born:	1931.08.24 (Adelaide, South Australia, Australia)
Ordained Priest:	1956.12.01
Consecrated Bishop:	1995.05.19

Bishop of Gizo (Solomon Islands) (1995.02.03 – 2007.06.05)

Bishop Eusebius John Crawford, O.P.
(1966.11.15 – 1995.02.03)

Born:	1917.12.04 (Warrenpoint, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1941.03.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1960.05.08
Died:	2002.05.31 († 84)

Titular Bishop of Caffa (1960.03.01 – 1966.11.15)

Vicar Apostolic of Western Solomon Islands (Solomon Islands) (1960.03.01 – 1966.11.15)

Bishop of Gizo (Solomon Islands) (1966.11.15 – 1995.02.03)

Vicars Apostolic of Western Solomon Islands (Roman Rite)

Bishop Eusebius John Crawford, O.P.
(1960.03.01 – 1966.11.15)

(see above)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Christopher Michael Cardone, O.P. (68) (later Archbishop) (2001.03.27 – 2004.10.19)

Special Churches

Cathedral: St. Peter’s Cathedral, Gizo, Western

Churches by City (6)

Alotau–Sideia (↙), Bougainville (↖), Auki (→), Honiara (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 8,573 km²

Population: 17,605 Catholics (11.4% of 154,900 total)

Pastoral Centres: 8 parishes, 2 missions

Personnel: 15 priests (7 diocesan, 8 religious), 29 religious (10 brothers, 19 sisters), 10 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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