Most Rev. Jacob Aba, S.M., Ordained and Installed as Fourth Bishop of Auki

𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘃. 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗯 𝗔𝗯𝗮, 𝗦.𝗠., 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝘂𝗸𝗶 The Catholic Diocese of Auki held the Episcopal Ordination and Installation of Most Rev. Jacob Aba, S.M., as its fourth bishop on Saturday, 24 January 2026, at St. Augustine Cathedral in Fasitoro, Auki, Malaita Province. The ceremony was attended by clergy, religious, lay faithful, and invited guests from across the Solomon Islands and the wider region. The ordination and installation were presided over by the Apostolic Nuncio to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, Archbishop Maurizio Bravi. Also present were the Vice President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, Bishop Rozario Menezes, S.M.M.; Archbishop Christopher Cardone, O.P., of Honiara; Bishop John Bosco of Vanuatu; Bishop Peter Houhou of Gizo; Emeritus Bishop Luciano Capelli; as well as diocesan priests and representatives of religious congregations and parish communities. Most Rev. Jacob Aba was appointed Bishop of Auki by Pope Leo XIV on 28 October 2025. With his ordination, he becomes the second indigenous Solomon Islander to be appointed a Catholic bishop and the first member of the Society of Mary (Marists) from the Solomon Islands to hold the office. The installation marks a leadership transition within the Diocese of Auki and reflects the continued involvement of indigenous clergy and religious congregations in the Catholic Church in the Solomon Islands. #tavulinews #NewsAndPeople #malaitaprovince #solomonislands