We are thrilled to feature Archbishop Christopher Cardone, OP in our Alumni Spotlight! His journey from Long Island to the Solomon Islands, where he currently serves as Catholic Archbishop of Honiara, is nothing short of awe-inspiring.
Archbishop Cardone attended St. Raymond Parochial School in East Rockaway, NY (Open from 1927-2021), followed by Chaminade High School in Mineola, NY. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities with Concentration in History and Modern Languages from Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island before attending the Dominican House of Studies,
Throughout his academic career, Archbishop Cardone was actively involved in various clubs and activities, such as Eagle Scouts, Youth Group, Folk Group, Religious Education, and Student Government. He continued this involvement in college, serving as a Religious Education teacher and participating in Student Government.
Before dedicating his life to the Church, Archbishop Cardone worked in banking. Following his undergraduate studies, he made his religious profession to the Dominican Order in 1981. He pursued his graduate studies in theology, receiving a Bachelor in Sacred Theology and a Masters of Divinity at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington DC, before being ordained as a Dominican priest in 1986.
Archbishop Cardone is not the only member of his family to join the clergy. His brother, Fr. Tom Cardone, SM, currently serves as Chaplain of Kellenberg Memorial High School in Uniondale!
After his ordination, Archbishop Cardone served as a parish priest in Ohio for two years. In 1988, he was called to the Dominican vicariate in the Solomon Islands in the western South Pacific Ocean, north-east of Australia. He spent years serving as: a parish priest in Nila and Nora, the pastor of St. Peter’s Parish in Gizo, and the director of vocations for the Diocese of Gizo.
Archbishop Cardone was appointed titular bishop of Thuburnica, and as an auxiliary bishop to the Diocese of Gizo in March of 2001 by Pope John Paul II. He was then appointed bishop of the Diocese of Auki in October of 2004 by Pope John Paul II, and finally, was named Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Honiara by Pope Francis in June of 2016.
In addition to the many efforts in his role, Archbishop Cardone currently celebrates two Masses at the Holy Cross Cathedral in Honiara each Sunday. Here, over 8,000 young people come to Mass each week! His tireless work in the Solomon Islands bears much fruit, and is a true testament to his dedication to serving others. His life is a sure reflection of the values instilled in him during his Catholic school education. As he says, “It gave me the GIFT of Faith, HOPE, and LOVE! And taught me how to be a good shepherd!”
We are proud to call Archbishop Christopher Cardone, OP, one of our own. We thank God for him and we pray for continued success in his ministry!