A dedication ceremony marking the opening of a new church building (“Sacred Heart of Jesus”) took place yesterday at Wagina Catholic parish, Choiseul Province.

The new church building was dedicated and opened by the Emeritus Archbishop of Honiara His Grace Bishop Adrian Thomas Smith being assisted by Bishop Luciano Capelli of the Gizo Diocese.

The celebration started at 9:00am with a procession leading up to the church building.

The procession was led by the Wagina traditional cultural group who sang a traditional Kiribati warfare song along with the background music of bamboos leading the Bishops, visitors and various groups of the parish.

A big feast comprised of lots of local food took place after the church dedication and opening Mass followed by entertainments.

Many visitors from Malaita, Honiara, Gizo and Choiseul were reported to have attended the church opening.

According to Nerio Ulemiki the media coordinator for Christ the King Parish at Voruvoru Northwest Choiseul, the flow of visitors to Wagina started last week Friday and celebrations is said to continue until tomorrow Tuesday.