Appointed Catholic Bishop

Rev. J. M. Aubin

Appointed Catholic Bishop of South Solomon Is.

IN succession to the late Bishop Aloysius Raucaz, S.M., who died in Sydney in July last year, Right Rev. J. M. Aubin, S.M., of Tangarare, has been appointed Vicar Apostolic of the Southern Solomon Islands and Titular Bishop of Telepte.

The Bishop-Elect was born at Chateaubriant, in the Diocese of Nantes, France, on December 29, 1882. After completing his studies in his native town, he entered the Great Seminary of Nantes, and was ordained priest in 1906. Shortly afterwards, he joined the Society of the Marist Fathers and sailed in 1907 for the Solomon Islands.

Rev. Aubin was stationed first at Rua Sura as Procurator of the Mission and secretary to Bishop Bertreux, first Bishop of the South Solomon Islands. Upon the death of Bishop Bertreux, he was given charge of Ruavatu district, on the north coast of Guadalcanal.

In 1928 he was elected delegate to the Chapter-General of the Marist Order held in Rome. Subsequently, he was appointed Pro-Vicar of Mission in the Solomon Islands, and was elevated to Superior upon the death of Bishop Raucaz.

The Very Reverend Father Aubin will arrive in Sydney by the Malaita on July 1 to make arrangements for his episcopal consecration.