Welcomed to Fiji
01.09.2008
When 13 priests of St Columban's arrived at Suva on February 22, 1952 they opened a new chapter in our Mission's history. In addition to China, Korea, Burma, Japan and the Philippines, we now count Fiji among the places which particularly solicit our aid - and yours.
As a veteran of some 60 or 70 hours in Suva, let me not be regarded as an authority on the South Pacific. But I can speak with assurance on one point - the marvellous welcome extended to the first band of St Columban priests to begin work in Fiji. Here I will describe one part of our reception - and that is the ceremonial welcome given us by the people of Fiji.
The Aorangi from Vancouver berthed at Suva about 7:00pm. Bishop Foley was there to meet us with a number of his priests and Fathers Charles O'Mahony and Roderick Hoult who had arrived from Sydney about three weeks earlier. They were followed on board by a group of Fijian chiefs in traditional costume. We crowded into the smoke room and the Island welcome began.
Like so many native ceremonies, the welcome has a background in early history. When a chief wished to call on his neighbour, he didn't just drop in without warning. The procedure was to make a landfall some distance from the chief's village, send word of his presence and await results. If the visitor was acceptable, permission was granted him to drop anchor. The first part of the ceremony we were witnessing, was our anchoring, our reception with all hospitality to Fiji. It was accompanied by the handing over of a tabua - on this occasion five whale's teeth.
A tabua seems to be something like an oath, very sacred once accepted, but imposing no obligation unless freely accepted.
Later on the second part of the welcome took place in the school associated with Sacred Heart Cathedral. This corresponded to the ancient permission to come ashore. Another tabua was handed over and we were now ready for the final part, the receiving of hospitality. The symbol was another whale's tooth.
The famous kava drink was now made ready with solemn ceremony by one person during an impressive silence.
The chief takes the first drink as a sign of reassurance and then the coconut cups are handed around. It was interesting to watch the features of the priests as the draught was presented to each: resolution, tempered with resignation, giving way gradually to confidence and gratitude. When the kneeling chief had made the rounds of the guests, the ceremony was over. We had been granted permission to drop anchor, to come ashore and had been liberally feasted.
It only remained now for Fr Denis Fitzpatrick, on behalf of all, to express the thanks of St Columban's for the hospitable welcome.
- Taken from The Far East, May 1, 1952.
