Church made by muscle

09.07.2009

The villagers of Vanuakula built a church to seat 1,000 people - all by hand.

The village of Vanuakula lies in the hinterland of Suva, the capital of Fiji. It is reached by a winding road built along a ridge of hills, bitumen at first, then graded dirt. In recent years roads have opened up this part of the country allowing farmers to bring their produce to markets in Suva. It is an ordinary kind of Fijian village dominated by a new church recently built. But appearances are deceptive, these villagers are high achievers.

The church is named Our Lady of Holy Hope. The people built the church by hand. No machinery was used because it was unavailable. No machines for heavy lifting, muscle power and community co-operation   provided everything that was needed. Scaffolding was taken from the bush when they needed it; the foundations were dug with pick and shovel.

The villagers had a five year plan for building the church. They raised the money; they built the church in 14 months as well as attending to their daily farm work. When the church was opened in May 2007, it was debt free. The church will seat 1,000 people. In our modern minds we easily fail to grasp how skilful people can be, what simple tools can achieve, or what can be achieved with muscle, hands, hearts and will power.

The altar, the lectern and the presider's chair in the church are made locally from the 'vesi' tree, a local hardwood. The tree was chosen by the villagers, cut down, prepared and taken to a local family of carvers whose skills are handed down through the generations. The altar top is supported by the carved trunk of the tree representing the seven sacraments. The church is decorated in Fijian style that reflects the local culture adapting an earlier European attitude.

Fr Ioane Manasa is the priest of the parish for the last 15 years and chief organiser of the project. Relics from the altar of the former church  were placed in the new church. The old church was built in 1903 so the villages have celebrated over 100 years of living their Catholic faith in this area.

Fr Ioane has 25 catechists to assist him in the parish that has 35 villages in which the catechist plays an essential role in the faith life of the people.

Fr Gary Walker is the Editor of The Far East magazine.