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18.08.2010

The partnership continues between Torquay and Ba, Fiji.

When the partnership group from St Therese parish, Torquay, visited the parish community of Christ the King in Ba, Fiji they were warmly welcomed and saw so much that was new to them. However their Fijian hosts did not expect to see them again, being accustomed to visitors showing lots of interest and then leaving, never to return. The Fijians realised their visitors were serious about developing a partnership when they returned for a second, third and fourth visit.

Katherine, Martin, Fr Greg Trythall, Dick, and Marie shared with me insights and feelings related to this seven year old partnership venture. Martin and Katherine spoke about their 17 year old son, Greg, who accompanied them to Fiji. Greg contacted local youth and hung out with them. He commented later, “They’ve got nothing but they’re happy.”

Until recently, Fr Greg was parish priest in Torquay. For the past 18 years he has consistently supported the Columban Partnership Programme.

He has not led the charge but supports the core group that is making the partnership happen. He was impressed with the way the Fijian men sit around in a circle to share a bowl of kava and chat about life. In Fiji, traditional laws and rules are unwritten so all is passed on orally, which suggests that there might be more to these apparently informal chats over the kava bowl than the outsider may think.

Martin makes spectacles for a living and, with two optometrist friends, is planning to visit Ba to test the children in the three parish schools and supply them with glasses if needed. Lack of glasses prevents some children from learning and making the best of their school years. The optometrists are donating their work and others have donated glasses. At the Fijian end the visit has been coordinated with the parish and school authorities.

From prior visits Martin learned that Fijians have a lot to offer their Australian partners. He remarked that before Mass the people gather outside and chat while the kids run about and play. They do the same after Mass. It’s as if coming together to celebrate their faith is a moment of shared joy and a feeling of hope touches the visitor.

Joining with the Fijians in worship is more than fulfilling the Sunday obligation. Seeing people of all ages arrive, dressed in their bright coloured finery and taking off their shoes before entering the church makes the visitor wonder whether the casual dress code of Australian church-goers misses an opportunity to say: “We are here to celebrate something important.”

Dick spoke about how the partnership experience has changed him: “In the beginning we (or at least, I) went with answers because we are geared that way, to fix what seems to need fixing. I must say here that in a previous life I was a Telstra engineer.” He is equally certain now that going with answers or making judgements is just not on.

Marie, who is a teacher, approached the partnership venture with an open mind and with an emphasis on friendship. She loved the slower pace of life in Fiji and remarked, “I could go and live there for the peace of mind and serenity.” When I asked how we might import some of the values discovered in Fiji Marie insisted that their parish community is already doing something that is fostering the community spirit they experienced in Ba, “We are building our new church and all are in on it, building brick by brick; it’s not just the parish priest with a building committee.”

Each year St Therese School, Torquay, supports a project such as adding reading resources to St Teresa’s, Ba. In 2005, on the occasion of St Teresa’s 75th anniversary, two students represented the school. Kate Raines, school student leader from Torquay and youngest speaker on the day, presented a banner prepared for the occasion. All present, particularly the students, applauded heartily.

Katherine supports her husband, Martin, but prefers not to travel. She expressed concern about “unintentionally imposing our materialistic values on the Fijians”, and spoke of “affirming their pride in who they are and what they’ve developed.” The group mentioned two examples of helping this happen: a school book project and a sewing machine project.

Books are requested by a school in Fiji to help students learn to read (English) and enjoy it. Marie has visited four times and verifies the effectiveness of this project. Bel Ordonio, a Columban Lay Missionary from the Philippines, successfully organised group classes to teach women to use donated sewing machines.

Members of the core group have always reported back to their parish community and have their support. Maybe the next challenge in their partnership will be hosting some members of the Ba parish community. They might be able to arrange for a group of teachers to visit Torquay.

For more information about the Columban Partnership Programme please contact:
Phone: (03) 9375 9475
Email: partnership.programme@columban.org.au
Website: Partnership Programme

Read more articles from The Far East, August 2010