‘Vosa Vakaviti’ the Fijian language
Gary Walker
What’s in a word?
Ask the Columban Fathers in Fiji.
Word’ is translated into the Fijian language as ‘Vosa’, ‘Vosa Vakaviti’ means ‘the Fijian language.’ The Columban Fathers thought words were so important that they established the Columban Translation Service. This is a project of translating Catholic written material into the Fijian language. Even though the education system uses English, people pray in their own language; hence, the need to provide Fijians with Church texts and prayers in their own language.
‘Vosa’ came into existence out of the Columban Fathers’ concern to assist catechists in Fiji in their pastoral ministry. It began in 1981 under the late Columban Fr John Mahoney who had a passion for words and communication. The initial major task was to translate and send out homily guidelines for all Sundays of the Catholic Church’s three-year liturgical cycle. Many catechists based their homilies on the material provided.
Columban Fr Jimmy Gavigan had started the catechist training school in Navesi near Suva and these guidelines fulfilled a real need for catechists. Columban Fr David Arms, a qualified linguist, took over the service in 1984 and still holds that position today.
In 1993 Vosa commenced producing a monthly newsletter for catechists called Voqa, also a Fijian liturgical calendar with Church information and relevant cultural information. Other works translated include: the Pope’s encyclicals, Archbishop Mataca’s pastoral letters (of special significance due to military coups over the last 20 years), the lives of the saints, devotional booklets, hymn books, a short catechism and Mass prayers. An introduction to the Catholic Faith, "What Catholics Believe", and a brief explanation of the Bible has been produced recently.
Large projects currently being undertaken are: the translation of the Deuter-canonical Books of the Bible, the translation of all the prayers of the Roman Missal used at Mass (2002 edition), assembling a new version of the Catholic Lectionary with readings for Mass on Sundays and Weekdays, and finally, a translation of the Legion of Mary handbook.
These works in the Fijian language strengthen the faith of the Catholic people.
A ‘Vosa’ committee supervises the work, led by Dr Paul Geraghty, Fiji’s foremost linguist. A separate translation committee meet frequently to check the more important translations of ‘Vosa’, especially liturgical and biblical texts. The success of this venture can be attributed to many people; it does the essential work of putting the Catholic faith into the Fijian language.
Fr David Arms has declined recompense for this translation work throughout the years.
