My only contact with Columbans before going to the seminary in Suva, Fiji was when Fr Frank Hoare visited my home in Tonga to interview me. For me, all was new when I entered into the Columban formation program in Suva, Fiji. The priests in charge were Irish. I found myself living in a community of Tongans, Fijians and Indo-Fijians. It turned out to be a great experience of living with other cultures and races. Being only 19 years of age I was open to learning new things. A new place, new languages, new horizons, all gave me a sense of excitement.
I found the four years in the seminary in Suva to be positive and enriching. Sharing life with other young men searching for their way broadened my appreciation of human diversity. I realized that I could learn a new language, that I could make friends with people who were not Tongan. This process of cultural and personal enrichment continued for me during my spiritual year in Manila, Philippines, which was a time of intense focus on our relationship with Christ, His love for us and His call to mission.
I was 25 years of age when I went to Peru for two years on my first mission. I worked in a Columban run parish in a poor area on the east side of the city of Lima. This time was key in my discernment process for deciding to commit my life to Christian mission as a Columban.
I had the good fortune of having as my spiritual director a Marist Sister from Tonga who had already worked for many years in Peru, both in grassroots mission in the Andes mountains and in the preparation of young Peruvian women for mission as Marist Sisters. She was a very practical woman whose advice to me was always firmly based on experience. I found her most helpful as I struggled to deal with a variety of situations that were new to me.
My next port of call was Chicago, Illinois, where I spent two years completing my theological studies. My previous experience of education was one of learning what the teachers taught and giving that back to them in examinations. The teachers in Chicago challenged us to think for ourselves. They would explain the issues but also invite us bring our own minds to bear on the questions raised. This approach opened me to a variety of social, justice and theological issues.
Having completed my initial theological studies, I was ordained priest in Tonga at the age of 29 years, and then spent a year in Fiji waiting for a visa to Pakistan, my next mission assignment.
Christians in Pakistan are a very small minority and as such are always on the back foot and often persecuted, Pakistan being officially an Islamic Republic. Our presence among them is a witness of solidarity, and the perseverance of the Pakistani Christians is in turn an inspiration for us.
I knew a catechist in Badin, Master Tony Kajoo, a Parkari Koli, who has been an active catechist for over 30 years. He walked and cycled many miles visiting the villages of his people to instruct both children and adults. Very few of his people are literate; they seldom own the land where they live and work. Their ancestors were members of very low class Hindu group and are traditionally looked down on by both Hindus and Muslims. That did not prevent Tony being a shining light to many, including myself. He was retired when I asked him if he would like to continue as catechist, to which he responded with an enthusiastic, yes. In his work with illiterate people he could not use a written text so he wove pedagogical banners depicting the mysteries of our faith.
I said goodbye to our Pakistan mission after six years when I was asked to worked in the initial formation program in Suva. So, 20 years after first arriving in Suva to join the Columbans, I am back again but this time to help other young men from the Pacific region to navigate their way through the initial formation program. Being from this part of the world I feel that I am well placed to understand and work with aspects of our culture. Instead of speaking out and stating our case we tend to be silent and uncooperative. I can spot this when it happens and help our young men respond to situations in a more proactive and creative way.
For me, being a Columban missionary has been, and I hope it continues to be, both challenging and personally enriching.
Columban Fr Felisiano Fatu lives and works in Fiji.