St. Raphael Community in Vitina Village after mass, with Fr. Taaremon - Photo: Noa Tuivunilagi
During the Season of Creation last year, the Columban team travelled to the villages of St. Raphael Community in Lagi and St. Michael Community in Vitina. As it happened, this was also the Feast of the Archangels, which had become a community celebration in both villages. Accompanying Fr. Taaremon on his monthly pastoral visit, I joined the eucharistic celebrations in both communities, followed by a feast in each. It was a very eventful day for me, as it meant journeying through the Dogotuki District all the way to Vitina - about as close to Udu Point as I had ever been.
I was particularly inspired by Tanasio Rokodovu, the community leader of St. Raphael Community and, notably, a youth leader as well. He was among the first to welcome Fr. Taaremon and the team, assuring us that everything was prepared for Mass first, followed by a Laudato Si’ awareness talanoa. I commended him for taking on such responsibility at a young age and for his attentiveness to the Columban team; he even accompanied us to the next village in Lagi. To me, he embodied a genuine ‘YES’ to the call of ministry, a commitment he carried with quiet confidence.
Both villages shared a profound sense of stewardship, viewing the Earth as a gift for us to protect for generations to come. Inspired by the Church’s call to care for both the environment and our neighbour, they found a deeper "why" for their actions. This is the power of Laudato Si’: it moves environmentalism beyond a secular obligation, making it a matter of faith and a personal spiritual responsibility.
This spiritual responsibility came in the form of adhering to proper waste management mechanisms in the village, storing or proper disposal of fishing gear, sustainable farming practices, and doing our little bit to protect our common home. I was assured by the community leaders and the villagers themselves that they would strive to be more careful and attentive, listening more closely to "the cry of the earth." I shared with them that this journey always begins with a change of heart, a transcendent shift that starts with the simple act of Talanoa and of awareness.
The witness of leaders like Tanasio and the hospitality of the St. Raphael and St. Michael communities remind us that the ecological conversion called for in Laudato Si’ begins in the heart of the village. I am deeply moved by their resolve to be protectors of God's handiwork.
Noa Mervyn Tuivunilagi
Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Coordinator (Region of Oceania)
Related links
- Read more from the current Columban JPIC eBulletin
