Parishioners in Fiji sitting around the yaqona bowl. Photo: Fr Pat Raleigh SSC
Last year I had the privilege of visiting our mission in Fiji where Columbans have ministered since 1952. To prepare for my visit I read Fr Frank Hoare’s book, The Turning Wheel, the story of the Columban presence in Fiji since that time. So it was with much interest and excitement that I stepped off the plane at Nadi airport and began my guided tour of this Pacific paradise.
The Columbans are in charge of three parishes in Fiji. So after being welcomed to the Columban Centre House I began my tour at the parish of Raiwaqa, the one Columban parish close to the capital, Suva. The parish priest, Columban Fr John McEvoy, guided me around a number of areas where parishioners live in very flimsy houses, some of which are very close to the sea and apparently are in danger of being flooded during the rainy season. The people shared their hopes for a better future and better housing. Sadly, some of them had suffered from their down payment on a new house being stolen from them. It is a busy parish with the people actively engaged in a variety of programs supported by Frs John McEvoy and Carlo Jung, a Columban from Korea.
The next parish I visited was Labasa, situated on the north coast of Vanua Levu, the second largest island of Fiji. Sugar cane is the main industry there. Frs Paul Tierney and J. J. Ryan are in the parish. I was present at the Sunday Mass and a wedding ceremony which followed. I found both of them to be very moving. I then went with Fr Paul to the very pretty village of Koromakawa for another Mass. Later we all went to the community hall where we were welcomed with the traditional yaqona ceremony. It is an integral part of Fijian culture and the Fijian people can sit for hours drinking yaqona and telling stories.
Back on the main island of Fiji, Viti Levu, I went to Ba, a parish long associated with the Columbans in Fiji and an important one to visit. The town was severely damaged by the hurricane, Winston, a few years ago and there are still many signs of the damage caused at that time. It was impressive to see and acknowledge the resilience of the people who experience such natural disasters and then continue on.
In Ba I was welcomed by Columban Associate priests Fr Nilton Iman, from Peru and Fr Anselmo Jang, from Korea, and Jinky Ucol, a Columban lay missionary from the Philippines. Once more the people were so spontaneous and genuine in their welcome and it was a pleasure to meet with Fr Nilton and to witness his relationship with the people. Again in Ba there were many yaqona occasions and the people were happy to see that I very much appreciated their hospitality.
It had been recommended that I visit the traditional Catholic village of Navala, about an hour’s drive from Ba, nestled in the midst of beautiful mountain scenery. Here the people live in traditional homes called bures. There we celebrated Mass with the school children and after a coffee we moved on to the traditional bure where we were again welcomed by the leaders of the community with the traditional yaqona ceremony. The people live simply, but their culture and customs are very rich.
I also visited the village of Votua where the Church is dedicated to St Columban. Here we celebrated an evening Mass and had a delicious meal of fish. Fishing is the local industry there. The village of Votua too is prone to flooding during the rainy season. On the following morning we were once again given the traditional welcome by the teachers and the school children. I shall remember with gratitude the warmth and welcome of the people of the three Columban parishes: Ba, Labasa and Raiwaqa.
I experienced a number of very moving occasions during my time in Fiji. Several of them were when I heard them singing in perfect harmony in every place I visited. Their music brings much life to their liturgy celebrations.
I could sit for many hours listening to them. Their liturgical celebrations are always reverent, alive and beautiful.
Another very moving occasion for me was a visit with Fr John McEvoy and Naomi Naiubi to the cemetery in Suva. There we visited the graves of Columban priests, Frs Dermot Hurley, Jim Rathbun and Arthur Tierney and also the grave of a Korean Columban lay missionary, Elizabeth Lim Yean Sin who died of hepatitis in Fiji at 23 years of age.
In the very tranquil and peaceful surroundings we also prayed in thanksgiving for Columbans, Fr Richard Keelan, buried in Lautoka and Fr John Mahoney, buried in Naililili. We also remembered all the Columbans who were on mission in Fiji and who are buried elsewhere, including Fijian lay missionary, Serafina Ranadi Vuda, who is buried in California.
We gave thanks to God for their contribution to Columban Mission in Fiji and the many ways in which they touched the lives of the Fijian people and in return were touched by them. Their memory will continue to live on.
Fiji is renowned for its beautiful beaches, pristine blue waters and stunning sunsets. Every year, many tourists come to Fiji to enjoy the sun, sea and vibrant hospitality. I happened to be in Fiji during the special Season of Creation. But as in many other countries, in Fiji too the natural beauty is suffering from the human footprint and the tropical paradise is beginning to show signs of sinking under carelessly discarded rubbish. During my many walks along the scenic seafront in Suva I could not help but be upset by the rubbish being washed ashore.
Thankfully, there is a growing awareness among the people of Fiji for the need to treasure and care for our environment, our home. Many of the members of various churches and traditions are working together to tackle this crisis. Columban seminarians, lay missionaries and parishioners are very much involved in cleaning beaches and other environmental projects. They too have heard the call from Pope Francis to listen to the cry of the earth.
I give thanks for my visit to Fiji, for the welcome and friendliness of the Fijian people and for my experience of the missionary work of the Columban Missionaries, co-workers and the Fijian Catholic church.
Columban Fr Pat Raleigh worked for many years in Pakistan and as Regional Director in Ireland.
Listen to "When the light shines again"
Related links
- Read more from The Far East, September 2020
