The ambassador and the Columbans

Columban Fr Donal McIlraith was watching EWTN News on July 27, 2018, and saw that the next appointed American Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tuvalu and Tonga would be a Mr Joseph Cella - a Catholic. The next day Donal wrote a letter welcoming him to Fiji. He and his family arrived on December 16, 2019. 

The Cella family with Columban Fr Frank Hoare. Photos: Fr John McEvoy SSC

 

The Cella family with Columban Fr Frank Hoare. Photos: Fr John McEvoy SSC

During less pitched times in American politics ambassadors from the United States arrive at their post nine months after their nomination is publicly announced. For the Cella family it took over two years. Ambassador Cella shared with me that "the virtues of humility and patience were honed to a fine edge during this time". Soon after it appeared his confirmation would be delayed, he said he "unexpectedly came across Saint Thomas More's “Psalm on Detachment”, praying it daily, it offered me great consolation."

Joseph Cella also shared that about one year into the process he happened to discover that these islands were first evangelized by the Marists and that Saint Peter Chanel was martyred about 400 miles to the NE of Fiji in Wallis and Fortuna. "At that time I began turning to Saint Peter Chanel as an intercessor. Coincidence? Perhaps providence! I am a product of a Marist high school education, have visited and spoke at the schools here, and the beautiful churches they expertly designed and forged out of limestone and coral, and met many fellow alumni, or as they are called in the Southern Hemisphere, “Old Boys”." 

Of his Catholic education, Joseph said "it sowed in my heart, mind and soul the importance of bringing God's salt and light to all those we encounter, treating them with dignity, worth and respect. This is integral to who I am today in my work, and in my vocation as a husband to my beloved wife and father to my children."

It took Joseph and I some time to meet up. Eventually we met at the ambassador's residence over a family dinner, and again when the family was invited to our Columban house for the celebration of St Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2020. 

What a shock we got when this young family man and his wife Kristen arrived with their seven children – ranging in age from 14 years to nine months. No need to say that the place was transformed and the sombre and more elderly invitees with their cocktails and yaqona drinks were forced to change their traditional mood and be entertained by the antics of the children. They would put the Von Trapp Family of the famed Sound of Music into the shadows! The evening was the start of a great relationship between the Columbans in Fiji and the Cella family. 

But less than a week after St Patrick's Day the official medevac route to Singapore was cut, as were the fallback routes to Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii, due to the spreading COVID-19. Kristen Cella and the children returned to the USA, to live with her parents in Michigan for four and a half months before returning to Fiji and to two weeks of quarantine in late July. It was early August when the Cella family could be joyfully together again. 

The ambassador reported that although it was challenging to be apart from his family, he knew they were safe and secure with his in-laws, and he was able to focus on embassy business during the difficult coronavirus times. 

He reported: "Living as a celibate bachelor monk bore great fruit for both my prayer and interior life. The Columban Fathers were a wonderful support and safe harbor during these epochal times, warmly welcoming me to Mass at the chapel in their residence. I am now turning to Saint Columban as an intercessor and will keep him close. I am very impressed by the continuing heroic work of the Columbans here in Fiji and throughout the Pacific. We will be forever grateful for their friendship and spiritual support."

The Residence of the American Embassy is about a kilometre away from the Columban Central House in Suva. Joseph came to our community 7.00 am Mass nearly every morning, often accompanied by a number of his sons and daughters. They would do the readings and serve the Mass whenever present. They often stayed for coffee and breakfast and we in turn were invited to the American Embassy residence in Suva for birthday parties, Easter, the U.S. Father's Day, the Fiji Father's Day and Christmas celebrations. The children were always the centre of attraction and related so well and naturally with one another, their parents and us Columbans. At the St Patrick’s Day celebration Fr Donal McIlwraith had the honour of offering a prayer in the Gaelic language.

Joseph Cella (left) with Fr Donal McIlwraith (right). Photos: Fr John McEvoy SSC

Joseph Cella (left) with Fr Donal McIlwraith (right). Photos: Fr John McEvoy SSC

Ambassador Joseph Cella told me that it was a blessing, an honor, a joy and a privilege to represent the United States of America, building and fortifying bridges with people from all sectors and strata. He said: “I have friends who are former ambassadors and who had spoken of the privilege of embassy service and I can agree with everything they said and add a lot more. It is exhilarating work and is the greatest job I have ever had. Serving in this role offers a unique opportunity to share God's love with all of those I encounter without proselytizing."

With a change of Government in the USA, Joseph’s term of about a year and a half may soon come to an end. As ambassador, he endeared himself to many people in Fiji of all races and religions. He achieved so much by being out among the people at every opportunity he got – visiting schools and disadvantaged communities throughout the country, handing out dozens of official U.S. Embassy Suva rugby balls along the way. He hosted many events for a cross section of all races in Fiji, both at the residence and at the Embassy itself. One of his staff said “He was out of his office in the first month of his term more than other ambassadors would be for their entire term of office.”

Joseph Cella and his wife Kristen are humble and spiritual persons with no airs or graces. They are of Italian descent and in the USA their home is in Michigan. We Columbans in Fiji will miss their graciousness, their generosity and, of course, their children, when they depart Fiji. The same can be said of the hundreds of Fijians whom they befriended during the short time they have been here in Fiji. We give thanks for their presence among us.

Columban Fr John McEvoy, Columban Leader, Fiji.

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