Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Nabala is a rural parish on Vanua Levu, the second main island in Fiji. It has Catholics in about eleven villages numbering about 1,300 people. Fr Iowane Manasa is the parish priest. It is a poor parish, so it is a struggle for the people to meet their fundraising target for the parish each year.
This year, Fr Manasa and Nabala parish leaders decided that, instead of prolonged fundraising over months culminating in a one-day bazaar, the men of the parish would cut the cane of seven Muslim cane farmers who lived close together near Seaqaqa, not far from the parish centre. It was agreed that the parishioners would cut about 3,200 tons of cane at $25 a ton. They would give the $80,000 thus raised to the parish as their fundraising for 2024. The Muslim farmers also contributed some money for food and provided simple accommodation.
As a result, over 100 male parishioners are camping in temporary sheds in the farmers’ compounds and cut cane together every day, chatting and joking as they work. About 12 female parishioners cook for them. The men rise and pray at 5.00 am, drink a cup of tea at 6.00 am, and walk to the areas of work. They return to their main base for breakfast at 9.00 am and continue cutting cane until lunch. After a short rest, they resume work until 5.00 pm. Before showering, they enjoy tea and bread.
All assemble for Mass in the main shed each evening, singing with gusto and listening respectfully to the scripture readings and homily. They then have their evening meal and sleep on the ground in their sheds until morning. On weekends, they drink the traditional drink, kava. Sunday is, of course, a day of rest.
These men have left their homes and plantations for six weeks, live in basic conditions and will give the fruits of their labour to their parish. They also pray together and celebrate the Eucharist daily. They are strengthening their bonds with parishioners from other villages. It is like a prolonged retreat or a liminal period. The Muslim family is very impressed by their witness and their behaviour. One Muslim farmer told me that among them there is no questioning or bickering and that they show great respect to their priest. The Muslims understand the Fijian language and the men often sit among the workers during the Eucharist. In fact, one of them wanted to receive the “bread” distributed at communion until the meaning of the Eucharist was explained to him.
A group of parishioners from the neighbouring Columban parish of Labasa visited the Nabala cane cutters with a large gift of food on July 2nd. It was ritually presented and accepted. In accepting the food, the spokesman for the cane cutters said that their combined effort for their parish is synodality in action - community participation in the mission of the Church.
Synodality for them is not a difficult or strange word. Rather, it is based on one of the key cultural values of Fijians: solesolevaki (collaborating in solidarity on behalf of the community). It combines physical, social, and spiritual aspects. It is awe-inspiring.
Columban Fr Frank Hoare lives and works in Fiji.
Listen to "Synodality in action"
Related links
- Read more from The Far East - September/October 2024
