A Tradition Honoring Mary

Some Fijians Catholic display their love for the Blessed Virgin with a portable shrine.
By Fr. Donal McIlraith

The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Eucharist are central to the faith of Catholics in Fiji. Mary’s welcome to the Word, to Jesus, at the Annunciation is seen as a model and pattern of the welcome that we should give Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. The people’s love for Mary is moving, and their passion for Christ and the Eucharist is an inspiration.

One way some Fijian Catholics honor Mary is an October tradition in which a statue of Mary travels from family to family throughout a village.

That’s the case here in the village of Navatuyaba where I live. A statue of Mary had been taken to Karalo and Mareta’s house for the weekend, and we all gathered there one evening this past October for its transport in a little portable shrine to Vilikesa’s house.

Karalo carried the shrine to Vilikesa’s house through the village. It made quite a sight. Two boys with flaming torches went ahead of the shrine, we all followed two by two, and two more torchbearers followed me at the end of the procession.

As we went, we recited the rosary and sang hymns. It took about half an hour to reach Vilikesa’s house. There by torchlight, the statue was formally handed over to Vilikesa who then led the procession into his home where his wife, Kalara, and the family were waiting.

There we completed the rosary and celebrated the Eucharist. Nearly a hundred of the village’s Catholics were there. We just about managed to squeeze into Kalara’s living room with enough space for the altar in front. When everyone sits on the ground, it is amazing how many people can fit into a small space.

The Mass was sung in Fijian. After Mass, there was a simple cup of tea with some scones, and the men drank the traditional Fijian drink of kava.

The statue “rests” overnight in each household before moving on to the next. There are about 30 Catholic households in the village, and by the October’s end, the Marama—the Lady—had visited all the families.

This October tradition of bringing the statue of Mary around to the families has been carried on for many years here.

Columban Father Donal McIlraith was ordained in 1971. He is the education coordinator for the Fiji region and the rector for initial student formation in Suva.