Columbans train Fijian lay ministers to help their communities when priests are not available.
By Father Diego Cabrera Rojas

"It is always useful when native-speaking Catholics can help you minister to their people. I learned that during my years of mission in the South Pacific island nation of Fiji, where I worked with the Indo-Fijian community.

A few years ago, Columban Father Frank Hoare prepared a good number of Indo-Fijian Catholics to serve their faith community in case priests were not available. Many of them, however, migrated to Australia, New Zealand and the United States following the second political coup in Fiji in 2000. But some have stayed.

Fijians have catechists that help priests care for their parishes. The northern island of Vanua Levu, for example, has many Indo-Fijian Catholics, but there are times when a priest is not available to serve their community. Columbans in Fiji decided to start a program that would prepare the laity there who wanted to commit themselves to this work.

We asked Petero Mataca, the Archbishop of Fiji and Rotuma, if we could prepare Indo-Fijian Catholics to serve as readers and Eucharistic ministers. He agreed and gave us suggestions about how to prepare them properly for their ministries.

We started selecting candidates who were willing to help. Twice a week for eight weeks, we held training classes for the candidates. We shared, reflected and prayed together. They were enthusiastic about learning the lessons and performing practical jobs in the community.

After the lessons, we submitted their names and backgrounds to the archbishop, who accepted them and set the date for the candidates’ commissioning. Four of them now take turns attending the rural communities of Naleba, Nagigi, Karokaro and the village of Mataniwai. Naleba serves as the parish center, and the other communities surround Naleba. Three ministers take care of the Labasa area and Vunika.

Newly baptized members of the Naleba Catholic community brought the offertory gifts to the altar during the Mass for the commissioned lay ministers.

After the brief homily, we baptized Pushpa, the wife of one of our Catholic men from Naleba; Paroti, the wife of Sami, who converted to our faith a year ago; and two children from Nagigi. After the baptism, the women came into the church wearing beautiful white saris, and the boys had new clothes.

The new converts were welcomed by their partners with garlands; the children were welcomed by their parents. While Sami was welcoming Paroti, Avishek, a 5-year-old Anglican boy, commented, “Wah, fir se shaadi kare!” (See, they are getting married again!). We laughed. I explained to Avishek that it was not a wedding, just a welcoming.

The whole community welcomed the newly baptized with enthusiastic applause.

Then the commissioning of the Eucharistic ministers took place. Fr. Ryan explained the meaning of the ceremony and the duties of the new ministers. They were presented with crosses donated by our Filipino friends.

The Hindi Mass continued in the usual manner. The newly baptized brought the offertory gifts to the altar and received Holy Communion with all the people. After Mass we shared sweets and tea brought by members of the community and, of course, we shared the jokes of the day around the bowl of yaqona, the traditional drink of Fiji.

A More Meaningful Life
It was a blessed time for me in Naleba. We had baptisms, weddings and funerals in which the community was always present. We prayed and explain the meaning of our faith to the non-Catholics who always joined us in our songs.

Through the ministry of music, many Catholic hymns spread to the other religions, and they sing our songs. I hope this spirit has led our community to live a more meaningful and closely shared life.