Our Mission in Fiji

As I depart the island of Taveuni and reflect on the experience of the last several days I am grateful to have had the opportunity to get to know the people of Wairiki, Delaivuna, Nawi (on Venua Levu) and Neselesele villages.

As we got to the old church the decay became more visible. Msgr. Lofton pointed out the various issues. “This building is not safe. People should not be inside. You can see why they need a new church. Most of the funds from World Missions go to the diocese for diocesan programs. You can see that this village could not possibly afford all the expenses for a new church. They need help.”

As the church began to fill up, one of the young men sounded the lali, and the entrance song began. The celebration was a combination of English and Fijian, my first experience with that combination in a bi-lingual Mass! The choir and congregation actively sang all the hymns in parts without accompaniment. It was an uplifting and reverent Mass.

On Friday, October 7 schools celebrated “Fiji Day”. The day commemorates the official transfer from rul by Britain to an independent republic. The official date is October 10, and Fiji became a republic 46 years ago in 1970. The principal invited Msgr. Lofton (diocese of Charleston Director for the Pontifical Mission Societies, diocesan director of Priests continuing education and also pastor of St. Theresa the Little Flower Church in Summerville, SC) and me to attend as guests when we visited with her the day before.

“The church in Neselesele was built to withstand hurricane winds,” says Msgr. Lofton. This was the first church that the Marist priest, Fr. John Crispin, asked for help rebuilding. Msgr. Lofton went on: “the structure is based on what you call a monolithic slab.”

As we drove southwest on the island of Taveuni the impact of the category 5 hurricane that struck last year are still evident. Yet even where homes were damaged the people have stayed. Most of the houses have no foundations and no glass in the windows, which is typical of the local villages. Those that were damaged have partial roofs. Curtains and laundry were blowing in the sea breeze. We passed by the location where Marist missionary priests first came ashore around 1844 and then stopped at Holy Cross parish which also has a community center, a grade school, middle school and high school in US terms. The schools collectively are called Holy Cross College.

When Msgr Edward Lofton left me a phone message to plan for a trip in October, I had no idea what was in store for me, just a sense that it might be significant. When he told me he was asking me to go on a mission trip to Fiji as part of Diocese of Charleston Propagation of the Faith, I was overwhelmed. I have admired the work the Msgr. Lofton does for several years. He serves as pastor of St. Theresa the Little Flower parish in Summerville, SC, chaplain and “cheerleader” for the Knights of Columbus, and director of the diocesan office for the Propagation of the Faith.