The theme for the three-day celebration is '125 years of multiracial education.

The school's 607 students made the most of their day off from classes, with a formal celebration in which they were addressed by former scholars and items were performed by students.

Head teacher Dan Burese said that the school worked towards the theme of 125 years of multiracial education.

"It means that the education the brothers brought was for everybody and not for one particular race," Burese said.

Source

• Fiji Times
• Fiji Times
• Image: Marist solidarity

He argues this dual commitment can be achieved through a tool called the pastoral circle which was formulated by the USA Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Jesuit Order to help churches, organisations and religious communities respond effectively to the issues that face them.

Chong says there are four moments in the pastoral circle: insertion, social analysis, theological reflection and action plan.

1. Insertion — involves asking what is happening? Put yourself in the situation. One good way of doing this, he said, was imagining yourself looking down on Fiji. One asks what are the people experiencing, what are their fears, what are their aspirations?
2. Social analysis — why is this happening? Why of the what. What are the root causes of the problem? Why are things the way they are? Archbishop Chong said that social analysis could be likened to a visit to the doctor. The doctor carries out an analysis to identify the cause of illness. He said this second moment was very important because "unless we know the root cause, we might not be able to effectively address the situation".
3. Theological reflection — here we reflect on what is God saying to us in this situation/problem. This is an attempt to understand the problem from the perspective of God.
4. Action plan — what is to be done? This course of action is informed by the social analysis and the theological reflection.

The pastoral circle guides the Churches, communities, and organisations towards relevancy and effectiveness in responding to their challenges.

He says training will be needed and expertise will be drawn from both the laity and the religious communities. Archbishop Chong says he wants to use this tool at all levels within the local church so that its teachings, interpretations and applications will always be relevant to those whom the church serves.

Source

• The Fiji Times
• Image: 3.bp.blogspot.com

In the Catholic Church, ecclesiastical provinces, composed of several neighbouring dioceses, are each headed by a metropolitan, the archbishop of the diocese designated by the Pope. The other bishops are known as suffragan bishops.

The pallium is a symbol of Archbishop Chong's position as the metropolitan Archbishop of Suva. The suffragan dioceses are Rarotonga, Tarawa and Nauru.

Chong says the pallium, which is given by the Pope to Metropolitan Archbishops among other things, is a "symbol of the metropolitan bishops' communion with the Pope".

He said that the feast of saints Peter and Paul Mass held in St Peter's Basilica symbolised our traditions which we inherited from the apostles and handed down by the various popes.

He described the whole liturgy as "very solemn and embracing".

"For me, it's the experience of being part of a 2000-year tradition, back to Saints Peter and Paul and the apostles. I am part of the ongoing history of God's revelation".

Source

• The Fiji Times
• Wikipedia
• Image: Clerical Whispers

"For on this day I will humbly serve you as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Suva, and through his (God's) light gather people of all races.

"In this ordination I urge you all to put aside racial, religious, political barriers and differences."

Thousands of people attended the ordination at the Vodafone Arena in Suva.

Among those were the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, the Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, ministers, senior government officials and representatives from other religious organisations.

There were families, friends and church members from as far away as the United States, Australia and New Zealand.

Archbishop Emeritus Mataca, as the principal consecrator, anointed Archbishop Chong's head and presented him with the Book of the Gospels.

On Friday when he took the Oath of Fidelity at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Suva, the final step before his ordination as the Archbishop, Loy Chong said he was at peace.

"I am not nervous and I am not worried. There are no negative emotions, there is an element of positiveness looking forward to tomorrow (Saturday)."

He explained the support from his surviving siblings and their children was more than he could ask for with his nieces and nephews even purchasing the episcopal ring he would wear.

"My sisters have been great support for me not only with the material things but they've been very prayerful. And my nieces and nephews, they've been of great support to me. I cannot ask for anything better," he said.

On Saturday afternoon, at the veiqaraqaravi vakavanua (traditional ceremony), members of the Burebasaga Confederacy said the three confederacies and 14 provinces in Fiji had faith in Archbishop Loy Chong to drive the church forward.

Presenting the kamunaga (whale's tooth), to Loy Chong the confederacy's matanivanua (spokesman) said: "Na vanua e sa vakanuinui vei kemuni e na nomuni veiliutaki, nomuni vakacabo i soro e na veisiga me nanumi kina na vanua o Viti. (The vanua is counting on you, on your leadership. Remember Fiji when you offer Mass to God every day)."

The matanivanua said the traditional ceremony was from the people of Fiji.

Source

• Fiji Times
• Fiji Times
• Fiji Times
• Fiji times
• Image: Fiji Times/Eliki Nukutabu

Chong says that the Pope's resignation is unlikely to have any affect on the ordination plans "Although we still have not received any response from the Vatican, this [The Pope's resignation] will not affect my ordination. In fact, the decision has already been made and it requires three bishops to perform the consecration."

Archbishop Petero Mataca conducted his last official duties as head of the Roman Catholic in Fiji and Rotuma on 18 January. As part of his final mass, he ordained four priests at the Sacred Heart Cathedral.

He said he walked out happy, having done his part and the church would continue. Members of 35 parishes gathered to witness the ceremony.

"Now with my last ordination as Archbishop of Suva, I finish my time as leader and when the Archbishop-elect is ordained, my title will be the former Archbishop of Suva," he said.

He added,"I ask then that the whole Catholic Community support the new Archbishop as they have done with me. Work with him through good and challenging times. Continue to work and support in prayers and actions."

Source

• The Fiji Times
• Fiji Sun
• Image: Tawakilagi.org

Brawls last Friday and on Monday involved students from Suva Grammar and Marist Brothers' High School. Three people were hospitalised and a Marist student was arrested. He appeared in the Magistrates Court on Wednesday and was charged with two counts of assault. He was granted bail.

The Police Commissioner, Brigadier General Ioane Naivalurua, has warned students of Suva Grammar and Marist Brothers' High School that anyone who breaks the law will be taken to task.

Fiji's Ministry of Education permanent secretary Brij Lal has described the street fights as a disgrace.

Source

• The Fiji Times
• Pacific Island report
• FijiVillage
• Image: FijiLive

The ordinations took place in Sacred Heart Cathedral in Suva on Sunday 22 April.

The six men are studying to become priests. The Fijians are training for the Diocesan priesthood while the Solomon Islanders are to be priests of the Society of Mary.

The Archbishop told the newly ordained that they were on their way to priesthood and he would be praying for them to arrive at their destination.

After the ordination, one of the deacons, Oliva Navoli Vudivou, explained that he had to meet many requirements during his training period.

"During and after the seven-year training, we are constantly assessed by our superiors and the people we serve," he said.

"Our performances, how we interact with the congregation, spiritual and physical life, how one conducts himself every day these things along with many others are assessed."

Source

• The Fiji Times - Ordination Service
• The Fiji Times - Interview with one of the Deacons
• Image: Roman Catholic Vocations

Mr McCully today thanked the Fiji administration for its agreement to the MCG visit.

"This visit will enable the MCG to resume direct dialogue with Fiji after a significant interval," Mr McCully said.

"New Zealand as Forum Chair has placed high importance on the maintenance of dialogue and engagement with Fiji.

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A statement from the Australian High Commission said the Suva-based secondary school was the only one in Fiji that specialised in teaching vocational and mainstream curriculum to children with disabilities.

"The Marist Champagnat Institute is different from other special education schools because it is a secondary school where disabled students learn side by side with non-disabled students," said principal Frances Varea.