Kaulotu Issue 1, 2013

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Columban PublicatonIssue 1 March 2013

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Kaulotu - March 2013 2

Kaulotu

Published by Columban Missionaries

Nasese Suva Fiji

Editor: Visenia Navelinikoro

Editorial Assistant: Fr Tom Rouse

PO Box 2364

Government Buildings

Suva

Ph: 330 8290 Fax: 330 8292

Email: [email protected]

Page 3 From the Director

Page 4 Yes! to challenging mes.

Gyan Want (CCIM)

Page 5 Called to serve /Paulo Leads

Page 6 Companions in Mission LA

Monika Lewakana (Columban Lay Missionary)

Page 7 Courage to live a Lent

Relecon - Warren Kinne

Page8 Photo Gallery

Page 9 St Francis nds God in Nature

Fr Charles Rue

Page 10 Youth/Students Corner

World Water Day

Page 11 Editorial/Bullen

Snapshots

Central Eastern Crosswalk -23rd MarchYouths from all central eastern parishes arrive atKris Jyo Ashram, Namata in Nadi.This year FrPapila, a Tongan Vincenan priest led the youths ontheir spiritual journey commemorang the death of

Jesus on Calvary

Cross Gender Dialogue - 8th MarchParcipants of the Cross Gender Dialogue. Thisdialogue was iniated by the MOVE Fiji (MenOpposing Violence Everywhere), Raiwaqa Social and

Jusce Commission and Columban JPIC in responding

to the current issue in Fiji - Violence Against Women/Girls

Contents

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Almost all the members of our region were able to be

present our lay missionaries and our ordained members.With us, as acve parcipants in our workshop, were

Fr Francis ko La, our priest associate from Myanmar/

Burma, the two members of our mission awareness team

and three representaves of the Columban Companions

in Mission (CCIM). We are very much aware that, in the

future as the numbers of our ordained members dwindle,

the legacy of Columban Mission will be largely borne by

our lay members, co-workers and companions.

Finally, on the last day of our workshop we held a day

of discernment as we prepared for the nal ballot inthe process leading towards the appointment of a new

regional director. Since I have served two terms (6 years) as

regional director, I cannot, according to the Constuons

of our Society, be elected to a third consecuve term. So,

a couple of weeks later following the ocial appointment

by our Superior-General, I was very happy to announce

the Fr Donal McIlraith will succeed me on April 5, 2013,

as the new regional director of the Society for the region

of Fiji.

One thing I will be able to leave him as I leave oce is

a new regional plan of acon for 2013-2019. This issue

of Kaulotu is devoted to making you, our readers, more

aware of this plan. And, as I leave oce, I wish Gods

blessing upon you all and thank you for your connued

support and prayers.

Tom Rouse

March 5, 2013

Fr Tom Rouse

[email protected]

Last Year, from late August to late September, the

leaders of the Columban Missionary Society met forour General Assembly. At this meeting we produced a

plan of action for the Society worldwide. Shortly after

our return to Fiji, Fr Pat Colgan, the elected delegate to

the General Assembly, and I gave a presentation dealing

with the vision and values that form the basis of our

Society-wide plan of action. I also announced that we

would have a post-Assembly workshop in February of

this year, 2013.

Prior to this workshop, we heard Pope Benedict XVI

announce the appointment of Fr Peter Loy Chong tosucceed Archbishop Peter Mataca as archbishop of

Suva. When I met Fr Peter in January to congratulate

him on his appointment, I asked him if would be willing

to attend our post-Assembly workshop and present

his vision for future of the archdiocese of Suva. He

accepted the invitation and, on the second day of our

workshop, he gave a stirring presentation.

So it was in the light of our Society-wide plan of action

and the Bishop-elect s vision for the archdiocese of Suva

that we were able to achieve the principal objective of

our workshop to produce a Columban plan of action

for the region of Fiji for the years 2013-2019. It was a

remarkable achievement in that we were able to give

copies of the new regional plan to each member on the

last day of our workshop.

I am grateful for the presence of our bishop-elect, Fr

Peter Loy Chong, and the representative of the new

central council of the Society (based in Hong Kong), Fr

Darwin Bataca. (Fr Pat Colgan is also a member of this

new central council under the leadership of our new

Superior-General, Fr Kevin ONeill. The members ofthis new central council were elected at the General

Assembly last year.)

From the Director

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For the past few months I have been teachingthe Columban lay missionaries Hindi. It was andhas been a great experience for me to see howpeople learn when they are determined. Anywayduring this me, I was invited by Fr Frank Hoareto aend the post General Assembly at theCentral house.

In the beginning I had my reservaons, but later Ithought I would join in since I was in Suva. All theColumban priests, lay missionaries, seminarians,sta and three members of the ColumbanCompanions aended. I represented thenorthern Columban Companions in mission. Itwas the rst me I had aended such a workshopand that made me a bit lost in the beginning, butas me went on I could see how important thismeeng was. The future of the mission work wasspelt out. In the beginning, when the Columban

Mission started in Fiji, there were 13 priests,

now there were le with 9, with three parishes,Raiwaqa, Ba and Labasa.

A plan was looked at as to how these parisheswill go on with the number of priests drascallydeclining and more priests ageing.

Should we let go of one parish and parish it wouldbe? The objecves were looked at as well as theconcerns.

Fr Peter Loy Chong Archbishop Elects talk, verymuch enlightened the workshop.

He spoke on his vision for the mission of theChurch in Fiji. He shared his views on the coupculture, racial discriminaon etc., on the socialissues faced in the country, and how the churchis responding to these.

This workshop strengthened my commitment.Aer the workshop, I invited the mandali leadersfrom the Suva area and shared the experience ofthe workshop. We discussed how we could helpthe Columban mission. An outreach programwas planned.

It seems the Holy Spirit is guiding us greatly andthe Lord is telling us that not only priests but

everybody is called to do mission work.

Mr Gyan Want in group discussion with Fr Frank Hoare and

columban lay missionary Liezl Ladaran.

Columban companion in mission participants to the post assembly workshop togethr with Fr Frank Hoare.

Photo left-right - Fr Frank Hoare (CCIM regional coordinator),Vitalina Lubi,gyan Want, and Joe Qalo.

Mr Gyan Want is a retired school teacher. He works closely

with Fr Frank Hoare in the Fiji Indian Apostolate Ministry.

Gyan Want

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Called to

ServeFr Donal McIlraith (le) has beenapponted the new director of the Societyof the Saint Columban in Fiji. He succeedsfrom Fr Tom Rouse, who has been thedirector of the Fiji region for six years.

Fr Donal Mcllraith is an Irish priest and

currently teaches at the Pacic RegionalSeminary. He has worked in Fiji for manyyears and also in overseas.

He is well known for his experse in StPaul and Apocalypse.

We all wish Fr Donal Mcllraith all the bestin his new role in leadership.

The Columban Post Assembly workshop

was held at the central house on the 19th -

22nd of March.

Paulo Bale, (right) an independant

peacebuilding consultant facilitated the

workshop.

Through Paulos creativeness and well

organised guidelines and methodology the

post - assembly was a success. At the end

of the workshop a Columban Plan of Action

2013 - 2019 Handbook was produced.

Paulo Bale worked in Phillipines as aColumban lay missionary for three years.

From the Director

Paulo

Leads

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On the 16th of Feb, we had an excellent and life -

giving gathering. It was iniated by Serana Ranadi, a

Fijian Lay Missionary, working in the States together

with a Symeon Yee, the Chutes family and Freddy

Brown. The most important idea underneath the

invitaon was to create awareness in the people

about Columban Fathers and Lay Missionary andthe pastoral that we do. Most of all, to create the

awareness that we are all missionary in our own way,

because we are all bapzed in the same Spirit and we

are called by God to mission to one another.

The gathering was held at the Columban house, in

Los Angeles. We start our schedule at 3pm groups

started arriving at 2:30pm. Our special guest of the

day was Fr. Iowane Gukibau, who had just nished

his Missiology study in Rome.

It was not only a Fijian/Tongan group; this gathering

also embraced other minority groups, eg from

Philippines and an American too (Mike). We

embraced other faith groups as well.

It was so lovely, Mass was celebrated in Fijian, where

other languages were included too for the prayers of

the faithful and hymns. Then the sevusevu, followed

by the yaqona session, meal and social.

Apart from the yaqona and the social we shared

together our mission experiences (Columban) and

their mission experiences (the group) too.

This is just the beginning of welcoming the people

who have made the country of the United States

their home and their life, esp. Fijians, Tongans and

Indo-Fijians. Serana has started it and they will keep

it alive and moving, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

It was a very memorable day.

Monika Lewatikana is a Columban lay Missionary working in

El Paso, Mexico.

Monika Lewatikana

Companions in MissionWe are all called by God to mission to one another

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Courage to live a Lent

Before the great Feast of Easter when we celebratethe death and resurrecon of Jesus, the Church goesthrough a period of preparaon by prayer and fasng.We call this Lent. In the northern hemisphere, whereChrisanity started, it was celebrated in Spring andslowly, throughout that me, the dead of winter burstforth into the luxuriance of new growth, signifyinglife and the resurrecon.

Xiao Ai is a young friend of mine. She was le at thesteps of a convent about seven years ago in a remotevillage of Shan Xi Province. She was born with clubbedfeet and abandoned. Xiao was brought to Shanghai

where a group of foreigners provided money andlogiscal support for mulple operaons.

During that period she was taken in by a family whotook great care of her and eventually wanted toadopt her as their own. However there were manyhurdles to be overcome. Xiao Ai did not have anyidencaon as the convent was not a registeredorphanage and so the convent was not in a posionto register her.

Indeed people could only guess at her actual birth

date. She was really a non-person.

Aer years of eort Xiao Ai has had all her paperworkcompleted and she now has a Chinese passport thatwill allow her to travel with her adopted family toSingapore. What happiness followed the long andanxious wait where a wonderful outcome was hopedfor rather than to be expected.

Xiaos struggle to me is a Lenten story that has becomean Easter story; a fast that turned into a feast; a long

journey in a desert that ended in freedom; a neardeath that heralded a resurrecon, a new life.

Shanghai is a city of nsel and glier. Most peoplerecognize the image of its iconic buildings andtowering structures along the Huang Pu River. There

are myriad neon signs and a yuppie lifestyle for manyex-pats who ride the wave of economic frenzy. But ithas its under-belly.

The construcon of this city has been done on thebacks of migrant workers - currently seven million- who have travelled to the city to nd work. Theyle their villages and oen their families in orderto make a lile money on construcon sites and inrestaurants and factories.

These people do not have residency permits inShanghai and so they cannot sele down where theywork. Oen they leave their children back in thevillage in the care of grandparents and may only gethome once a year during the Chinese New Year tosee how the family is going.

Children can resent their absence and may notappreciate the sacrice of the parent or parents inorder to beer the whole family economically.

In the cies where they work they do not have equalaccess to medical and educaonal opportunies thatare open to the local populaon.

Their sacrice is a sort of lent lived in the hope of abeer future for their family. Like Xiao Ais adopngparents or the migrant parents, they in fact live theadmonion of God in Isaias 58: 6-7.

Is not this the fast that I choose: to share your breadwith the hungry and bring the homeless poor intoyour house; when you see the naked, to cover him.

God brought the slaves out of the land of Egypt wherethey had made bricks for the ostentaous buildings

of the Pharaohs. This same God made a covenantwith them and subsequently with us that we treateach other dierently because in one way or anotherwe have all been freed. The worship of the marketand the God of money has caused many to suer.May we all have the courage to live a Lent that willusher in true life for the world.

Warren Kinne now works at You Dao Foundaon.

To read more relections go to :

http://www.columban.org.au/resources/refections/

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Columban Companion In Mission

LA Gathering

Photo FocusPost Assembly Workshop

Photo top left:

left - right :Lizl (CLM) Fr Peter Loy

Archbishop Elect), Fr Frances and Gyan

Want (CCIM).

Photo top right:

right - left: Lanieta T(CLM), Frs. J.J. Ryan,

David Arms, Darwin Bayaca, and Vitalina

Lubi (CCIM)

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JPIC

As I wrote last week, a Franciscan Sister told me that the best

word for her in English to capture the spirit Francis lived by

was courtesy. Courtesy was the way Francis related to all

Gods creatures, human and nature itself. It was the root of his

closeness to God, his spirituality.

An early biographer of the saint relates a story about how

Francis was sitting in a boat crossing a river and was given a

small water bird to hold. It settled down in his hands as in a nest

while he lapsed into prayer. Coming to himself he sweetly told

the little bird to return to its original freedom. True to its nature

the bird ew away.

Pope John Paul II taught that all parts of creation have their

own integrity and this must be respected. Humans often use

other people and things purely for their own benet, without

regard to them, reducing them to objects. But they are subjects

with the own worth and integrity. Sadly, the Scriptural mission

to be steward-masters of creation can be perverted to sanction

control, even arbitrary abuse. God calls humans to act like

Gods own self, thinking stewards within creation but not

separate from it. Two hundred years of human domination of

the earth is now being seen in geological terms of change, the

Anthropocene. St Francis might say, Enough.

Scripture helps us cultivate a God-like love for creation. Many

Psalms are nature based poems of praise for God the

planets and animals, the elements of frost, snow and wind.

St Bonaventure, a disciple of Francis, taught that the Cosmic

Revelation is Gods rst revelation. Modern science tells of

billions of years of cosmic history and faith tells us of salvationhistory in Jesus continuing in the Holy Spirit as creation evolves.

Our history is one, formed from stardust but destined for divinity

in the mystery of God.

The Earth Bible Team based in Adelaide explores the

suppressed voice of nature in the Scriptures. Their month long

Lectionary helps church communities celebrate a Season of

Creation during September to appreciate anew the integrity of

Gods creation, humble in our conscious role within it. We can

recall God shouting at Job, Who is this obscuring my designs

were you there when I laid the earths foundation can you

guide the morning star who gave the wild donkey its freedom does the hawk take ight on your advice? (Ch 38-39)

Pope Benedict XVI says that the theologies of Redemption

and Creation must be re-connected as one continuing action

of God. Incarnation, God taking on esh, is key. The world

is the primary sacrament, and the Risen Jesus present with

a community celebrating the Eucharistic meal is the ultimate

sacrament. Matter matters says Paul Collins since we nd God

in our bodily existence on earth. All spirituality and mysticism

hinges on this truth.

St Francis identied with his local language and wrote poems in

the vernacular of the Assisi region. One can imagine him using

the relational language of ecology which explores the inter-

connectedness of all things and their mutual dependence.

The precise language of science would have excited Francis

as would have exploring the wonders of bio-diversity. Learning

How God Acts, to use the book title of Fr Denis Edwards, would

have inspired him.

The world can be a messy place and we need to look not

just at the glorious forest tops but at the weeds underneath.

Francis invites us to literally get outside into the natural worldand wonder, and equally invites us to get involved in the hurly-

burley of how our society deals with the natural world. He would

be on the road to visit reefs, river valleys and remote dry lands,

nding out about farming, mining and how people gain a living.

However, his preaching in these places would always come

back to nding the presence of God there in courtesy and our

activities tempered by lady poverty as our companion.

Some years ago I wrote for ACSJC on the Attitudes to Nature

of Australian Catholics over 200 Years. The entry point of eco-

faith pioneers varied. For some it was the endless sky of the

western plains. For others it was the backyard garden plot oranimal pets. Some were visionaries like Tenison Wood. The

founding advisors to Catholic Earthcare Australia were eco-faith

pioneers. From varied backgrounds they applied their expertise

to show God present in the natural world and commit to care in

Gods name.

St Francis received the stigmata, the wounds of Jesus appearing

in his body. His union with God in Christ was complete. But it

is the same Francis who sang with joy about sister moon and

brother sun, a man in love with creation.

Published in the Leader Sept-Oct 2012 by Fr Charles Rue SSC.

Fr Charles is the Coordinator of Columban Justice Peace

Integrity and Creation (JPIC).

[email protected]

St Francis Finds God in Nature

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You may think that every drop of rain that falls from the sky, oreach glass of water that you drink is brand new, but in fact it has

always been here and is a constant part of The Water Cycle!

U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey

Stefanie Neno, Jim Morgan, Gabriele Zanolli, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsHoward Perlman, Gerard Gonthier, U.S. Geological Survey

General Information Product 146http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercycle-kids.html

The heat of the sunprovides energy to make

the water cycle work.

The sun evaporateswater from the oceansinto water vapor.

The water vapor

condenses into clouds.

Air currents move clouds

all around the Earth.

Water drops form in

clouds, and the drops

then fall to Earth asprecipitation (rain and

snow).

In cold climates,

precipitation builds up

as snow, ice, and

glaciers.

Snow can melt and

become runoff, which

flows into rivers, theoceans, and into the

ground.

Some ice evaporates

directly into the air,

skipping the melting

phase (sublimation).

Volcanoes emit steam,which forms clouds.

This invisible vapor rises

into the atmosphere,

where the air is colder.

Plants take up

groundwater andevapotranspire, or

evaporate, it from

their leaves.

Some groundwater seeps

into rivers and lakes, andcan flow to the surface

as springs.

Groundwater close to the

land surface is taken up

by plants.

Some groundwater goes

very deep into the ground

and stays there for a

long time.

Groundwater flows into

the oceans, keeping thewater cycle going.

Water fromlakes and rivers can also

seep into the ground.

Water moves underground

because of gravity and

pressure.

Rainfall on land flowsdownhill as runoff,

providing water to lakes,

rivers, and the oceans.

Some rain soaks into the

ground, as infiltration,

and if deep enough,recharges groundwater.

RUNOFF

LAKES

SEEPAGE

INFILTRATION

SPRING

PLANTUPTAKE

RECHARGE

GROUNDWATER STORAGE

GROUNDWATER FLOW

THE OCEANS

RUNOFF

EVAPOTRANSPIRATION

RIVERS

SNOWMELT

RUNOFF

FOG AND DEW

PRECIPITATION

SUBL IMATION

ICE ANDSNOW

STREAMFLOW

TheWaterCycle

VOLCANICSTEAM

EVAPORATION

CONDENSATIONTHE ATMOSPHERE

EVAPOTRANSPIRATION

The Water Cycle

World Water Day 2013 - Green Schools Ireland

www.greenschoolsireland.org/news/world-water-day-2013.2225.html

LETS SAVE WATER!!!

Walking for Water

As part of this years World Water Day

your school could organise a Walking

for Water event whereby children walk

6 kilometres (4 miles) with 6 litres (1.5

gallons) of water in a backpack to raise

awareness about water scarcity.

Youth/Students Corner

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It is a great source of inspiraon and smulus to see

that even with a decrease in numbers, the Columban

Fathers sll have a lot of passion, enthusiasm and

dedicaon towards their mission in Fiji.

Thirteen Columban Fathers arrived into Fiji in 1952,

through the invitaon of Bishop Victor Foley S.M.

Since then the Columban Fathers have devoted their

me and energy in mission acvies around Fiji,

from developing new parishes to other apostolate

ministries.

The Columbans recognize their declining in numbers

in the region; nevertheless this has not dissuaded

their enthusiasm towards mission. The work in the

vineyard of the Lord needs to connue.

The contribuon of all these great missionaries

(not only Columbans) to the development of

the Archdiocese of Fiji is immense and greatly

appreciated.

There is a great need of enthusiasm in all, like these

great missionaries. Priests and lay people alike

need to be creave in mission work and apostolate

ministries.

We need to be fully alive in doing mission work like

those missionaries who came to our island many

years ago.

Visenia Navelinikoro

Serafna Ranadi (Columban lay missonary ) visiting

families in Pakistan.

Columban Lay Mission

Bulletin/Editorial

We are called initially toleave culture,family and coun-try inresponding to this call.

We come to know more deeply thecompassionate and loving Jesuswho made his home with the poorand the marginalized.We continue to offer our-selves as Gods instruments ofhealing,peace, love,justice andfreedom,fulfilling Jesus word

I came that you may have lifelife to the full

John 10:10

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In his Easter SundayUrbi Et Orbimessage, Pope Francis echoed Pope

Emeritus Benedict XVIs words (in Benedicts inaugural homily) saying,

How many deserts, even today, do human beings need

to cross! Above all, the desert within, when we have nolove for God or neighbor, when we fail to realize that we

are guardians of all that the Creator has given us andcontinues to give us. Gods mercy can make even the driest

land become a garden, can restore life to dry bones.

Kaulotu Issue 1, 2013

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