Last weekend, July 11-12,  celebrations were held in Fiji to mark 50 years of Vincentian presence there  .     Fr Joseva Tuimavule CM was there for the celebrations and has provided a reflection on those celebrations.   His reflection is below:


"I am happy to share with you parts of the reflection that i shared with "ex youth" and current youth of St Vincent's Nausori,  and also with Young Vinnies......."   

Last weekend, it was the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Vincentians in Fiji at St John the Apostle in Natovi.  Thousands gathered from different parts of Fiji and abroad.  The humility of the atmosphere wowed us all.  The auspicious presence of Fr General, Gregory Gay,  others like of Frs Gregory Cooney CM and Jose Koyickal CM  from Aussie, our long time devoted CM supporter Ms Magaret Hodge from NZ, Sr Aine DC from Ireland, Damian  from Marsfield with the Young Vinnies from Sydney -- to name a few from abroad who attended the celebrations with us all.    Chris Rabolabiu led the choir at the liturgical celebration presided over by the Archbishop, on  Saturday, a celebration which was authentically inculturated and prayerful.  Our Vincentian students of the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea formed the gospel procession, and  their hometaste brand bamboo pipes music got us sitting upright as if we were in the land of the holies of holies,  singing HosaNna to God the Most High.  The sacred hands prayer read by Maria after communion in honor of the year of the priest made me (and many other priests) realise how much God had used us in our sometimes taken for granted holy orders,  with a callings of joy and blessings.   

At our Sunday Eucharist, the main celebrant  Fr Gregory Gay  CM,  together with the combined alumni  Natovi students  and current students of St Vncents College who led  the choir continued to provide for us an ongoing opportunity of a prayerful liturgy as we found ourselves sharing Eucharist as a community..enabling us to feel nurtured and sustained again.  Evidently, the silent sacrifices of Frs Joji, Fili and Lari with our lay committees from across the board and our parishes from Nausori and Natovi had paid-off.  The headaches, the chaos,  became the celebration of a sea of colours.  The often low profiled St Vincent College students' dances and meke that managed to scoop top award in the Suva School vicinity competition often brought people standing in ovation.  The humble songs of the Natovi ex students-again made us realised...that the eating of coconuts, butako vara, the soup waicala made for people to be WO/MAN of integrity...and to hear from the wit of  the red haired man,  Fr Alan Finn CM his version of what was it like since Day One  of the Vincentians' arrival in Natovi 50years ago...is a remarkable, true journey that only could happen because our CM pioneers came with faith, hope and love....such was our Vncentian story...an authentic christian gospel story!  

Understandably, when it comes to writing and reflecting on what has transpired in the last 50years of our story... one cannot condense all that in a book or series of short reflections -  and yet one thing is certain...we did not journey alone...the "unknown" met us and made us...Our Father General said something similar to this line  "....we thank you for walking with us all this past 50years, some have gone  before us...some still with us today...we celebrate with joy, with thanksgiving...and yet we are sorry too that as Vincentians for some pain and mistakes we have caused you in this journey..."  It brought across, that our men were REAL and Human, desiring each time to follow Jesus, to be inspired by the Holy Spirit, all they did was, hopefully,  for the glorification of God.. If anyone erred..we seek your forgiveness...we still have a lot to be thankful for and learned from...no one can ever ceased from learning and benefiting from God's graceful moments.   In prayer we are thankful to God for the likes of other religious communities who have been part of our Vincentian story....the Marist Fathers, Sisters of Our Lady of Nazareth, Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul who also in their own right have imprints on the pages of life and contribution on the "footprints" of Natovi and Fiji.  We are also indebted to you all."  

 Isa, in retrospect, we look down memory lane...and could not help  but smile and thank God for each of you that have come into our life as Vincentians...the countless lay individuals and families who have walked and laughed (and cried) with us...please know that we are indebted to you and God...for making us who we are today..that we can humbly shout..amen, alleluia...God you are our King, our Maker, our Chief Priest,  cause of Being-ness...  

To the People of Natovi and Nausori--who have had sleepless nights to putting and working hard with so much sacrifices, ensuring we celebrate 50years......we can only thank God for each of you.  

And yes, yes.....we thank our God each time we think of you...and when we pray for you...we pray with you joy.   "

Vina Valevu na nomuni gauna.  E noqu masu me vakalougataki keda yadudua na Kalou sa dau loloma.  Ni moce toka mada...levu sara yani nai loloma e noda."  

Sts Vincent de Paul and  Louise de Marillac...intercede for us! Thank You for taking time to celebrate with Us.  See you  in the next  50yrs.....!

Joseva Tuimavule cm
Suva, Fiji Islands

Below are some scenes from the celebrations in Fiji.   The photos are courtesy of Alicia Webster who has posted a number of photos  on Facebook.  Alicia's full collection of these photos can be viewed at:   http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=282829&id=515090703&l=e8267fb604     .