Missionary enthusiasm among the young Salesians in Fiji
Don Bosco House Suva, Fiji, 26 November 2019 -- Fr. Guillermo Basanes, General Councillor for the Missions, arrived in Fiji lately on Wednesday night, accompanied by Lauren Hichaaba (Provincial delegate for missionary animation and Director of the Cagliero Project) for his mission animation visit to the Suva Community in the Pacific Delegation. It was such a fantastic opportunity for all the confreres to meet with Fr. Basanes for the first time and they were welcomed by Fr. Paselio Tevaga (Rector) and the whole community. The visit was only for one day but they did manage to visit some of the places like the Makoi Hall, Muanikoso. Also they visit different places where the postnovices have their pastoral activities. It was such a wonderful moment for the visitors to witness the ongoing mission duties carried out by the community for young people of Fiji. It was an opportunity to accelerate ideas about how the mission here in Fiji is taking on.
Thursday morning, Fr. Guillermo Basanes conveyed a strong message for the community during the community meeting. He stated that “the mission is not only for the Pacific alone, but for the whole world and the congregation, and we need to pray for more missionaries.” The animating of the mission talk was based on how Don Bosco sent the first missionaries to Argentina and he encouraged the community, especially confreres, to share and be flexible about the mission. He spoke strongly of availability for the mission and the needs of the congregation and the ability to focus on the needs of young people and to inspired young people to become disciples of Jesus.
Thursday Eucharistic Celebration at Muanikoso was celebrated by Fr. Guillermo Basanes together with the assistance of Fr. Mikaele Leilua (Parish Priest) and Fr. Paselio Tevaga (Rector). During the homily he urged the people to hold firm to their faith and be fully available to reveal the goodness of the Gospel by their deeds and actions with patience. After the celebration of the Eucharist, they were welcomed officially by the parishioners of St. John Bosco with a kava ceremony.
Friday morning Fr Guillermo celebrated the mass in the community together with the presence of some lay people before departing for Nausori airport.
