By Falefa Elia SDB

Suva, Fiji, 7 September 2023 -- Fr Provincial (William Matthews) arrived in Fiji for the annual canonical visitation on 26 August.

The Suva Community awaited Fr. Provincial’s presence because along with the Visitation were two other significant events: our first weekend youth camp - VitiBosco - and the first CMSPI (Conference of Major Superiors in the Pacific Islands) meeting since Covid.

Fr William’s presence and participation in the VitiBosco activities together with the Salesian Sisters (Sr Louise McKeogh, Provincial, and Sr Carol Tevaga and Sr Fololola Sala) was a wonderful experience of the Salesian spirit and family for the youth. This year, CMSPI, in the spirit of Synodality, invited the diocesan seminarians and religious in Initial Formation to join the congregational leaders and formators. There was lively sharing and discussions on Synodality, Climate Change and Caring for Common Home, Human Trafficking and on Initial Formation.

In the midst of these two events, Fr William continued the Provincial Visitation listening and sharing with the confreres. This was indeed a time of special grace for the Suva Community.

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