By Afia Enosa, SDB

       Suva, Fiji Islands, 16 November 2021 -- There were four candidates who were ordained deacons on Saturday, 13 November 2021 by Archbishop Peter Loy Chong. Among them was our brother and confrere, Bro. Atonio Lealea.

       The four deacons come from Chuuk, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and the Wallis/Futuna Islands. Each enriching the Liturgy with the traditional pan-flutes from PNG, the Samoan reconciliation ritual called the “ifoga”, the traditional enthronement of the Word from the Wallis/Futuna and the Presentation of the Gifts from Chuuk (Micronesia).

       At the reception after the Ordination Mass, there was the traditional kava ceremony (sevusevu) to honour and congratulate the newly ordained deacons and to thank the Archbishop for prayerful celebration of the ordination.Back at home, a representative group of parishioners who were of great support to Deacon Atonio and the late Fr. Mika Leilua gathered to give thanks in the traditional Fijian way and meals. We congratulate and wish Deacon Atonio every blessing in his ministry for all God’s people.

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