Don Bosco House, Nakasi (Suva), Fiji Islands, 18 August 2020 -- Yes, we are aware that this news item is from May! But Fr Jim Kyaw-Hoe apologises for the late delivery, noting: "I am sorry for this late contribution, I thought it would be good to share our experience of the sacred time of the year for our community when Fiji was in lockdown."
On Sunday the 10th of May, Fr. James Kyaw-Hoe (Rector) began the Suva Fiji Community Retreat in the Evening Prayer. The topic for our Retreat was the newly published document “The Salesian Rector – A Ministry for the Life and Governance of the Local Community. In the opening talk for the Retreat, Fr. James gave a background to the revised document on the Salesian Rector, and emphasised that this is not a manual only for the Rector, it is also for all the confreres in the community. With the Rector as the guardian of the Salesian identity and animator of the Salesian mission, the whole community shares the responsibility of becoming mystics in the Spirit, of living a prophetic fraternity, and of loving service for the young, especially the poor, the disadvantaged and those in danger.
Each member of the community was given a section from the Rector’s Manual study and to present it to the community for reflection, discussion and group sharing. This was a very effective way to get everyone involved in the Retreat program. From our reflections and group sharing, we learned so much about the role of the Rector and the community, working together and helping each other to deepen our relationship with Jesus, our love for Don Bosco and the young. This was a very effective way to get everyone involved in the Retreat program. From our reflections and group sharing, we learned so much about the role of the Rector and the community, working together and helping each other to deepen our relationship with Jesus, our love for Don Bosco and the young.
We had our Retreat at this time because of restrictions due to the pandemic, and because we not sure when classes at the seminary would resume.
On Monday the 11th of May the senior Brothers Deacon Sinapati Ioane and Br. Atonio Lealea, together with the Assistant of Fr. Mikaele Leilua presented the section of the Manual on the Consecrated in the Salesian.
On Tuesday Br. Peter Minh Duc Nguyen Peter presented the section on our Salesian mission being rooted in the in the Mystery of Christ and the Trinity and also in communion with others. Br. Michael Harris took us through the day’s section on the Priestly and lay vocation on the afternoon season.
On Wednesday, we studied and reflected on “the Rector as the Guardian of the Salesian Identity Wednesday was based its reflection on the Rector as Guardian of Salesian Identity.
Br. Damian Taofinu’u was responsible for leading our reflections on the authoritativeness and authority of the Rector, and the Rector as guardian and animator of the Salesian Charism.
On Friday, Br. Sitagisilao Moeloa Vaipuna and Br. Afi’a Enosa led the study and reflection on Prophets of Fraternity and Servant of the Young.
Retreat ended on the Saturday morning with the Eucharistic Celebration and words of encouragement by Fr. Rector, urging us all to continue to read the document on the Salesian Rector for our own ongoing formation and deepening of our love for Jesus and, like Don Bosco, to bring the joy of the Gospel to the young.
