One Catholic community of many nations
St. John Bosco Suva, Fiji

By Fr. Mika Leilua, SDB

Suva, Fiji Islands, 16 May 2019 -- We are proud to be the youngest (baby) parish in the whole EAO region! - Saint John Bosco Parish of Nasinu (Suva, Fiji Islands). After the initial work on the parish church site last January the newly built presbytery is finally opened, but until now, due to a variety of reasons (one year delay on delivery of steel) the Parish hall is not yet in place. However, the daily life of the large and growing parish community is going on: we are organized in 8 sub-centres, with two main halls - chapels at Munikoso and Makoi, where is the Eucharist celebrated.

After the solemn blessing on 19 November 2017, the community of communities in our parish is slowly growing together. The sense of belonging to the new parish is fostered through more involvement in the common services and liturgy, as well as with slowly increasing collections. So far, only the Parish priest is living on-site at the future parish church and youth centre following the blessing last January.

We are happy to serve the people of God made up of many rather poor people, majority Fijian, but also including many migrants from other Pacific islands, like Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu etc. The presence and involvement of the formation community (Rector Fr. Paselio Tevaga with 3 formators and 7 Salesians in initial formation) in the parish life enriches both sides. Our parishioners are slowly understanding who Don Bosco is, and that we are not just 'Salesian Fathers' but that our Congregation is made up of Brothers, Priests and candidates to the priesthood.

Please, remember us in your prayers, that the new parish community may grow in numbers, in mutual bonds as one large family animated by our Salesian community!

We are happy to become more deeply rooted in the Fijian Church, now celebrating its Synod with a beautiful prayer: "Jesus, fill the Archdiocese of Suva with your Holy Spirit, so that connecting In You and our Neighbour, We be your Heart and Mind, Eyes and Ears, Hands and Feet to all Creation. Amen!"

Related news article:

• AustraLasia news 5047 (I) St. John Bosco Parish starts the Sunday school 2019
• AustraLasia news 4563 (I) Blessing of the new St John Bosco Parish site in Suva, Fiji (2018)

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