Suva, Fiji - 2019-2020
In December 2018, I was asked to consider taking on the role of Spiritual Year Director for four Columban students, three from Fiji - Paulo, Elia and Navi and one from Cletus, Solomon Islands. The four of the students had completed studies up to the second trimester of their third year of philosophy, at the Pacific Regional Seminary in Suva. I spent a few months making preparations for the task, which included taking two short courses in The Emmaus Centre for Psycho-Spiritual Formation, at the Ateneo in Manila, Philippines.
The group with Fr. John McEvoy (second left), Fr Pat Colgan, Fr Pat O'Beirne (second right) at the beginning of the Spiritual Year Program 2019-2020
As I had never worked in Fiji prior to this, I arrived in Fiji early in July in order to acclimatize myself to the country and culture and to continue to make preparations for the programme. On arrival at Nausori airport in Suva, the first greeting was from the Columban Leader, Fr John McEvoy. He said, “Pat, welcome to Paradise” and Paradise it truly has turned out to be. Fr Pat Colgan, who was chosen to be the Socius to the programme, arrived shortly after on completion of his Sabbatical commitments. Without his help I would have felt lost at sea. His knowledge of the culture and his many years’ experience in formation were invaluable.
The programme began on Sept 1, 2019, based at a retreat house rented from the Vincentian Fathers at Wailoku - a beautiful and very private wooded setting in the hills, eight kilometres from our central house in Suva. The Vincentian Father’s own formation house is located on the same property, just one minute’s walk from our house.
There are three main goals to the Columban Spiritual Year – to come to know oneself; to come to know God and to come to know the Columban Society.
In the first week we spent time looking at the proposed calendar and some detailed spiritual year guidelines and objectives, laying out our expectations for the year as it were. The students settled into life in the programme very quickly. It was easy to establish our prayer, class, counselling, work, sports and study routines
There are three main goals to the Columban Spiritual Year – to come to know oneself; to come to know God and to come to know the Columban Society. As part of the student’s task to come to know God, we organized morning classes on the following topics: Christology, Models of Spirituality, Gospel and Culture, Pastoral Counselling Skills, Social Analysis, Domestic Violence, Papal Writings on Mission, Marian Ecological Spirituality, Lectio Divina, Art as a Doorway into the Sacred, Ignatius and Prayer, Intercultural Communication, Image of God and Eucharist, Prison Ministry, Inter Religious Dialogue, Twelve Step Spirituality, Spirituality of Traditional Catholic Devotions, Mission in the writings of Paul, Mark, Matthew and Luke, Liturgy and Sacraments, Pastoral Approaches to Witchcraft and Spirit Possession, the Three Vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, Priesthood, Mary, Pastoral Spirituality and Ethical Boundaries in Ministry.
As part of the student’s task to get to know the Columbans, we held classes on the Life and the Spirituality of St Columban, the History and Charism and Constitutions of the Society, the Manual of Policies and Procedures, the General Assembly Documents, Lay Missionary Spirituality and Partnership. We read and shared together on the “Red Lacquered Gate”, the story of our founding and early years. It was my second time to read this book and, like the students, I too discovered a deeper appreciation for the depths of suffering and hardship endured by the Columban missionaries in those early years.
As part of the student’s task to come to know themselves more deeply we held seminars on, Healthy Lifestyle, Psychology of Vocation, Conflict Resolution, the Enneagram, Human Sexuality and Growth and Values Clarification and Integration. We were very blessed to have Bishop Peter Loy Chong visit us one morning to share with us on some of the blessings and difficulties of living as a Fijian in a foreign country. The 30-day silent retreat was conducted during Lent by the Vocations Director in Australia, Fr Kelvin Barrett.
Two of our students left us during the program. We miss them but realize that a huge part of the Spiritual Year is about the students growing in a deepening sense that God is calling them to Columban missionary priesthood and a life-commitment to celibacy. We must, therefore, also give thanks when students come to a courageous and honest discernment that God might have other plans for them.
It is a springboard for us to develop both a love for God and a hunger to delve deeper into study and prayer so that we can continue to grow in our love for God and so that our lives be more closely conformed to his Son Jesus Christ.
Elia Waqa, Fr Pat O’Beirne, Fr Pat Colgan and Paula Suka
In conclusion, I want to say that I am very grateful for the privilege of being invited to lead the Spiritual Year. It was a great trust that the Society placed in me, though I did not know how I could measure up to the task. I personally have learned a lot during the year and have been challenged in my own faith journey. In preparation for the task I consulted with a number of other Columbans who are working in formation, including Fr Mick Mohally and Fr Malachy Hanratty who were my formators in my own Spiritual Year back in 1983.
I am deeply grateful for all the helpful advice they gave to me. The Spiritual Year is a year that all Columbans remember fondly throughout their lives. Most students marvel at how fast the ten months fly by. It is, in truth, a time of great blessings from God, the memories of which hopefully sustain us throughout the highs and lows of our lives in God’s service on mission. It is a springboard for us to develop both a love for God and a hunger to delve deeper into study and prayer so that we can continue to grow in our love for God and so that our lives be more closely conformed to his Son Jesus Christ.
Contact Us:
Fr Pat O'Beirne
Director - Spiritual Year 2019-2020
Phone: 330-8290
Email: infofiji@columban.org.fj
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