Fr John McEvoy Remembers 1990 – 1995 - Ba Parish
We may be leaving the Parish of Ba but in Votua Village stands the large church of St Columban, the only church in Fiji named after our patron St Columban. In the church there is a live sized statute of St Columban towards the left hand side before one enters the sanctuary. I recall the 1st Sunday morning I offered Mass in Votua. As I was walking up the aisle, the church was packed with people, all sitting on mats on the floor. As I proceed towards the altar, the people were glancing at me and then glancing over at the statue of St Columban. (See at the time I had a decent beard and like St Columban not much hair on top of my head) I am sure they were thinking of a similarity between St Columban and myself!
On the Ba River opposite Votua, coming back from Delailagi
One fine Sunday morning
Communnion's Day at St Columban, Votua
Votua is a large village (at that time mainly Catholic) on the banks of the Ba River about 6 miles from Ba Town. As well as the Church of St Columban, Votua Catholic school was one of the main features of the Village. During my time there it was a school with 6 teachers, with Mrs Sisi Moce as Principal. The school was very Catholic and the children were always well prepared for the sacraments. The village was prone to flooding and the second storey of the School was a place when the people went when flooding occurred.
Fr Frank Hoare and 3 Catechists inside St Columban's, Votua
Disciplined Votua School children
Outside Votua Catholic school
Sisilia Moce
There are 3 large mataqali (clan or family groups) in the village – school meetings could be lengthy and at times stormy. Nawaqarua is a kind of a sister village nearby. Fr Petero Nimilote hails from Nawaqarua. Vakavuvuli Alexio Ramoce was the newly commissioned Catechist during my years in Ba. Petero Laitia was the catchiest in Nawaqarua. We had cauravou from the village who spent some time in our formation programme and of course Paulina Sakulu, Paulo Rabakewa and Salome Rakata joined us as lay missionaries been missioned to Chile and the Philippines.
Sailasa and Raikata
Rakata, Sailasa & Tevita.
Paula Rebakewa ex LM & Andrea Navelinikoro (Visenia's father)
Votua was near to the old Mission Station of Delailagi and the people of Votua took me down to investigate on a few occasion, especially when we were celebrating the centenary of the parish in 1991.
Parish Centenary year 1991, the Good Friday Stations walk started on the banks of the Ba River opposite the old Mission Station, Delailagi.
And how can I forget the great village festival ‘Adi Gusu ni Tuba’ annual festival to collect funds for the maintenance and running of the school. Some of my great friends in Votua has gone to God, Leone Doi Matalomai, Pio White and Tevita from Nawaqarua. I send greetings to all the great families in Votua and Waqarua today and will never forget the time I spent among you.
An item at the 'Adi Gusu ni Tuba' Festival, Votua.
Wedding of the year
Where are you now?
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