Fr Frank Hoare’s Golden Jubilee Celebration of Ordination: Part 2 - Fr John McEvoy
Fr Frank Hoare invited his many Indo Fijian and Fijian friends to another celebration of thanksgiving (Para liturgy) at the Columban Central House, Nasese, Suva, on the evening of Saturday 22nd April. About 100 people attended this wonderful occasion. Fr Felisiano welcomed all on behalf of the Columbans. The MC for the evening was Fr Donal McIlratih.
Fr Felisiano welcomes everyone
All afternoon Columban students and Lay missionaries worked hard to transform our car port into a fit gathering place for this celebration. A huge tent was erected on the adjacent concrete area to the car port, by Michael and Fr Willie Lee.
Fr Frank started the para liturgy at 6.45 by lighting and incensing the Paschal Candle, blessed, and sprinkled Holy Water on the people. The combined mandali groups of the Suva area sang hymns in Hindi, Fijian and English. Ms Archana Williams recited the Rabindranath Tagore Poem. The Gospel that Fr Frank chose for the evening was the story of the healing of the 10 lepers, where only on a Samaritan (non-Jew) returned to give thanks.
Lighting the Paschal Candle
Incensing of the Paschal Candle
Combined Mandali Groups from Suva Parishes
Ms Archana Williams
In his homily Fr Frank emphasized this point that even outside of the believing community people can have faith in God and Jesus. But we must always be thankful for the gifts that God has bestowed on each one of us. He was thankful to God for allowing him to minister to the Indo – Fijian community and help them establish strong mandali groups over the past 50 years, also for his ability to encourage intercultural awareness among the people of Fiji, (especially after the political crisis caused by the coups of the late 80s) as well as being an agent for promoting Inter Religious Dialogue among the different Faith Groups in Fiji. Etc.
Gospel and homily
Five different people gave testimony as how Fr Frank influenced their lives and what he meant to each.
Shaamal Mani, explained how through the influence of Fr Frank Mandali groups grew and developed and became instruments of keeping the language, faith, and culture of the Indo Fijian Catholic community alive.
Ms Shaamal Mani
Ms Joana Turaganiwai gave thanks for the work Fr Frank did with the Archdiocesan Evangelisation Commission.
Ms Joana Turaganiwai
Ms Vintika expressed her thanks for Fr Frank’s work with the Youth Interreligious Dialogue Forum.
Ms Vintika
Fr Simon Mani, Rector of Pacific Regional Seminary (PRS) gave witness how he was influenced by Fr Frank from his earliest childhood in Naleba and prayed that he in turn will be a good influence for the students under his care at PRS preparing for priesthood.
Fr Simon Mani msc
Ms Vosita, ex Columban Lay Missionary recalled how helpful Fr Frank was to her in preparing for lay missionary work in Ireland and for his help to her now in running Counseling Courses at the Pacific Theological Collage (PTC).
Ms Vosita Lenisaurua
After the cutting of the Golden Jubilee Cake by Fr Frank, helped by Fr Simon Mani’s mother from Naleba and other Columbans priests and students, Fr John McEvoy offered a word of thanks to all present for their generosity to Fr Frank over the years, to those who brought food for the evenings feast and to all those who helped to organise the evening events. He thanked Fr Frank for keeping evangelisation and mission uppermost in his life and challenging not only the groups that he worked with but also for continuing to challenge the Columbans as well regarding Columban missionary priorities, as out lined above deemed important for Fr Frank’s missionary commitment .
Cutting of the Jubilee Cake
Word of thanks - John McEvoy
All afternoon Columban students and Lay missionaries worked hard to transform our car port into a fit gathering place for this celebration. A huge tent was erected on the adjacent concrete area to the car port, by Michael and Fr Willie Lee.
Fr Frank started the para liturgy at 6.45 by lighting and incensing the Paschal Candle, blessed, and sprinkled Holy Water on the people. The combined mandali groups of the Suva area sang hymns in Hindi, Fijian and English. Ms Archana Williams recited the Rabindranath Tagore Poem. The Gospel that Fr Frank chose for the evening was the story of the healing of the 10 lepers, where only on a Samaritan (non-Jew) returned to give thanks.
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