25 June 1977 A Sixth Sense

 

Archbishop Mataca and his entourage of 5 priests and 50 catechists left the village of Nabutautau after saying a Mass of Reconciliation requested by the villagers whose ancestors had murdered Rev. Baker in 1867. We hiked along the trail until we came to the village of Namoli where we rested for lunch. I began to feel sick. I was advised to stay in Namoli while the Archbishop and followers went onto Draubuta village to confer the sacrament of confirmation.

I rested for two days and was well enough then to strike out with some companions for the parish center at Bemana. That evening I chatted there with the Archbishop about the pilgrimage we had just completed.

Archbishop Mataca told me that on awakening the previous morning at Draubuta he went to the river to wash. As he bent down to the water he felt as though there was blood coming from his forehead. He put his hand up to his forehead but there was nothing wrong.

That afternoon after conferring confirmation and blessing the house foundations he was receiving the ritual thanks and farewell from the villagers under the temporary shelter. Without warning a strong gust of wind lifted the sheets of roofing iron and dumped them sideways. Everyone dived for safety. As he jumped up the Archbishop was struck on the forehead by a timber crossbeam. His forehead began to bleed. He realized then that his morning experience had been a warning of what was to come. The villagers interpreted the incident as the evil spirit which had been chased from the village making a final show of hostility.

The Archbishop then mentioned another manifestation. Whenever he decided to visit his home village, Vuaki, in the Yasawa group of islands he would often tell no one of his plans. Nevertheless his family would know that he was coming and would have everything ready to receive him on arrival.