Youth IRD Save the Sea Action Day. IRD coordinator Pescila Magdalin and Fr Frank (right) united with seven different religions to celebrate the importance of the sea in God's creation.
On 14 May 1987, people in Fiji were shocked when the army overthrew the elected government in a coup d’état. The army claimed it was saving the indigenous Fijian people and their land from those of ethnic Indian origin. Confusion reigned for months. People were divided by ethnicity and religion - indigenous Fijians are predominantly Christian while Indians are mostly Hindu or Muslim. Mistrust, suspicion, and hostility were widespread. Christians themselves were divided - some for the coup and some against it. Fundamentalist Christians influenced the military (in the name of ‘Sabbath Observance’) to ban any kind of work, games or even travel on Sundays for about one year. Temples and mosques were desecrated and burned. Social unrest, poverty and fear stalked the land.
There were some protests, but people also turned to prayer. A Presbyterian minister started a multi-faith organisation called Interfaith Search Fiji to seek understanding and respect between all the religions in Fiji. It has held monthly meetings for the representatives of different faith communities to present on various themes from their scriptures and to lead prayers for national events and celebrations. Columban priests and seminarians have been involved.
Columbans in Fiji have generally ensured that their younger priests learn both Hindi and indigenous Fijian languages. They can then minister to indigenous Fijians and build bonds of friendship with Indo-Fijians of different religions. They are able to engage in a dialogue of life with others. Columbans are often invited to give talks at Indian weddings and funerals. Some attend Hindu weekly prayer meetings and are invited by Hindu families to pray for the sick and visit them on their feasts. A few years ago, Columbans in Fiji employed an Indo-Fijian, Ms Pescila Magdalin, as coordinator of its Interreligious Dialogue efforts.
Priscilla and I decided to focus on youth so as not to appear to compete with Interfaith Search Fiji. We initiated regular youth events and invited representatives of other religions to join an organising committee. The committee meetings and youth events are held bi-monthly.
Columbans in Fiji have generally ensured that their younger priests learn both Hindi and indigenous Fijian languages.
We have had programs on many and varied topics - the Meaning of Festivals, Prayer for the Sick, Fasting Traditions, Religious Messaging through social media, and Respect for God’s Creation. The youth participants make presentations using banners, drama, film, songs and dance to illustrate their themes. We often include an exercise called Merry-Go-Round which young people enjoy as it enables them to meet ten people they don’t know.
Interreligious Dialogue Clean Up Campaign along the foreshore, Nasese. Youth caring for our local environment. - Photo: Fr Frank Hoare
One of the most popular events has been visiting places of worship, where beliefs and rituals are explained, and generous hospitality offered. Hospitality is at the heart of interreligious understanding and dialogue. A physical sharing of food and a spiritual sharing of faith go hand in hand. After one pilgrimage walk, a Catholic youth told his village elders that seeing the deep faith of the Hindus and Muslims had made him ashamed of his own weak commitment to Christianity. He resolved to be more dedicated to his faith.
Pescila and I visit leaders of different religions and denominations to elicit their support for involving their youth groups in a regular and formal way. We have also invited our Columban Companions in Mission in the Columban parish of Raiwaqa, Suva, to begin regular meetings with women’s groups from other religions. We hope they will find projects of mutual interest to work on together and inspire each other in their faith commitments.
Looking to the future, we would like to find ways for students in the upper stages of secondary education to mix and mingle on occasion and to learn from each other. Holding intercultural workshops for them and sessions where they can share their personal experience of faith and prayer could be very enriching. We would also like to encourage the Archdiocesan Commission for Evangelization to give more importance to interreligious dialogue.
Religious congregations in Suva gather together for a Mass, some input, entertainment, and food on Fiji Day (10 October) each year. Last year we invited a Methodist minister, a female Evangelical , a young Muslim woman, and a female Hindu priest. They each spoke for 10 minutes about their experience of faith, afterwards fielding questions from the priests, Sisters, and seminarians. Everyone found it a very interesting and valuable event.
Just before the Hindu feast of Diwali last year, Fr Pat Colgan, a Columban parish priest, invited a Hindu teacher to explain the meaning of Diwali to his parishioners at the end of Sunday Mass. Theologian, Hans Kung once said: “There will be no peace among the peoples of this world without peace among the world religions.” Our Columban efforts in Fiji are small contributions to working for peace in the world.
Columban Fr Frank Hoare lives and works in Fiji.
Related links
- Read more from the current e-Kaulotu - February 2024
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