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Read briefly on the compelling journey of another Columban Missionary priest who spent 40 years in Fiji and is a well-known figure to many whom he came in acquaintance with. In May 1974 he defended his dissertation “Transitivity in Standard Fijian”. The degree was conferred in absentia in September. Fr. David George Arms was born at Lower Hutt, New Zealand, in 1939. He was ordained in Sacred Heart Basilica in Wellington in 1962. |
In 1970 he was assigned to Fiji to research Fijian for Ph D dissertation, residing in Central House, Tamavua. Also supply work in and out of Tamavua (often far ranging including to Lakeba and Cicia, Lau) Spent time practicing and researching Fijian in Nailili with Fr. Coquereau SM (and later Fr. Desbois SM as well), in Vanuakula with Fr. Kavuru, and two months (March – April 1972) in the village of Nacamaki, Koro
Fr. Arms was assigned to Lau as the Parish Priest in 1975, Kadavu in 1975-1976, Ba in 2000-2003 and Assistant Parish Priest in Labasa from 1997-2000. Fr. Arms in May 1993 went to Naleba to start more intensive work on Fiji Hindi with view to preparing a language course in it for missionaries. Whilst in Labasa, he made work on Fiji Hindi easier and assisted pastorally. He also assisted in Tamavua and Raiwaqa parish when needed.
He was always in Fiji apart from 1973-74, 1977-83, 1995, 2020-2022 either visiting New Zealand or on official trips to Pakistan, the Philippines and Vanuatu.
Fr. Arms took over as Director of VOSA in 1984 till now, 2022. Beside the homily guidelines and liturgical calendars, other work done at VOSA includes the translation of some Papal encyclicals, the Archbishop’s pastoral letters, important Church documents as well as devotional booklets, lives of saints, and booklets on justice and peace issues. The Fijian prayer books, hymn books, and short catechism were revised. Items were translated for the Pope’s visit in 1986 sand some material from the first Archdiocesan Synod in 1990 was also translated.
In January 1986, Fr. Arms was appointed first Rector of Fiji’s Initial formation – 3 students (one of whom was Fr. Iowane Gukibau, who was ordained in December 94; the other 2 left in the first term of 1987). The Initial formation was based in a rented premise in Raiwasa, Suva.
Fr. Arms was also the Regional Justice & Peace Coordinator while working with VOSA in 1991 – 1997. He was involved with the Fiji Elections Office and was a member of the Electoral Commission in 2007-2009 and 2014-2017.
Fr. David Arms is currently in New Zealand however, he hopes to re-visit Fiji in 2023 depending on the COVID 19 situation and his health.
Fr David Arms passed away on December 6 2022.
