This is a journey of a Columban Missionary who came to Fiji in 1990 as a student and returned 5 years later as a Columban Missionary Priest. Read this inspiring story of Fr. Patrick (Pat) Colgan as he shares a brief history of his arrival and experience serving in Fiji.
"As a priest, I have been in Fiji from 1995-1998 (Labasa), 2000-2003 (Ba Parish), 2004-2012 (Rector of the Formation Program and Teacher at PRS), 2019-2022 (helping the Spiritual Year and now as parish priest of Ba). So that is a total of 17 years."
"I worked in Ba and Labasa. But when I was in Suva, I often helped with Masses in Samabula and Nadera parishes."
"My earliest and happiest times were in Raviravi and Naleba when I was able to move freely among Indian people, without being burdened with parish duties or administration. I very much enjoy chatting and singing hymns with Hindus in their temples.
I also discovered a talent of teaching (and preaching) while being called to be a lecturer at PRS and would give scripture seminars in many parishes around Suva.
I like working for greater inter-culture and interfaith understanding among the ethnic groups in Fiji."
Fr Patrick Colgan is now living and working in Ireland.
By Fr Patrick Colgan
