Vincentian Heritage Journal now available ONLINE.
Floods in Fiji…here are some reports from the Vins on the ground
from Joji In Wailoku
Greetings from St Vincent’s Formation House, Wailoku
Last week flood waters covered the wailoku plains but we were not affected. The Seminary closed down for classes on Friday due to the heavy rain and floodings that affected the Fiji group. The rain has gone and the sun is out. Hoping for fine weather this week.
Road to Natovi was closed to all traffic for the past three days due to the washing away of a portion of the road. It is opened again through bypass. I t will take months to repair the road again.
Nausori Parish hall was under 2 feet of water, not much damage, things okay again.
From Joseva in Natovi Mission
We are back online after 4 days of no electricity power.
The past week has been particularly challenging….
We have been bombarded with rain, strong wind, thunder and lightning. The high depression arrived on Thursday night, resulted in landslides, erosion, and wetness on almost anything that stood in the way of this depressive weather. As advised from the Min of Education, our schools were all close for the past 3days. Other parts of Fiji has been badly hit.
QVS, the prominent elite boys school next door has sent home almost 200 students suspected of contracting dengue fever. Our St Vincents Hostel community has had its shared challenges…with no electricity and little water supply we have managed to monitor our students. With other teachers assistants, Lari and I have turned our bomb into “ambulance services”, thus the numerous hospital trips with our students. Praise God, all our students are reasonably good apart from the one student who is now being kept for observation at the main hospital in Suva, CWM. We have sent home 3-4 students. We have tried everything to keep them at the dorms.
The good news, we have now electricity, thank God.
The Asia Pacific Visitor’s Conference meeting has just concluded. The Leaders of the Vincentian Fathers and Brothers in this region all enjoyed their visit to Sydney. This Harbour City certainly put on its best face for us.
At the end of the meeting schedule Fr. Greg Gay, the Superior General, celebrated the Family Mass in St Anthony’s Parish, Marsfield, then proceeded to meet with the confreres to discuss what is happening in the world-wide Community and to listen to the ideas, visions and concerns of this Oceania Province. A BBQ then brought all the community together to celebrate our common life and mission.
Please share the journey with us and support us through your prayers.
