From time to time, priests in our rural parts of Fiji are asked to officiate at funerals, where the catechist makes a special request, or the priest himself finds himself free to go.
Such was the case on a sunny Friday morning in July when I accepted Catechist Epeli's request to come to Toge village to celebrate the resurrection mass for Mr Elia Niulele, a quiet, hardworking and very faithful member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary parish community there. While serving in Ba 16 years ago, I remember Elia as a very steady, unassuming man, but more particularly his brother, Vakavuvuli (Catechist) Rafaele of nearby Balevuto, who was the life and soul of every party, and who sadly passed away five years ago.
It would have been improper for me as celebrant to take too many photos, but I couldn't resist a number, particularly of the women cooking, and our long walk to a grove of trees where we laid Elia to rest. I heard from my parents it used it to be like that in Ireland before - i.e, all the community would walk, dig and fill the grave together - it is certainly still the case in Fiji.
While the women are unrestrained in tears, it is less common for Fijian men, so when a nephew of Elia, married and working in Nadi, wailed and sobbed heartfeltly at the graveside, I could hardly hold myself back. Fijian funerals are communal, expensive, exhausting but ultimately healing, and I found myself thanking God - even while standing in the hot sun while the grave digging proceeded - for the privilege of standing with these people in their hour of loss and their many occasions of joy and festival.
May Elia, and indeed the many who have passed in our world in these tragic months, rest in peace.
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The Columbans are a society of missionaries, including priests and lay people, who minister to people of various cultures as a way of witnessing to the universal love of God.