By Fr. Jim Hoe, SDB
Nuku’alofa, Tonga, December 14, 2015 - Congratulations for newly ordained priest Fr. Lefai Nuku Tevita, the second Salesian priest from Tonga Kingdom. He was ordained at the Cathedral of Tonga and Niue diocese. The Eucharist was presided by Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi on 14th December, 2015.
At the ordination Cardinal Soane Paini Mafi spoke very highly of Don Bosco and the Salesian family spirit to which our brother Nuku Luve Tevita Lefai was drawn in the early years of his seminary training in Suva (Fiji). The Cardinal was then a lecturer at the seminary, and was Nuku’s mentor. He accompanied Nuku throughout his formation, and it was clear how much it meant to Cardinal Mafi to ordain our brother to the priesthood.
Father Nuku celebrated his First Mass at the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua in the main island of Nuku’alofa (Tonga). The homilist was Father Platini who spoke about a Christ-centered priestly life, and about reaching out to God’s people especially the young with the heart of Jesus.
The traditional kava ceremony followed the Mass, and then the feast – and what a feast it was. The family from Nuku’s father’s side of the family and then his mother’s side of the family, then the two groups combined to entertain the guests according to local custom. The traditional song and dance also contained sections remembering Nuku’s mother and father who have passed away. These were joy-filled days, days of blessing for Father Nuku, his family and friends, the local priests and religious. And for us, it was a day of grace to be with our brother Nuku at his priestly ordination.
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“With the sun slowly setting on Monday 14th December in the Kingdom of Tonga, thousands of die-hard Catholics filled the Kingdom’s Cathedral for a much anticipated event, the ordination to priesthood of their two sons: Tevita Nuku Lefai of the Congregation of the Salesians of Don Bosco and Epokifo’ou Oukusitino of the Society of Mary.
During his homily, Cardinal Mafi spoke highly of the contribution made by different congregations to the Diocese and the people of Tonga. He said that the religious communities bring multi-essential and different charisms which help in the development of Tonga socially, economically and spiritually. Therefore, the ordination of the new priests is the symbol of God’s blessing for the Diocese. The Cardinal challenged the new priests that, as this year is the jubilee year of mercy, they are to experience God’s mercy in their lives, be transformed by it, and then become God’s mercy for God’s people.
The celebration was summed up with a super abundant feast; enough food to feed the whole town.
On the day of Fr Nuku’s First Mass, the crowd was no less than the ordination day. All the faithful of the St Anthony of Padua Parish and families and friends of Fr Nuku gathered to celebrate his First Mass. Nuku was awesomely confident as if he had done it many times before. After the Mass, there was another big feast with pigs as the real victims, since hundreds of them ended up on the tables. The happy and hungry people didn’t give them a chance to last long. It was a tremendously happy celebration for all.
At the end of the celebration Fr Provincial, Greg Chambers, offered the words of thanks on behalf of the Australia-Pacific province.” (Fr Taisali Leuluai)