By Afia Enosa, SDB

       Suva, Fiji, 4 February 2022 -- On Sunday, 30 January 2022, more than three hundred parishioners, friends and families gathered to celebrate the feast day of Don Bosco and to witness the blessing of the new Don Bosco Youth and Education Centre.

       The presider at the feast day Eucharist was Father William Matthews (Provincial of Australia and the Pacific), and he blessed the youth centre. In the homily, Fr. William spoke about the characteristic of a Salesian pastoral work as “a home that welcomes, a school that educates, a parish that evangelizes, a playground where people meet to be with friends and to make new friends.” He also stressed that the youth centre is primarily for the Salesian pastoral service to the young and the formation of Salesian students. And while the parish church is still in the making, the centre will continue to be used for the Sunday Eucharist and some parish activities. In the Youth Centre, the Salesians together with the assistance of young and laypeople, will run different activities for all the young. It is a very special place for all the young where they will come and enjoy others' company and make friends with all the Salesians who will be working here.

       At the end of the Eucharist, Fr. James expressed words of thanks and especially for the late Fr Mikaele Leilua, the first Salesian parish priest of St. John Bosco Parish, who was the overseer of the building of the youth centre until his sudden death in September. Br. Michael Harris then stepped in and took up the challenge to complete the project for Don Bosco's feast day.

       Br. Michael also made the altar and lectern for our new parish from the mahogany tree that was felled some years ago. This great event in the history of the Salesian presence in Fiji was also celebrated with a simple reception prepared by the parish. For all that has been achieved and accomplished we give praise to God and thanks to our Blessed Mother, the Help of Christians.

       After the blessing, a Traditional Fijian Ceremony (sevusevu) was presented to Fr William Matthews and Fr James Kyaw Hoe, followed by a light refreshment prepared by the parish.

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