Fr Carlo Jung is a Columban missionary from Korea ministering in Fiji. He explains how tropical cyclone Ana, which recently hit the town of Labasa where he is parish priest of Holy Family Parish, left a lot of damage in its wake.
“There was widespread flooding in the country for two weeks. Families in the greater Labasa area were without water and electricity for five days. The parishioners of Labasa helped to clean the church and school over two days.”
Muddy water inundated the Holy Family parish church in Labasa.
“People are now picking up the pieces together. Life must go on! Few shops have opened while others are still cleaning and clearing the debris left behind by the floods in their shops.”
“It will take time before businesses return to normal. Farms have destroyed. It will take few months to find the green vegetables at the market. We continue to remember all them in our prayers.”
Labasa underwater. Photo: Fr Carlo Jung SSC
Labasa is a town in Fiji with a population of roughly 28,000. It is located in Macuata Province, in the north-eastern part of the island of Vanua Levu, and is the largest town on the island.
The town itself is located on a delta formed by three rivers – the Wailevu, the Labasa (after which the town is named), and the Qawa.
The area surrounding Labasa is mostly farmland. The largest crop grown is sugar cane. The large Fiji Sugar Corporation sugar mill in Labasa town is the only such mill on the island.
St Theresa Community.
Recently, due to political changes and loss of overseas markets, sugar cane farming and production has been steadily decreasing. This has been reflected in the increasing migration of people to the main island of Viti Levu, in search of employment opportunities.
The Missionary Society of St Columban has served in Fiji since 1952.
If you would like to give a donation to help support the Missionary Society of St Columban’s work in Fiji you can donate online at https://columbans.ie/donate/ or send a cheque payable to ‘Columban Missionaries’ to the Far East Office, Dalgan Park, Navan, Co Meath C15 AY2Y or call 00353 46 909 8275.