Our newest Columban priest

Jun 17, 2021

Amid all the challenges and sadness of the Covid pandemic – loss of employment, restriction of movement, lockdowns and many deaths, there have been moments of uplift. For the Missionary Society of St Columban, one of these was the ordination of our newest Columban priest.

Despite Covid and Tropical Cyclone Yasa, which wrecked havoc with the livelihoods of people living in Vanua Levu, Fiji, the ordination of Fr Aminiasi Ravuwai’s went ahead – though it did have to be postponed.

Fr Aminiasi was ordained to the Missionary Priesthood on the morning of 22nd December and offered his First Mass in his native parish St Don Bosco’s Narere.

Fr Aminiasi Ravuwai blesses fellow Columban missionary Fr Teakare Betero, who was ordained last year.

Fr Aminiasi is the 11th priest ordained for the Columbans in the South Pacific.

Amini was born in Suva where his father was an army officer. He is the fourth of 10 children. After second­ary school, he studied to be a teacher and worked for several years.

Later he joined the Pacific Regional Sem­inary with 150 other students, and did his Spiritual Year in Manila. He later spent two years in Peru. He will continue missionary work in South America.

His ordination was scheduled for 19th De­cember 2020. Two of his sisters had returned from Britain for it, in spite of Covid19, and did their quarantine. The family and the Columbans were busy getting everything ready. But the cyclone season brought category five Cyclone Yasa. So the ordina­tion was delayed until the 22nd December.

Fr Amini was ordained by Archbishop Peter Loy Chong of Suva in the cathedral.

The reception after the Mass was held at the Pacific Regional Semi­nary. A sevusevu, or gift of kava was offered to the newly ordained priest.

In response, he recalled, “As I taught, slowly the idea of becoming a priest was getting stronger. I kept it secret, as I looked around at the various congregations, especially the Salesians. Lanieta Tamatawale, my first cousin, was then in charge of the Columban Lay Mission Programme in Fiji.”

“One evening when I visited her with my brothers she said, ‘There is a ‘Come and See’ tomorrow, why not go.’ I had no idea what a ‘Come and See’ was, but I liked it and the others that came after it — and here I am today.”

Fr Aminiasi Ravuwai SSC

Taking part in the ordination was fellow Columban, Fr Teakare Betero, who was ordained last year, and who was on mission with Fr Amini in Peru. He is currently waiting to take up his new appointment in the Philippines.

Fr Amini’s first Mass was held at his home parish of Don Bosco on 23rd December 2020. His family did most of the cooking and served everyone graciously and generously. His nine brothers and sisters were there and it was a joyful occasion for his family and the Columban family in Fiji.

A sad touch to the celebration was that neither of his parents lived to see the day.

Fr Aminasi is working at the parish of Labasa on the storm hit island of Vanua Levu until he is able to travel back to South America.

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