A new chapter unfolded yesterday for followers of the Roman Catholic faith in Namosi Province.
This was after the province’s paramount chief, Tui Namosi Ratu Suliano Matanitobua, and other village elders presented a ‘Tabua ni Bulubulu’ to the head of the Catholic Church in Fiji Archbishop Peter Loy Chong during the blessing of the newly-built church for St Peter’s Parish at Namosi Village yesterday.
The tabua was to seek for the forgiveness from the church for the hard times faced by priests serving at the parish during the construction of the church.
Ratu Suliano, while presenting the apology, said there had been rumours, false allegations and other things that had happened during the process of building the church.
It even went to the extent of the builder asking for his pay, he said.
“We know that we have given a bad impression about Catholics here in Namosi and we hope that it’s appropriate that we seek the Church’s forgiveness,” Ratu Suliano said.
Archbishop Chong accepted their apology and wished the congregation well in their religious journey.
“It is a new start, a new lease of life and whatever happens, put them behind and move on with the gospel of the Lord,” he said.
While blessing the church, Archbishop Chong sprinkled holy water to members of the congregation then to the four corners of the building, the altar and to the pulpit.
Holy oil was also then used to bless the new church. This signified God’s commitment to the works of human hands, the people of Namosi from years ago till this year. Later, the incense was used giving out a perfumed smoke that symbolised a new journey that the parishioners were to realize following the opening of the church.
“The church is now blessed and smoked with the best smell ever as we performed during the rituals and it signifies a lot to you the people of Namosi.
The church will be meaningless if people stay away from the Holy Mass,” Archbishop Chong said.
More than a thousand Catholics and non-Catholics shed tears while witnessing the occasion at the church yesterday.
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