Church calls for inclusive celebration

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Fiji yesterday spoke of celebrations to mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Archbishop Peter Loy Chong said this also included the cries of the earth and victims of natural disasters and peoples’ experiences of oppression and domination.

He made the comment in Suva ahead of celebrations over the Easter long weekend.

“Easter is the Christian festival that brings together Jesus’ life, suffering, death, resurrection and Pentecost (coming down of the Holy Spirit),” Archbishop Loy Chong said. As of yesterday Christians around the country were making preparations for the celebration.

Viri Delana, a staff member of Cost U Less Suva, said she was going to celebrate Easter with her family members and visitors. “I will celebrate after work with my loved ones,” Ms Delana said.

The 45-year-old said that on Sunday after the church service they would prepare a lovo dinner as part of celebration. Another employee of Cost U Less, Sefa Talainituraga, said he was going to celebrate Easter with his wife and children.

The celebration would bring families close together, he said.

“After my work my family plans to gather at one place and prepare dinner for all of the members,” Mr Talainituraga said. The celebrations start this Friday and end on Monday.