DEACONS WALK BY FAITH,
TRUST IN GOD’S GRACE
My strong faith and trust in God did it for me. That was the sentiment shared by Sinapati Ioane after he was ordained a deacon by the Head of the Catholic Church in Fiji, Archbishop Peter Loy Chong yesterday.
He was one of the three deacons ordained to serve in the Catholic Church in Fiji and the Pacific. Originally from Samoa, Mr Ioane said he left his homeland and his parents to attend to what he believed was God’s calling in his life.
“I joined the Salesians of Don Bosco in 2004, the organisation was where we were taught about religion, love and kindness,” Mr Ioane said.
“I left my family in 2008 to come to Fiji. I then travelled to Australia for three years and then I had to come back to Fiji up until now as part of my formation and education process.
“It was quite a very long process. We faced so many challenges too as we were far away from our families.
“At times we felt like it was becoming hard day by day, but it was our faith in God that kept us moving. “There were many ups and downs during our formation process, but I believed that with God everything is possible.
“We pushed hard to be where we are today; ordained deacons of the Catholic Church.”
He hopes to return to Samoa at the end of the year to serve in the Catholic Church of Samoa.
Wailoa ready to serve
Iosefo Wailoa said he was ready to serve God and the church to the best of his ability.
The Naidi, Cakaudrove, Vanua Levu, native said their role was to assist the Archbishop and see to it that church procedures are being followed.
“We have the role to serve and that is what we will try to commit to as we handle our tasks everyday,” he said.
The three ordained deacons were reminded by Archbishop Chong to be diligent and have reverence before the Lord always.