Launch of Catholic Education Week

Today his grace, Archbishop Peter Loy Chong launched the Catholic Education Week with a mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Suva. With the theme “Share A Meal” the archbishop says this was a very befitting theme, as many students particularly in the west are facing difficulties in schools as their parents have lost their job due to Covid-19.

Archbishop Peter Loy Choy launching Catholic Education Week with a mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral

In his sermon, Archbishop Chong reminded the students, parents, and teachers of the gospel of the five loaves and two fish that Jesus had used to feed over five thousand people. He says that there are two messages in that gospel, first that we need to be willing to give like the little boy who despite the little that he had was willing to share with Jesus and everyone else. Only then can we expect a miracle from God. The second message of the gospel was that;  we can make miracles happen by sharing what little we have. The gospel proves this as many ancient writers have suggested that the miracle of the five loaves and two fish happened because the masses were touched by the little boy’s compassion so they shared what little they had amongst each other, so much that when putting together what little they had it was so big that everyone was able to eat till they were full with twelve full baskets remaining as leftovers.

Students at the Catholic Education Week launching mass

His grace adds the application of the gospel of the five loaves and two fishes will be approach on how they will execute their theme; Share a Meal. He hopes that the message will drive students in Catholic schools in Suva to share what little they have by contributing to the efforts of Saint Vincent De Paul at Mount Saint Mary’s in Nadi who are fundraising to provide meals for thousands of students from various schools in Nadi, Lautoka, and Sigatoka. These students are those whose parents have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The students who are assisted by the Saint Vincent De Paul are not just students from catholic schools but are students from Muslim, Indian, and district schools. The Society provides 800 meals per week, for three days to these students.

The archbishop has requested the students and their families to contribute to the fundraising to help the Saint Vincent De Paul Society. He says that in contributing the students will be able to share a meal with other students during their struggle in this Covid-19 pandemic.