Archdiocese of Suva unites Commissions to elevate its Pastoral Mission

The Archdiocese of Suva has achieved a milestone with its inaugural quarterly meeting among its diverse Commissions, a significant stride to foster dialogue, discernment, and decision-making to strengthen and advance its pastoral mission.

It highlights the commitment of the Archdiocese to improve and enhance the effectiveness of pastoral care through collaborative leadership, ensuring active engagement with both laity and clergy.

The meeting is underway at the Corpus Christi Teachers’ College in Nasese, Suva this weekend (Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th March) – presided over by the Head of the Catholic Church in Fiji and Rotuma, His Grace, Archbishop Peter Loy Chong.

It will involve leaders and representatives from various Commissions to review, reflect, and refine strategic initiatives outlined in the Archdiocese’s seven-goal Pastoral Mission Plan (2021-2025).

The Commissions include Liturgy, Evangelization, Family, Faith Formation, Youth, Education, Communications, Caritas, Property, and Finance that will be involved in this initiative, which will unfold a new chapter for the Archdiocese.

In his address at the opening of the meeting today, His Grace, Archbishop Peter Loy Chong stressed the importance of leadership and organizational development in the Church.

The Archbishop shared insights from his journey and recalled how he had searched for resources to help him transition in his role from a priest into a bishop.

His Grace spoke about his reliance on leadership and organizational resources, particularly those by Patrick Lencioni, author of “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team”, a book considered essential reading at prestigious institutions such as Harvard University.

The Archbishop emphasized the significance of these resources in organizing and improving meetings, which would ultimately shape effective leadership within the Church.

“One of the things that I’ve learned from Patrick Lencioni’s work is the importance of meetings which we have started in the office: five-minute check-in meeting, daily meeting, weekly tactical meeting, and then the quarterly strategic off-site meeting.

“So, we’ve now come to this point where we can conduct a meaningful quarterly review, which is vital for ensuring we stay on course with our Pastoral Mission Plan,” the Archbishop shared.

His Grace also highlighted the importance of listening to the Holy Spirit and one another in discernment and decision-making processes, and said, “For me, this feels like discovering a pearl of Christ that I never knew before. It’s a light I’m excited to follow, one that will guide us in becoming a better Church” while he reflected on this growth.

By aligning efforts across various Commissions, the Archdiocese aims to ensure that its goals remain receptive and responsive to the developing and evolving needs of the Catholic community in Fiji and Rotuma.

The meeting agenda includes insightful presentations from each Commission, highlighting achievements that demonstrate progress toward the goals of the Pastoral Mission Plan.

It will also include workshops to ensure their actions remain aligned with the goals in the Pastoral Mission Plan, allowing leaders to collaborate with the exchange of ideas to review and refine their strategies and ensure a unified approach.

An important aspect of the meeting will be the review of the survey outcome, which will provide valuable insights to guide future initiatives for the Church – the findings will inform an updated action plan tailored to address emerging and existing needs effectively while prioritizing impactful initiatives this year.

The two-day event will conclude with forward-looking presentations outlining expectations for the next phase of work, which will set the stage for continued spiritual outreach and growth throughout 2025.

The Archdiocese of Suva remains steadfast in its commitment to serve and uplift the faithful across Fiji and Rotuma, guided by a shared mission rooted in community and faith.

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For more information or for interviews, contact the Archdiocese of Suva Communications Office on email – aosfijicomms@gmail.com.