On June 4, 1977, The Fiji Times published an article on St Christopher’s Home in Suva — a facility that received children who could not be cared for by their families.
“We think of the words in the Bible, that we are all God’s people,” said Sister Clare Masina, an Anglican sister who had been running St Christopher’s Home for eight years when she was interviewed, Christopher means Christ Bearer.
“When we carry the children, wash their faces, feed them, help to educate them, we do it all in the name of Christ. We carry Christ not on our shoulders, but in our hearts.
“Children arrive at the home from different situations — as abandoned babies, unwanted neglected children, orphans and children from broken homes.”
They were referred to the home by the Welfare Department, the police, and other agencies. At the time the home was overflowing with 62 children aged from four months to 18 years. Apart from children, there were 10 unmarried expectant mothers living at the home.
“We have undertaken the responsibility to care for expectant mothers, preventing them from doing harm to their lives or committing suicide,” Sister Clare added.
The girls would often feel it was better to live at the home in peaceful surroundings and give away their children for adoption than to keep a child in a deprived condition.
“When the girls returned to the home from the hospital after having their babies, jobs are found for them in good homes if their own parents do not want them anymore.”
The home had received tremendous help from services clubs, women’s organisations and individuals. It had a fundraising committee that organised activities and raised money for the home.
Fund-raising activities would begin three months ahead of St Christopher’s Week, when the street collections were conducted between July 18 and 24. The committee had raised some money through a morning tea, a film evening and garden visits.
“Tomorrow night it will sponsor an evening of songs at the Fiji Arts Club.”
Other planned activities included a luncheon at the new residence of the New Zealand High Commissioner, a casino night and Chinese “cookery lessons”.
Sister Clare was born in Nukualofa, Tonga.
She trained as a teacher and taught for 14 years at St Andrew’s Mission School before going to Christchurch, New Zealand, for further training in mission work with the Community of the Sacred Name. She took her vows in 1965 and arrived in Fiji in 1967.
After spending some time at Labasa’s St Mary’s Hostel, she moved to Suva to establish St Christopher’s Home in March 1968.
