This is a special and sacred time of the year for thousands of Fijians.
Amid our busy and noisy lives, these holy days allow us to slow down and spend some quiet moments in prayer and reflection.
This time every year, the Fiji Women’s Crises Centre sees a spike in the services and support we provide to women and girls who have been physically attacked and sexually assaulted.
The Easter period over the years has seen police, health, and counselling services attend to many cases of rape and domestic violence.
For the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and its branches in Nadi, Ba, Rakiraki, and Labasa, Easter usually means more work as we deal with the aftermath of an episode of explosive violence or sexual assault and rape.
It is my wish that during this Easter we will all do what we can to ensure that everybody – women, girls, men, and boys – can live lives free from violence or the threat of violence.
We must never stop advocating for a better Fiji for everybody and remember and pray for those persecuted for their faith and subjected to unspeakable crimes against humanity.
Let us be gracious and generous with our friends, neighbours and fellow Fijians. Let us live out the lessons of Christ’s life and strive to meet His Holy example through the love we show to those around us. So much of this is missing in our society today. Let that spirit of love, compassion and charity guide us through whatever awaits, whether it be adversity or joy.
We should remember the vulnerable and those who have been unfairly treated in our country. We appeal to families to be kind to each other and be compassionate.
The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre wishes everyone in a multiracial and multi-cultural Fiji a peaceful Easter.
Archbishop Peter Loy Chong during the Easter Vigil Mass at the Sacred Heat Cathedral last year.
Picture: JONA KONATACI
Members of the Sacred Heart Cathedral were out in numbers to be part of the Easter Vigil Mass last year.
Picture: JONA KONATACI
Archbishop Peter Loy Chong during the Easter Vigil Mass at the Sacred Heat Cathedral on Saturday night. Picture: JONA KONATACI
Members of the Sacred Heart Cathedral were out in numbers to be part of the Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday night. Picture: JONA KONATACI
Members of the Sacred Heart Cathedral were out in numbers to be part of the Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday night. Picture: JONA KONATACI
Members of the Sacred Heart Cathedral at the Easter Vigil Mass.
Picture: JONA KONATACI
