Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bora Bora (Agenzia Fides) - "In September it was time for us to meet again to evaluate the importance of the meetings held during the 2023-2024 pastoral year and the impact they had on the life of the five parishes in the Raromatai Islands," reports Father Sandro Lafranconi to Fides after returning from Bora Bora to Raiatea.
The five parishes mentioned by the missionary, a priest of the Society of African Missions (SMA), are the parish of the Holy Family on the island of Huahine, the parish of Saint Andrew on the island of Raiatea, the parish of Bora Bora and the parish of St. Celestine V and St. Clement.
"From September 16 to 20, more than 40 pastoral leaders and group leaders met in Huahine for a 'practical synod exercise'," Father Sandro continued. "The aim was to create space for a cross-island dialogue about important and challenging shared moments that have shaped the pastoral year 2023-24. In the small working groups, pro and con opinions were discussed. But it was precisely the exchange of different points of view on one and the same topic that made it possible to make the conclusions a little more objective. This evaluation session was in fact an opportunity to put the synodal spirit into practice, to walk, that is, to move forward and not just sit, together and therefore in the effort to listen to and accept each other, to unite in the dream of becoming a little more 'Church'."
Recalling the path taken so far, Father Lafranconi highlights: "In the course of the Pastoral Year 2023-2024, in order not to give in to the desire for 'isolation' that comes with the geographical configuration of the archipelago, we have launched three important events: at Easter, three days of encounter for the young people of the Raromatai Islands who are preparing for Confirmation, in May three days for the younger children who are preparing for or have just received their First Communion, and finally, at the beginning of July, fifteen days of formation for the catechists and the Christians most involved in parish life."
"The practical purpose was indeed an organizational evaluation with a view to a new pastoral year," stresses the missionary, "but to achieve this purpose it is necessary to put things into practice and experience for oneself how challenging it is to listen to oneself and to put one's own vision into perspective compared to that of the other islands." "The forty or so pastoral workers who took part in this 'practical synodal exercise' for three days on the island of Huahine," he continues, "were in fact faced with a series of communication dynamics that were always demanding and at times very tense. In the end, however, despite the sparks, the clear desire to continue these meetings in the new pastoral year prevailed, which help to come out of isolation and gradually create a style of catechesis and liturgical celebration that is more homogeneous and in line with the lines proposed by the Church through a synodal style. In summary, we have therefore found that the effort to dialogue and mutual welcome is not only useful but certainly necessary.”
And so we are back to organizing ourselves and trying to invite parents and adults to take part in the big meetings that we are already beginning to organize with the generosity of those who welcome us and the goodwill of those who must come out of their shells to 'make church'.”
Since August 1, 2022, Father Sandro has been in charge of the pastoral care of the Raromatai Islands, which are part of the Society Islands archipelago (also known as the Leeward Islands), which includes the main island of Tahiti with Papeete as the capital of French Polynesia, on behalf of the Archbishop of Papeete, Jean Pierre Cottenceau, and his Presbyteral Council. The Raromatai Islands include the islands of Huahine, Raiatea, Taha'a and Bora Bora, as well as the smaller island of Maupeti. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 4/10/2024)
