Marist Asia Pacific Center

Independence Day of the three Pacific countries Vanuatu, Kiribati and the Solomon islands.

Our independence days are celebrated in the same month — July — but on different days. We celebrated our Independence Days together on July 18^th 2008.

On Friday 18^th July, at 4:45am some of our Bros, Claudius, Tainga, Elie and John went out to the market. They bought pork, beef meat, kamote, and some vegetables. This was for the meal. At 2pm some brothers put on the lovo, some prepared the chapel and some prepared the dinny hole.

The Mass began at 5:30pm in MAPAC main chapel. Fr. Simon was the main celebrant. It was a simple and prayerful liturgy that was organized by the three Pacific nations. After the Mass we went on to the next exciting program which was the presentation of our cultures. The first presentation was Kiribati (Br Tainga) then Vanuatu (Br. Elly) and then Solomon Islands.

Then a very significant event happened after the presentations which was the meal. The food was prepared in a pacifican way of cooking. It was a very delicious meal which I hope we all enjoyed. It was through our cooperation and supporting each other in our Independence Day celebrations that it became a wonderful and enjoyable day for all of us.

by

Bro.Max Petto