Fiji

When did the First Marist Brothers arrive in your Country?

Brother Annet arrived in Fiji in 1844, just four years after the death of Marcellin Champagnat. Exhaustion and the lack of proper nourishment caused Brother Annet’s death in 1848. Three more Brothers arrived in 1851. One of these, Brother Paschase, died two years later at the age of 34. Another of the trio, Brother Sorlin, worked for over 50 years in Fiji, building or repairing boats at Levuka until the end of the century. He lived to the age of 85. Brother Lucien worked on Rotuma, where he catechised, baptised, taught school and gathered the people together for prayer. He was transferred to Apia, Samoa for a rest and died there in 1873.

Where did they come from?………….How?
France; they came by Boat from France with a Marist Priest.

Why did they come?……..How was their relationship with the people in the early days?

The first teaching Marist Brothers arrived in 1888. Their relationship with the people was very good.

Name the type of apostolic activities/priorities the Brothers have been involved in over the years.
Through the years, the Brothers have run schools in Suva, Naililili, Cawaci (on Ovalau) and Wairiki (on Taveuni) and Napuka (on Vanua Levu). Today the Brothers own and operate two primary schools in Suva under lay leadership, each with 700 students, and a secondary school with 750 students.

The Brothers work in a variety of ministries, including teaching and counselling in schools, assisting in the two diocesan secondary schools, and in the Corpus Christi Teachers’ College, the Office of Catholic Education, and in the Catholic Newspaper Office.

Name the current Marist Brothers’ projects in your country and the date of establishment.
Champagnat Institute. Opened in 2000

In 2006, how many professed brothers from the country?
5 local Brothers

How many missionary brothers?
8 missionary Brothers

by Br. Luke Fong, FMS – Fiji