|
Pacific islands in hands of indigenous Christian leaders |
|
|
|
By The Catholic Spirit
|
|
Wednesday, 07 October 2009 |
 Marist Father Roger McCarrick
Father Roger McCarrick, 74, was born in Ireland. He entered the Marist Fathers novitiate in Devonshire, England, where he professed vows in 1955. After completing studies, he was ordained to the priesthood May 27, 1961, and ministered in the United States for five years. In 1968, he was appointed to the Fiji Islands.
Why did you choose to become a missionary priest?
In 1836, the Marist Congregations were asked to take over the whole
mission fields of the Pacific from Polynesia over to Melanesia and
parts of Micronesia. In 1961, the missions were still in need of
workers so I volunteered to come to this part of the world.
What are you doing in your missionary work now?
After many years teaching sacred Scripture in parishes and in the
seminary, I was appointed secretary general of the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Pacific in 2002 and director of the Pontifical
Mission Societies for the same territories.
From right, Father Roger McCarrick and Archbishop Petero Mataca of Suva meet with other members of the Pacific Regional Seminary Senate.
Why does this work make a difference — what does it mean to be a missionary in your part of the world?
I believe I can serve the bishops of the Pacific in their work of
shepherding the people of God in this vast part of the globe. To be a
missionary here, one has to be prepared to adapt to and respect the
local customs and traditions and to be part of the whole process of
Christianizing the culture. . . . Leadership has passed to the
indigenous church leaders, and now the church is truly Pacifican but at
the same time a church reaching out to communities in need outside of
the Pacific.
What is your greatest challenge in being a missionary there?
The greatest challenge for me is to stay healthy despite the outbreaks
of dengue, filariasis and many little bothersome bug bites. The fact
that I have a heart problem does not help.
I understand that climate change is affecting the people you serve; talk about that specific challenge.
The effects of climate change are not causing serious problems, but
several island groups, such as Kiribati, Tuvalu and the Marshall
Islands, are threatened if the sea level rises much above it’s present
height. If these islands are swamped, the people will have to relocate,
as there is no place to go within their territories. The highest point
above sea level is no more than one and a half to two meters high.
What are your ties to this archdiocese?
[Father McCarrick has visited St. Louis, King of France in St. Paul, which is led by the Marist Fathers.]
What is the state of the church in your diocese?
The state of the church in the Archdiocese of Suva where I live is very
good. It has had an indigenous ordinary for the past 30 years and, in
that time, the church has developed very well. The regional seminary
for nine dioceses or territories is located here, as is the Catholic
teachers’ training college. When I think of the territories that I
serve, I see progress almost everywhere, with enthusiastic communities
taking responsibility for the progress of the church, celebrating the
liturgy with joy and beautiful harmonized singing.
The population of the CEPAC region is just over 2.2 million, of which
less than 1 million are Catholic. Individual dioceses (Wallis and
Futuna, Vanuatu, Tahiti) have close to 50 percent Catholics or even a
large majority. Fiji is less than 15 percent Catholic, but renders
great service to the whole country, especially in education.
 |
Sign up for our eNewsletter and get
Show/hide comment form