As Easter approaches, my mind wonders back to my years spent in the Gold Mines Parish of Vatukoula. I have always considered these years as the happiest years of my missionary life in Fiji covering the period from 1978 – 1982.
Back in 1981 as Easter approached, dark clouds of industrial strife also loomed on the horizon as a major strike by the miners was planned for after Easter. This could mean months of suffering for the miners and their families and even large-scale job losses. Strikes and suffering were not new for the miners of Vatukoula. A major strike had taken place five years previously. Almost 1,000 miners had lost their jobs then because they belonged to the Mineworkers Union which sought better conditions for its members.
That Easter the parish liturgical committee met and tried to correlate the present situation locally to the events of Easter based on the theme of suffering. Could something be done to make the Easter liturgy and the imminent suffering of the people more meaningful? Could the entire Christian community, not only Catholics, be made more united and aware of what was happening during this season commemorating the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, the suffering and the glory of Christ?
The Liturgical Committee came up with a plan that would see not just Catholics but all Christians come together and publicly enact the Stations of the Cross which would take place around the entire the gold mining area on Good Friday. The Methodist community, led by their minister (talatala), joined the Catholics. A large wooden cross was carried alternatively by members of the two communities. The Stations were performed at designated places, mainly at the villages, settlements, and pockets of population around the gold field.
The entire journey of roughly five miles took about four hours to complete. The Rosary, as well as hymns and prayers were recited along the way. The Methodist sung their hymns with great expression and vigour. The actual stops for the Stations themselves were both impressive and emotional as men and women and the young people from both churches poured out their sentiments as they recalled the suffering of Jesus at each station.
The crowds surpassed all expectations, increasing in number along the way until more than 3,000 people were following the Cross, an impressive display of unity and witness to the events of Good Friday. The unity that was achieved that morning in Vatukoula proved to be very important in the events that were to come.
The Christian community walked hand in hand witnessing to the suffering of Christ on that Good Friday morning. They did the same during the long strike that took place after Easter from April to September. Most of the Union leaders were Catholic whereas most of the Union members were Methodist. Those who had anything shared with those who had not. Our St Vincent de Paul Society helped to feed some 50 families. Fear and suffering could be felt everywhere. Prominent Catholics suffered most – the president of our parish council who was one of the leaders of the Mineworkers Union was disgracefully evicted from his home together with his wife and large family. Others were forced to choose between leaving the Union or losing their jobs. Of course, some did lose their jobs and had to leave Vatukoula in search of work. In most cases, they found better employment with higher wages elsewhere.
The strike was eventually settled when the Fijian Government compelled the Emperor Gold Mining Company to recognise the Mineworkers Union and to grant a 10.5% increase in their basic wage. To the present day there is still a lot of suffering and fear in Vatukoula but when the Christian aspect of suffering is understood, it reminds us that there is also hope for the future. Our shared Easter Liturgy emphasised for the Christian Community: ‘No Cross. No Crown.’
