Vincent Ratnam, an Indian from Fiji tells about his journey to being a missionary priest. Part of his time involved a stay in the Philippines. The interview was conducted by Fr. Francisco Hoare.

An Interview with Vincent Ratman

Francisco: Where and when were you born?

Vincent: I was born on 31st March, 1966 in Lautoka Fiji islands. I have five brothers and two sisters. As the youngest in the family my parents, especially my dad, had emphasized hard work and being well off because we had experienced poverty. Dad work for an Australian company as a stone crusher operator and Mum used to supplement the family income by doing house work for neighbors.

Francisco: Were you more educated than the others in family?

Vincent: Yes. I studied to form six at St. Thomas High School in Lautoka. Some of the others went as far as form five but my eldest brothers didn’t to school at all. He started working when he was eleven years old to help support the family at a time when we were experiencing financial problems. So I was fortunate to receive the education I got.

Francisco: what place had religion in your family?

Vincent: My grandmother got us to say the rosary when she visited and my mum continued that. Whenever we missed night prayers or the rosary Mum would get angry and say, “You are lazy people. You only want to go out and play.” She kept our faith and hope strong where as Dad who was a Hindu till his marriage was pessimistic about life. But he changed through my Mum’s faith and devotion, and through seeing how well my brothers and sister got on.

Francisco: How did you think of becoming a missionary priest?

Vincent: I was invited then to do a lay- leadership course. Though hesitant because I felt that I didn’t know anything I decided to take the opportunity. The course really stimulated me to learn more about the Church, sacraments and Scripture. It was a big step in deepening my faith.

During the lay-leadership course one of the Columban seminarians told me about his experience at the seminary. I was interested and found jot how to apply. The Columban vocation director welcomed me warmly and I visited him monthly to discuss the missionary life and my vocation. He gave me Columban magazine to read and the stories fascinated me. I become convinced that I wanted to be a missionary, even though I didn’t fully know at that time the challenges of the missionary life. I decided that I wanted to be a Columban priest because Columbans had devoted themselves to deepening the faith of Indian Catholics. They had often visited and prayed in my home, so my response was that if I wanted to be a missionary I would be a Columban.

Francisco: What did you find difficult about seminary life?

Vincent: we were only three Indian students at the seminary at that time but there were many Pacific Islanders, with very different cultures and languages. I found then hard to relate with at first.

 To me they seemed demanding, aggressive and distracting but later I got used to them and discovered that their culture teaches them a different way of relating from mine.

As I understood them better I made some good friends form Vanuatu, Tonga, and Samoa. That help me to look at the world outside, my outlook on life has broadened. I’m not confined to only one way of thinking.

Francisco: You went to the Philippines for spiritual year in 1991. How was that?

Vincent: Spiritual year was a memorable year, a year I treasure because I learned a lot about myself. And it helped me to be more open to God’s call.

Francisco: What did you learn about the work of the Columbans there?

Vincent: On my arrival in the Philippines I met Fr. Brian Gore whose Imprisonment for standing up for the poor I had read about. I felt that I was meeting a Columban hero. When I shook hands with him I realized that being Columban means that we are for the people and not the people for us.

Francisco: Vincent how have you found the Columban formation community in Suva?

Vincent :I like the spirit of sharing there. We joke together and share experiences and the challenges that we face. We search for the meaning of Columban vocation together and we help one another. I also like the strong sense of mission among us we are always aware hat we are training to be missionary priests who will work overseas. So try to have an open attitude and to be more giving by sharing my life with other people.

Francisco: What are your hopes for Fiji Indian Catholics?

Vincent: I would like to see Fiji Indian Catholics become more active in church participation.  I hope for a greater awareness that the Good News should not only be proclaimed within the community but outside it also.

I would especially like to see Catholic Indians promoting Vocations to the religious and missionary life. I feel that this is lacking at present. Although they are proud a Fiji Indian becoming a missionary they are very hesitant to encouraged their own relatives to do so, I hope that this will change in time.