24 June 2026 | Holy Trinity Cathedral, Suva, Fiji
On 24 June 2026, the Archdeaconry of Suva and Ovalau, together with the community of St John the Baptist Theological College, gathered at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Suva for a joyful and significant celebration in the life of the Church.
Held on the Feast of St John the Baptist, Patron Saint of the Diocesan College, the Eucharist brought together clergy, parishioners, families, and supporters from across the Diocese. The service marked the ordination of Deacons Siteri Kauvadra and Sua Anare Kolui to the Sacred Order of Priests, together with several key ministerial appointments within the Diocese of Polynesia.
The service was presided over by The Most Reverend Sione Silongo Uluilakepa, with the sermon delivered by the College Principal, The Reverend Liliani Havili. Together, the liturgy and proclamation reflected the Church’s ongoing mission to raise up faithful servant leaders to proclaim the Gospel and shepherd God’s people.
A Call to Sacred Ministry
The appointed Scripture readings spoke clearly of God’s call to ordained ministry. Isaiah 6:1–8 captured the willing response to God’s invitation: “Here am I; send me.” Psalm 139:1–11 affirmed God’s intimate knowledge of those He calls, while Acts 13:22–26 pointed to John the Baptist as the faithful forerunner who prepared the way for Christ. The Gospel reading from Luke 1:57–66, 80 recalled John’s birth and vocation, reminding the Church that authentic ministry exists to lead others to Jesus.
Preaching on these themes, Reverend Liliani Havili emphasised that priesthood is not a position of privilege but a sacred vocation of servant leadership. She encouraged the ordinands to proclaim the Gospel faithfully, administer the sacraments with reverence, and walk alongside God’s people with humility, compassion, and steadfast faith.
Formed to Point to Christ
The significance of the ordination was deepened by its timing on the Feast of St John the Baptist. As Patron Saint of the Diocesan College, John’s life and witness provide a powerful model for all who are formed for ministry. Many of those ordained and commissioned during the service are graduates of St John the Baptist Theological College, visibly demonstrating the fruit of the Church’s formation ministry.
Reverend Liliani Havili drew on John 3:30 — “He must increase, but I must decrease” — to remind the newly ordained that ministry is never about personal recognition or authority. Rather, every sermon, sacrament, and act of pastoral care must point people away from the minister and toward Jesus Christ.
Like John the Baptist, they are called to be signposts pointing others to Christ. John faithfully prepared the way for the Messiah without drawing attention to himself. In the same way, those formed by the College are called to lives of witness that consistently reveal Christ rather than themselves.
She also spoke of the cost of faithful ministry. John’s courage in speaking truth and confronting injustice ultimately led to his martyrdom. In that same spirit, the newly ordained priests were challenged to remain faithful to the Gospel with courage and integrity, even when such faithfulness demands sacrifice. While theological education prepares ministers, true effectiveness in ministry depends entirely on the work of the Holy Spirit. The College forms and equips, but it is Christ who empowers and transforms.
New Appointments in the Diocese
Alongside the ordinations, several significant appointments were announced, strengthening the mission and ministry of the Diocese of Polynesia:
Ordinations to the Sacred Order of Priests
- The Reverend Siteri Kauvadra – Assistant Priest, St Luke’s Anglican Church, Suva Point
- The Reverend Sua Anare Kolui – Assistant Priest, St John’s Anglican Church, Wailoku
Chaplaincy Appointments
- Sister Miria Taunaholo CSN – Chaplain, Basden College, Newtown
- The Reverend Lanieta Tuiwaiwai – Chaplain, Bishop Kempthorne Memorial School, Newtown
- The Reverend Wame Tuidama – Chaplain, Bishop Kempthorne Memorial School, Newtown; Assistant Priest, St Mark’s Anglican Church, Newtown, and St Philip’s Worship Centre, Nadawa
Archdeaconry Appointment
The Reverend Winston Tarere – Archdeacon of the Suva and Ovalau Archdeaconry Unit
A Witness of the Church’s Mission
As the service concluded with thanksgiving and fellowship, the celebration stood as a visible witness to the Church’s commitment to forming, equipping, and sending faithful servants into God’s harvest.
The Feast of St John the Baptist provided a fitting framework for the occasion, reminding all present that faithful ministry is rooted in humility, courage, and a steadfast commitment to Christ. Those ordained and commissioned were called to lives that echo John’s enduring confession: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
May this calling continue to guide all who serve in ordained ministry, as they faithfully point the Church and the world to Christ.
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