Br Ralph Fakaia is from the beautiful Solomon Islands. Born in a small, remote village far from the capital Honiara, Br Ralph had a happy childhood. As the eldest in a family of five brothers and two sisters, he enjoyed his schooling, but he loved going fishing and hunting with his friends after the school day ends even more!
Growing up in a time before mobile phones, Br Ralph's teenage years were filled with adventurous activities with his friends, being the ideal big brother to his siblings, and helping his family with household chores. His formative years were spent surrounded by family, work, and the sea.
In 2007, after completing his novitiate in Lomeri, Fiji, Ralph Fakaia formally became Br Ralph Fakaia, FMS. Since then, he has dedicated his life to following in Marcellin’s footsteps, guided by Mary.
Currently, Br Ralph is undertaking an eight-month Formation Program in Manziana, Italy. What follows is a heartfelt and honest account by Br Ralph of the challenges and rewards such a program demands and offers to its participants.
Br Ralph Fakaia.
Greetings of peace from Manziana, Italy.
It has been four months since I arrived in Italy. A lot has happened to me during this intense formation program. Three important things that stand out for me so far are adaptability, interiority, and international community living.
"Three important things that stand out for me so far are adaptability, interiority, and international community living."
Community Eucharist Celebrations.
To be frank, adapting to the Italian climate when I arrived was difficult for me. The temperature sometimes went down to negative four. I suffered and covered myself most of the time with warm jackets, but it didn’t help much. Also, the heaters in the house hardly helped. The rooms were extremely freezing. At one time, the heaters went off for an entire week! Most of us in the house felt so uncomfortable, especially when we had to have cold showers in the middle of winter. Fortunately, there were heaps of warm blankets in our rooms.
"To be frank, adapting to the Italian climate when I arrived was difficult for me. The temperature sometimes went down to negative four."
Furthermore, I sometimes felt homesick. It was not easy leaving the lovely tropical atmosphere back home, family, close friends and the rebuilding projects into which I had put all my effort, energy and heart in Vanuatu. Moving and letting go is hard. I am moving into the unknown and the uncertainty of the future. I have been asking myself a lot of questions. Hopefully, by the end of this program, some answers will become more evident. However, these questions helped me to slow down and be in the present moment.
Group photo with Ms Rene, a Champagnat Marist on the topic: Positive relationships.
Adaptation is just about changing one's mindset. Rigidity is a huge problem when I am not open to changes and do not embrace the difficulties with a generous heart. Experience has taught me that to adapt to a new place, I must live in the moment by trying to love the people, their food, culture, and the kind of sport they are so passionate about. This attitude of changing my mindset helps me adapt slowly to the environment, people, and events yet to unfold.
"Moving and letting go is hard. I am moving into the unknown and the uncertainty of the future. I have been asking myself a lot of questions. Hopefully, by the end of this program, some answers will become more evident."
The topics presented so far are basically focusing on deepening our interiority (inner journey). This interiority requires contemplation with deep inner silence. It is hard sometimes to keep silent when I am preoccupied with something else. However, interiority is required to be aware of what is happening inside me. It is the only way to get in touch with myself and listen to what God wants of me. Moreover, where was God in my religious journey? This practice of interiority is so far helping me to encounter God.
Group photo is Sr Voca on the topic, Inner Journey.
I am very aware of this because my life was circulating around doing or being a “doer” for the past five years in an apostolic ministry.
"Adaptation is just about changing one's mindset. Rigidity is a huge problem when I am not open to changes and do not embrace the difficulties with a generous heart."
I also understand the complexity of finding balance in life. When I started this interiority exercise, the realisation of finding a balance in life emerged in my consciousness. It really helps me spiritually, physically, emotionally and intellectually. I have come to believe very much in having time set aside for self-reflection to discover the wonders God instilled in me. This program offers me valuable time and space to journey inward, and so far, I can now slowly find the balance of life.
Living in a multicultural community has not been easy. Just imagine Marist brothers from sixteen countries coming together, living under one roof and building a community. Fascinating and unimaginable indeed, isn’t it? For some, it is their first time living in a diverse community of brothers. There are so many differences amongst us, but the richness that each one brings to the community is a gift to live as one Marist global family. We are living the ideal, the written words in practice.
Our Carbon footprint project at Manziana, Italy, is to plant more trees.
I have learned much from each brother despite the different languages and cultures. However, the Marist culture we all try to embrace gives us life and meaning. I must say, this is a wonderful opportunity for me, and it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I feel that I must continue to open to the wonders, insights and experiences as they unfold in my life. My appreciation of living in an international Marist community is shaping up so positively because I feel responsible as well to contribute in ways, skills, knowledge and wisdom to make this international community a place of friendship, love and joy where our differences are not obstacles to growth.
"There are so many differences amongst us, but the richness that each one brings to the community is a gift to live as one Marist global family. We are living the ideal, the written words in practice."
With some young men at Manziana after a football match.
As we prepare for our trip to the Champagnat country this month, I am overwhelmed with so many graces and blessings as I look back. There is so much joy and life in this formation program as it intensifies with an abundance of giving and taking, and there is no other way to say, ‘Thank You, LORD.’
Br Ralph is participating in the Institute’s nine-month Formation programme, being held at Manziana in Italy. At the near halfway point of the course, he has written a reflection on the experience
The Marist Institute offers various formation programs designed to educate younger Brothers in several key areas. These programs focus on developing management skills, providing training for the guidance of postulants and novices, and enhancing spiritual experiences. The formation program that Br Ralph is participating in is called the New Builders of the Hermitage. This program is for Brothers who will be qualified for the pastoral mission of supporting the formation processes in the various houses and stages of initial formation in Marist life.
The program began on Sunday, 4 February, at the Marist House of Formation and Spirituality in Manziana (near Rome) and will end on Sunday, 24 November, in France at l’Hermitage.