Loreto High School Past Students, Tokou, Ovalau, Fiji

26/09/2025

Church in Fiji, 1974

Church at Loreto in Tokou, near Levuka, Fiji

26/09/2025

Something we as Catholics often taken for granted.

Skipping Mass Is a Grave Sin—and This Is Why

Many Catholics know that Sunday is special, but not everyone realizes the seriousness of deliberately missing Sunday Mass. For the Church, this is not simply about “attendance” but about faithfulness to God’s command and our spiritual well-being. Let’s explore why skipping Mass is considered a grave sin.

1. God Commanded It

The obligation to worship God on Sundays is not man-made—it comes directly from the Third Commandment:
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8).

For Christians, the Sabbath was fulfilled and transformed into Sunday, the day of Christ’s Resurrection. From the earliest centuries, Christians gathered on Sunday to break bread, listen to the Word, and celebrate the Eucharist (Acts 20:7).

The Church teaches that deliberately neglecting this commandment is a grave sin because it is a rejection of God Himself.

2. The Eucharist Is the Source of Life

At every Mass, Christ offers Himself to us in the Eucharist—His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. To freely and knowingly skip Mass is to turn away from the Bread of Life.

Jesus said:
“Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you” (John 6:53).

By skipping Mass, we deprive ourselves of the graces God wants to pour into our souls.

3. Mass Unites Us With the Body of Christ

Being Catholic is not just about “me and Jesus.” We are part of His Body, the Church. Mass is not only worship but also a family gathering of God’s people.

When we miss Mass deliberately, we are choosing to cut ourselves off from this communion. It is like saying, “I don’t need my family in faith.”

4. Grave Matter According to the Catechism

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2181) states clearly:

“Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.”

For a sin to be mortal, three things are required:

Grave matter (missing Mass qualifies)

Full knowledge (knowing it’s wrong)

Deliberate consent (choosing to do it anyway)

This is why skipping Mass without a serious reason (such as illness, caring for infants, or unavoidable work) is considered a mortal sin.

5. Excuses vs. Real Reasons

Sometimes people say:

“I can just pray at home.”

“God knows my heart.”

“Mass is boring.”

But worship is not about our convenience or entertainment. It’s about giving God the worship He deserves and receiving the graces He knows we need.

Real reasons—such as sickness, caring for someone in need, or circumstances beyond our control—excuse us. But laziness or indifference do not.

6. The Good News—Mercy Is Always Available

If you have missed Mass without a valid reason, confession restores your soul. God’s mercy is greater than our sins.

The Lord doesn’t want us to attend Mass out of fear but out of love. Once we understand that Mass is where Heaven touches Earth, it becomes less of a burden and more of a privilege.

✅ Final Thought: Skipping Mass is serious because it rejects God’s command, the gift of the Eucharist, and the communion of the Church. But the good news is that God always welcomes us back when we repent. So, the next time Sunday comes around, remember—it is not just an obligation. It is a loving invitation from Christ Himself.

31/07/2025

With New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference – I just got recognised as one of their top fans! 🎉

12/06/2025

Tena Koe & Thank You Cardinal John Dew.
Our Prayers are with you both this day and forever more.🙏✍️🕊

"Then came the one word: 'Accepto.' I found it a very powerful moment. This man was one of us; yet, to me, it was very clear that this was the work of the Holy Spirit. With that one word, he was prepared for his life to be dramatically changed. He knew that this was to be his way from then on – to give his life in love and in service, both to the Church and the wider world."

-- Cardinal John Dew shares his personal reflections on an historic time in Rome that saw Pope Leo XIV elected.

Link in the comments 👇👇👇

11/06/2025

Thank you Manohar L. Vithal for sharing your Dad & yourself's Collections in the heydays. We are truly grateful.

"I would like to contribute some pictures that were taken either by my father-Vithal Bhai or myself-Manohar L Vithal, during the Loreto School days at Tokou. Attaching some picture and there are as i go through them" (Manohar L Vithal).

21/04/2025

May Pope Francis Rest in Eternal Peace 🕊️ ✨ 🙏
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EjTazKHuM/?mibextid=wwXIfr

15/12/2024

Video Episode 1: Na cava na Tabua? What is the Tabua & Role it plays in Indigenous Fijian Culture? Why is it important?Articulated in Vosa vaka-Viti Host: ...

15/12/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BSbXaqxZQ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The Ratuyada family has been a steadfast pillar of the Roman Catholic Church across Fiji, exemplifying profound faith and dedication. Their unwavering commitment is evident through active participation in parish activities and leadership roles. Notably, the late Maria Emi Ratuyada served as the president of the Catholic Women's League at our Sacred Heart Parish, demonstrating exceptional leadership and service, a role currently held by her younger sister Makarita Ratuyada.

The family's devotion extends to nurturing religious vocations, with several members embracing roles within the Church's religious life. Their collective contributions have significantly enriched the spiritual fabric of the Fijian Catholic community, inspiring others through their steadfast commitment to faith and service.

Wishing the Ratuyada family every success for their reunion this weekend at Tokou Village and the Ovalau Club. Family members have travelled from across Fiji and around the world to celebrate their shared heritage. May this gathering strengthen family bonds and inspire continued faith and service.

Pictured are the descendents of Ana Maria Ratuyada, late sister of the infamous Bu Bera-, "au dau gunu waini ga!"😁💕🙏🏼

Naove ke!

06/03/2024

23/02/2024

18/02/2024

In Her Memories: Sr Loyola Sm R.I.P

" Daffodils "
By William Wordsworth
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
Analysis:
"I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" (also commonly known as "Daffodils") is a poem by William Wordsworth that is known for its celebration of the beauty of nature and its ability to bring joy and happiness in times of despair. The poem is written in the first person, with the speaker describing their own personal experience of wandering through a field of daffodils.
The poem is divided into four stanzas, each of which describes a different aspect of the speaker's experience. The first stanza sets the scene and describes the speaker's feeling of loneliness as they wander through the countryside. The imagery of a cloud floating over hills and valleys evokes a sense of isolation and detachment, which contrasts with the vibrant and joyful scene that the speaker is about to encounter.
The second stanza describes the moment when the speaker comes across a field of daffodils. The imagery of the daffodils stretching in a "never-ending line" along the shoreline creates a sense of awe and wonder, and the comparison to the stars in the Milky Way emphasizes the vastness and beauty of the scene. The use of the word "host" to describe the daffodils also suggests that they are not just a random collection of flowers, but an organized and purposeful group.
The third stanza describes the speaker's emotional response to the scene. The use of words like "gay" and "jocund" suggest that the sight of the daffodils has brought the speaker a sense of happiness and pleasure. The phrase "I gazed—and gazed—but little thought / What wealth the show to me had brought" suggests that the speaker did not fully realize the impact the daffodils would have on them until after they had seen them.
The final stanza describes the lasting effect of the daffodils. The use of the phrase "And then my heart with pleasure fills / And dances with the daffodils" suggests that the sight of the daffodils has lifted the speaker's spirits and brought them a sense of joy and happiness.
The poem is also known for its use of imagery, particularly the image of the daffodils dancing in the breeze, which creates a sense of movement and liveliness that contrasts with the stillness and isolation of the opening lines. The poem also makes use of personification, as the daffodils are described as "dancing" and "tossing their heads" which imbues them with human-like characteristics and adds to the lively and joyful nature of the scene.
• 100 selected poems of William Wordsworth
( https://amzn.to/4105rCd)