On the 30th August St Ambrose parish celebrated this year's First Communion. As has happened to me so much this year as I have lived in the village of Engosengiu, it reminded me a lot of how it was for my family when I was growing up. Like my family many of the people here have very little in the way of material possessions (average wage is $3 a day) and nothing is ever wasted. But when it comes to celebrating important occasions families save and make them memorable.
So the children and young people as they are brought forward to receive First Communion are given a day when they know that for that day they are the most important person in the family and the parish community.
It usually takes me 50 minutes to walk to mass on Sundays and the last part is a climb up a hill to the church. Everyone, of course walks to church but on this Sunday many families hired a taxi or a dulla dulla (local public transport vans) to take family and friends to church.
As the organ began to play the women began to 'vigelegele' with the high pitched movement of the tongue, then the children's choir danced and sang as they led the procession into the church. They were followed by the children receiving First Communion then the adult choir and the altar boys and the priest.
Mass here always takes 2 hours and of course First Communion day took 3 hours. This does not worry people. Time here is enjoyed and experienced and savoured. Time is not a problem or something people need more of to do all they want to do.
After mass there is congratulations and celebrations. Again people are patient while all the cars and dulla dullas take turn to drive down the rocky, dusty road to go home. At home, when everyone is ready the goat and rice that have been cooking all morning is now ready to eat and the celebrating and dancing continue.
Posted by Helen Campbell
Education Manager
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