Catholics Prepare for Opening of Lautoka Church

A newly renovated and extended state-of-the-art Catholic Church in Lautoka will soon open its doors to more than 5000 members.

Because of unforeseen delays, the official opening had to be deferred to August from April.

Now scheduled for 10 am on August 24, 2019, the official opening will be done by the head of the Catholic Church in Fiji, His Grace Archbishop Peter Loy Chong.

The Our Lady of Perpetual help Parish serves Catholics residing in and on the outskirts of the Lautoka City area.

Project team leader, Joseph Foon said the construction work being carried out by V. C Construction, began in late November last year and there were plans for the church to be opened in April this year.

“The construction actually started in late November 2018 and from then till April this year it was the wettest part of the year during construction and that had slowed down the work considerably,” Mr Foon said.

“We lost about three to four months of work and after April the weather started to clear up.”

Mr Foon said the total cost of the renovation and extension work was slightly under $1million.

He said there would be numerous changes to the church also in terms of seating capacity.

“The first church that was built in the 1950s could only cater for 200 people, whereas now, close to 900 to 1000 individuals would be able to sit inside the church,” he said.

The construction of the church. Photo: Nicolette Chambers

History:

The Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish was founded in 1929 by the Marist Fathers from Ba.

In 1952, the Columban Fathers took over the administration of the Parish and the first church was built in the 1950s.

Due to the increasing number of Catholics in the Lautoka area, the church was further extended in 1964 and 55 years later, the church carried out its third renovation and extension work.

Edited by Percy Kean

Feedback:   nicolette.chambers@fijisun.com.fj