On Vanuatu, an island quite some distance from Australia, Fr. Louis Bochkoltz accepted 45 new Knights. This is one of the first enrolments to the Militia Immaculatae in Oceania. There are also new Knights in New Caledonia and Fiji island — we will write about those in a few days.
On Saturday 1st October 2016, the first Saturday of the month of the Holy Rosary, our small Mission in Vanuatu was blessed by the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Having arrived almost one week earlier, Fr. Bochkoltz had prepared the faithful for their "promise" towards Our Lady (the word "consecration" being yet too difficult for them).
With 13 children and 1 adult having received the grace of Baptism and becoming children of God that same morning, a good 50 people were present in the church around 4 pm. At that time we started our procession with a local stretcher for Our Lady's statue. In the village, we stopped at each lot of bamboo huts, praying one decade of the rosary and blessing these houses at each station. Every time more and more people were joining the procession and singing the hymns as we went along. So, when we arrived back at the church, more than 100 people were crowded inside! It was now time to start the ceremony to make new Knights of the Immaculata!
When Father asked the catechist to intone a hymn in honour of the Holy Ghost, it seemed that the roof of the church was going to blow away! All their hearts and their love were begging Heaven to inspire them. And no less than 45 poor men and women from the very isolated village of Vunapisu came to kneel down to receive the Miraculous Medal. The renewal of the baptismal vows was made in French, the language of the Catholics on Vanuatu islands; the blessing of the medals was in Latin and the act of consecration in Bislama!
It had taken a good hour to translate the act of consecration in this local language with the catechist and the older girls who go to school. Now, they were able to repeat it because many cannot read. But Our Lady does not look at this and "unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven." Only those who are already baptized were able to make their consecration. There are no doubts that our army will be growing following subsequent visits. Our Lady, increase our zeal for the salvation of souls and protect your Knights of Vunapisu, small village in the island of Espiritu Santo. Certainly a predestined name!
Act of Consecration to the Immaculata in Bislama language
O Immaculata, Queen blong Heaven mograon, haed lo sinamo Mama blongyumi we ilikemyumimo God igivimevrisamtingblong kingdom blong mercy.
Mi, ___________, mi mi no stret man, mi mi stap daon lo leg blong yum o mi askem wetem ful hat blong mi: plis acceptem mi fulwan olsem position mo property blon yu. Mekem mi evrisamtingolsem we yuyuwantem, wetemolpaoa long hat mo body blong mi, wetemolgetalaefblong mi, wetemdedmo eternal laef.
Teken mi olsem we yuwantem, blongyumekemolsem we hem I raetem: “Mama Meri istanap long hedblongsnek” mot u “ Yunomoyu save winimolgetaron against fetraonwol”.
Mekem mi olsem wan wok man blongyu, insaed long clean mo glad hat long hanblongyumoservesem wok blongyu, moo l hat longwe long fetkambak long fet, mowetememia Kingdom blongSecred Hat blongJisas I big wan. From evriplesyuk am insaedyuaskemblesinblongkam long fetmoblesinblongkam holy, from blesin we I kam long yumi, I kam long hanblongyutru long Secred Hat blongJisas.
Plis, givim mi blong honorem yu, Mama Mari.
Givim mi poao against olenemiblongyu.
