World Mission Sunday - October 18, 2026.
Saint Alphonso Mandali in Fiji’s northern island town of Labasa gather for prayer and songs of worship. Photo: Columbans Fiji
Small Christian Communities are the engine of evangelisation. The Christian Church began as a small community of apostles and disciples who shared a world-shattering experience. Their message of life and hope was accepted and nurtured in other small interconnected communities. The message itself was about living in the community of the Reign of God. A small Christian Community proclaims and lives the message which is found today in the holy Bible, the Word of God. But we need a method of sharing it.
The Lumko method is a weekly gospel sharing among groups of 3 to 15 members. We listen attentively as a gospel story is read three times. We, in turn, say out a phrase that strikes us. We reflect for 3 minutes in silence on the gospel before sharing how it touches our lives in a personal way. We then discuss what action God might be asking of us during the following week.
Centered in Christ indicates a community that loves Jesus and follows him together”. Photo: Columban Fiji
Mandali is the Hindi word for prayer group. The Indo-Fijian mandalis use this method of gospel sharing as a way of becoming a small Christian community. The prayer, sharing and devotional hymns are in their own Hindi language.
I try to attend the Greater Suva mandali whenever I can. It has talented musicians who play and sing Hindi hymns of deep feeling, both at the prayer meeting and at a monthly Sunday Mass. The mandali invites other Hindi-speaking families to join them. Some decline repeated invitations. However, when such families celebrate a wedding or mourn a deceased member, they inevitably request the mandali to come to their homes to lead prayers and sing devotional hymns.
I admire how the mandali responds positively to invitations and without any charge. Humanly, no one could fault them for refusing to respond to the needs of people who are unwilling to respond to others. But they recognise the love of God for sinners and the example of Jesus in forgiving those opposed to him. They calm their resentments and proceed in spreading God’s Word. They are one in Christ and united in mission.
Although Indian culture promotes respect for the leadership of elders, the elders of the mandali encourage younger members to take leadership. These young leaders organise the weekly locations and the communication within and without the mandali. The elders remain as respected advisors. They are building for the future rather than grasping for status.
The source of mission is God’s amazing love for us in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Christ’s Holy Spirit inspires us to share this love with others. We try to approach them along the pathways they travel. We support them and continue to invite them to join in the mission of spreading God’s love and joy to others.
Centered in Christ indicates a community that loves Jesus and follows him together. When his mother and brothers were asking for Jesus, he said that his relationship with his followers is closer than that of blood relations. Relationship with Christ is based on doing God’s will as he did. We learn from Jesus and try to imitate him.
This means living the same kind of life – serving others, especially the poor and neglected, and working for the coming of the Reign of God, the kingdom of justice, peace and love in the world. Christians in Small Christian Communities practice sharing the gospel and putting it into action where they live. In short they become centered in Christ and united in mission.
Columban Fr Frank Hoare lives and works in Fiji.
Related links
- Read more from the current Columban eBulletin
