Kashi Ram was lucky to be accepted into Xavier College, Ba, Fiji, in 1954, in only the second year of its existence. There were no other secondary schools in the Ba area at that time. He lived in the village of Moto, about eight miles from Ba town. His parents were very religious Hindus.
The Columban priests at Xavier College gave classes on Christianity each day. Kashi Ram was inspired by the Sermon on the Mount, especially by the passages on non-violence (“Let the one who slaps you on the right cheek slap you on the left cheek too.”) and love for enemies (“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”). He shared his admiration for Jesus with his father and got his permission to become a Catholic. Columban Fr. Jim Gavigan instructed him at Xavier College and baptized him Francis.
Years later, as a parishioner of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Tamavua, he was a member of the mandali prayer group and was also an animator on the RCIA team. One day he and I were in the Crypt of the Cathedral conducting an RCIA session with non-Christians preparing for baptism. Halfway through the lesson we heard singing coming from the Cathedral above as a group began their devotions to Mother Mary. Master Francis suggested that we pause the lesson and join the devotions. I countered that we should finish the work for which we had come. Francis admitted later that he was very annoyed with me at that time. When he thought more about it afterwards he realized that sharing our faith in Christ and explaining the gospel message is even more important than singing hymns.
Columban Fr. Frank Hoare lives and works in Fiji.