Church President’s funeral underway

Suva’s Centenary Church and surrounding areas have filled up with people dressed in white and black as they gather to pay their last respects to the late President of the Methodist Church of Fiji Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu.

The body of the late church President is now lying at the Centenary Church with more than 1,000 people attending the funeral service.

The casket was carried into the church by the pall bearers from Moala.

Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama was greeted by acting Church President Reverend Laisiasa Ratabacaca and former President Reverend Tomasi Kanailagi as he arrived at the Centenary Church.

The funeral service is being attended by people from all walks of life including Prime Minister Commodore Bainimarama, the First Lady Adi Koila Nailatikau, cabinet ministers, former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and heads of the different religious groups in the country.

Condolence messages from several Methodist Church representatives from around the world have been read in the service by General Secretary Reverend Tevita Nawadra.

World Methodist General Secretary Reverend Ivan Abraham said he met Reverend Waqairatu in 2009 as part of the World Methodist Council Delegation which visited the church in Fiji.

Reverend Abraham said he recalled the late Reverend Waqairatu as a man of great warmth.

The British Methodist Church President said the passing away of Reverend Waqairatu is a great loss to everyone.

Others who presented their eulogies were Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga General Secretary Reverend Dr Tevita Havea, Uniting Church of Australia’s Reverend Professor Andrew Dutney, the United Church of California, the President of the Methodist Church of New Zealand, the Fiji Council of Churches and the Assembly of Christian Churches in Fiji.

The sermon will be delivered by former Methodist President Reverend Manasa Lasaro.

The late Reverend Waqairatu will be laid to rest in Davuilevu later today.

You can check out the latest photos of the funeral on our facebook account, fijivillage.com.

Story by: Vijay Narayan