Archbishop Emeritus Petero Mataca laid to rest

‘He said before he died that he always prayed for me and the church’.

Those were the words of Archbishop Peter Loy Chong at the resurrection mass of the late Archbishop Emeritus Petero Mataca.

Archbishop Chong said that Mataca’s legacy will live on as he was farewelled in a moving service in the last hour.

He added that Mataca intended to go back to his village in Vuaki, Yasawa and enjoy fishing.

He also wanted to write a book about his ministry but unfortunately he was living with cancer.

While speaking at the Mass of the late Archbishop Emeritus Petero Mataca, Bernadette Rounds-Ganilau shared the condolence letters sent from the Vatican in Rome.

Archbishop Mataca began his journey of obedience to the church and service to God in Cawaci in 1941.

As Archbishop Mataca settled down in Cawaci, Ovalau, he fell ill in 1945 and could not complete his education and returned to Vuaki, Yasawa with his father.

According to Ganilau through the help of a Father John Clarken, Mataca was able to sit for his senior Cambridge certificate in 1950 at Ratu Kadavulevu School.

Archbishop Mataca was ordained as a Priest in 1959.

Ganilau said Archbishop Mataca had the church embedded in his heart and soul and initially requested that he be buried next to his parents in Yasawa.

She said a week later he had reflected that he be buried in the Bishop’s tomb in Cawaci or to be buried next to Father Clarken at the old Suva Cemetery.

She added that during a meeting to make funeral plans, they unanimously decided to entomb Archbishop Mataca in the Sacred Heart Cathedral witnessed by the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, government ministers and church leaders.

Archbishop Emeritus Petero Mataca was buried in the last hour in the bishop’s tomb at the Sacred Heart Cathedral.