Contacts in Seclusion

Abstract

From the point of view of the island community, the Retreat proceeded in relative concealment. Moses and his colleagues, as well as the Religious Education teachers and a few assistants attended to the youngsters. Fathers and the other men went fishing, mothers and the other women gathered taro and cooked the food together. Thereby, between the church and community centre which is at the heart of the inhabited part of the island, several fires with large pots and grills were lighted to cook and barbecue the food. Approximately at the appointed time, a delegation of women now brought this food, carefully packed in portions (in small coconut fibre baskets or wrapped in leaves) to the far end of the Stone Path where a large tarpaulin had been hung up as a curtain.