Pope’S Medal For Brave
p. 31 · Read in the full issue
Fijian
SUVA, August 17.
Recognition by His Holiness the Pope of a brave deed performed last year has come to Josefu, the Fijian native master of the R.C. Mission’s cutter St. Michael, by the awarding to him of the Pope’s medal, a coveted honour of the Roman Catholic Church.
The incident which led to the award occurred about 3 o’clock one morning when the St. Michael was struggling along in a rough sea.
A mission sister, who was a passenger on the cutter, fell overboard, and Josefu went to her rescue. He succeeded in lo cating her in the inky darkness only after considerable difficulty. Despite the heavy sea that was running at the time, he held her above water for about half an hour until they were picked up.
The case was referred to Rome by the local mission authorities and, as a result, the Pope’s medal for Josefu was received a short time ago. It will be presented by His Lordship Bishop Nicolas at the open ing of a new school at Kadavu shortly.