"I've been teaching for 61 years now, and I am still enjoying it," he says with a smile on his face.

While having started again to teach primary students at Marist Brothers Primary School in Mulivai, Samoa since this March, the experienced lecturer has taught many different subjects throughout his career.

Having first visited Samoa only a few days after its independence from New Zealand as a 27-years old, Humphrey has been a teacher his whole life long.

"I taught English, Religious Education, Music, Geography and a very good subject called Commercial Practice," he says.

"I've taught at St. Joseph's College here in Mulivai from 1962 to 1967 and I've been teaching in every year since, except for the last five years in which I was looking after some of our older brothers, but I've done a little bit of help for boys with reading difficulties during that time."

During all these years of teaching, Humphrey has seen many young faces in his classrooms.

Some have gone on to take on leading roles in the development of Samoa as an independent Pacific island nation - including the current Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi.

Other stations of his academic life as a teacher include many years of lecturing at different facilities New Zealand but also a short stay in the Philippines, where Humphrey taught English to other Marist brothers.

"The other brothers always often tell me I should not work too hard because I am so old now," he says."But I am only teaching in the morning, and it's still enjoyable for me."

Source

• sobserver.ws
• Image: sobserver.ws

The event organised by the Marist St. Josephs Old Pupils Association in Auckland was held at St. Joseph's Church at Grey Lynn attended by old boys, families and friends.

Brother David Lavin shared the history which began in September 1870 when Brothers Ulbert and Landry, both 35 years old, left Mother House of the Marist Brothers in France for the new Pacific mission in Samoa. On 1 May 1871 after six months at sea, they arrived and opened a school at Saleufi, Apia.

Source

• Scoop
• Image: Marist Old Boys Samoa

The anniversary aims to bring the Marist fraternity together, with members travelling from overseas. The Marist Brothers' Old Pupils' Association will also use some of the activities during the anniversary to raise funds to finance the new building currently being constructed at Marist Brothers' Primary School, Mulivai.

The Class of 88 (Form 4, 1988, St Joseph's College) will be hosting a "Rock da Boat" cruise on the 30th and the Marist Ball takes place on Saturday 31 August.

Other activities for the anniversary include the opening Mass, career day, talent show night, sports day, prayer evening, march past in town, opening of the new building, cultural performances and farewell to'onai.

Source:

• Talamua online
• Image: www.maristoldboys.ws

A series of events has been planned that will culminate in the 125th celebration in August 2013.

Already the Marist Brothers have leased the old school library to the Association for them to use as their headquarters and the building has been blessed.

A ground breaking ceremony has taken place for a new Library and a Science Laboratory for the Marist school.

The Marist Brothers first arrived in Samoa in 1871 but left six years later due to civil unrest. They returned in 1888 and established a primary school at Mulivai, Apia.

The other school in Apia is St Joseph's College which was established as a high school in 1950 at the Mulivai property. It transferred to Lotopa in 1960 when it became a college and moved to its present site at Alafua in 1989. Its sixtieth jubilee was celebrated this year.

The brothers also worked in American Samoa, beginning an elementary school in 1905 and a high school in 1969. The brothers withdrew from American Samoa in 1991.

Today there are ten brothers working in Samoa at both primary and secondary schools.

Source

• Talamua Online
• Maristbrothers.org.nz
• Image: Marist Brothers Old Boys Association Samoa