Posts Tagged ‘Samoa’

Samoa PM Tuila’epa — ‘the standout leader of his generation’

Monday, August 28th, 2017

In 2012, when Samoa celebrated 50 years of independence, Victoria University awarded an honorary doctorate to Tuila’epa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, Samoa’s longest serving prime minister. The citation noted that Tuila’epa had “presided over the most politically and economically stable and successful small democratic country in the Pacific”. “He is, quite simply, the most successful, the most Read more

Latter Day Saints donate computers to Samoan Charity

Monday, August 7th, 2017
computers

A Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) charity gave some computers to the Samoa Social Welfare Fesoasoani Trust last week. According to Elder Clifford Vellinga the Latter-day Saint Charities computer project cost about $25,000. “We hope we have made it possible for them to be able to have a much more effective way Read more

Debate over Samoan woman’s stigmata

Tuesday, April 5th, 2016

A young woman claiming to have received stigmata wounds is sparking vigorous debate in Samoa. A woman named in Samoan media as Toaipuapuaga Opapo Soana’i, 23, played the part of Jesus in a Sunday School Easter play. People noticed wounds appearing on her body. She had wounds on her feet and hands, as well as Read more

College closed in Samoa after student brawling

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016

A college in Samoa was temporarily closed by the government after a brawl involving students from three schools, including St Joseph’s College and Don Bosco. Samoa’s Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture closed Avele College in Apia on Friday for the protection and security of its students. The St Joseph’s Day sports at St Joseph’s Read more

Former Marist brother who was top educator dies in Samoa

Friday, March 18th, 2016

A former Marist Brother who was hailed as an outstanding educator in Samoa has died. Patrick Buckley, known in his early days as Br Fintan, died in Samoa in early March. Mr Buckley’s career saw him teaching primary, secondary and tertiary students in New Zealand and Samoa. He had a reputation as an innovative educator Read more

Voting in church buildings keeps order in Samoa election

Tuesday, March 15th, 2016

The orderly and peaceful way Samoa’s general election took place has been ascribed in part to a decision to have most polling booths in church buildings. The Samoa Observer reported that the decision “contributed largely to absence of violence and unruly behaviour in most villages”. The presence of church pastors at voting places also helped Read more

Tuilaepa has meeting with Pope Francis

Tuesday, December 8th, 2015

Pope Francis received Samoa’s prime minister, Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, in audience on December 3. Following the audience, Malielegaoi met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, and Msgr. Antoine Camilleri, the Under-Secretary for Relations with States. The discussion focused on some aspects of the social and economic life of Samoa. The valued Read more

Samoan welcome for Cardinal Mafi

Friday, June 12th, 2015

Cardinal Soane Patita Mafi was welcomed during an ava ceremony at Leauva’a, a village near Apia, in Samoa last Monday. Mafi was on his way to Tokelau to attend the church’s 150th anniversary celebrations there. The highest form of Samoan traditional welcome, the ava (kava) ceremony was presided over by the chiefs, orators, taupou (chiefly women) and Read more

Samoa’s Head of State: conquer your impulses

Friday, June 5th, 2015

In his address for the celebration of Samoa’s 53rd Independence anniversary this year, His Highness the Head of State, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi said Independence is a goal that demands the ability to conquer one’s impulses. Tamasese is a former Prime Minister and longtime Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition in Samoa. His own family Read more

Old pupils grant to St Joseph’s, Apia, helps pay teachers

Friday, February 27th, 2015

Teachers at St Joseph’s College in Apia will benefit after the Marist Old Pupil’s Association presented a cheque for NZD$16,100 to the college. The president of the association, Peseta Kasiano Ioane, said the cheque, presented earlier this month, is to help out with teachers’ pay. “We received a request from the school that they needed Read more