Memorial services have been held to commemorate the 29 September 2009 tsunami which ripped through villages, homes and businesses, killing 143 people in Samoa, 34 in American Samoa and 9 in Tonga. Radio New Zealand International reports that memorial church services were held, in the coastal villages of Upolu and people marched in black and Read more
Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop Martin Krebs as apostolic nuncio to Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu. Archbishop Krebs was previously apostolic nuncio to New Zealand, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia, and apostolic delegate in the Pacific Ocean. Source Vatican Information Service
The 125th anniversary of Marist Education in Samoa was celebrated in Auckland on Saturday with Mass led by Father Talipope Vaifale followed by dinner. 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 Read more
Marist Brothers’ Primary School in Mulivai, Samoa will be celebrating its 125th anniversary from 24 August to 1 September 2013. 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 Read more
In 1981, 25 year-old Peace Corps volunteer, Carolyn Hessler-Radelet, taught at a girls’ Catholic school in Western Samoa and lived in a thatched hut with her host parents and their eight children. Last month, President Obama nominated Hessler-Radelet to be permanent director of the Peace Corps. Since arriving at the agency three years ago, she has Read more
Those early Christian missionaries certainly did an impressive job in Samoa. Christianity remains the backbone and strength of the Samoan culture – every village has at least one church and sometimes up to four, with about 10 denominations represented across the islands. Samoa’s motto says: “Samoa is founded on God” and the locals’ strong religious Read more
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul of Auckland, as part of the 2013 “Assist a School Project” in support of schools in the Pacific, sent a large shipment of desks and chairs to Takuilau College in Tonga and also to colleges in Samoa earlier this year. These 200 sets of second-hand desks and chairs Read more
An Australian of Samoan descent has been ordained in the first ordination ceremony conducted by the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer since the traditionalist group reconciled with Rome. Father Magdala Maria and a fellow member of the group, Father Yousef Marie, were ordained in Rome alongside Father Massimo Botta of the Priestly Fraternity of Read more
A member of the Samoa Fa’afafine (Transvestite) Association (SFA) says they do not support gay marriage. “People always assume us to be that and this and I’m sure they (people) already thought we are celebrating together with the New Zealand gay community, when we are not,” said Tania Pulotu. So’oalo Roger Stanley, Samoa Fa’afafine Association Read more
People flocked to St Peter’s Square earlier today in anticipation of yet another huge crowd, for Pope Francis’ Inauguration Mass, among them were pilgrims from New Zealand and the South Pacific. At 10pm the streets were blocked and cafes and restaurants were closed, leaving just security personnel, who shared food and coffee with a handful of Read more