Today, we dedicate and commemorate the 160th anniversary of the
Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary (SMSM) in Samoa. This is a significant historical milestone of our time.
In the spirit of today’s celebration we remember the first arrival in Samoa of the pioneers on 6 June 1864 – Sr Marie Rose and Sr Marie de la Merci and later Sr Marie De la Misericorde and the unfolding story of the presence and ministry that set up the Savalalo convent and school.
We further remember our many Sisters from different parts of the world who gave their lives in the service of God and the Samoan people in the ensuring 160 years.
This was the beginning of the presence and mission of the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary (SMSM) in Samoa, American Samoa, Tokelau and Hawaii.
We reminisce on the journey and bear witness to the legacy that continues in the institutions and missionary services at –
1. SMSM St Mary’s College, Vaimoso
2. SMSM St Mary’s Primary, Savalalo
3. SMSM Retirement Home, Vailoa Faleata,
4. 1 SMSM volunteer work at Samoa Victim Support Group;
5. In American Samoa – 2 SMSM working in the Diocese of Pago Pago.
This is a testament of the fuller and deeper encounter of the dedication and spirit of SMSM in education and community well-being. We acknowledge today –
• The SMSM Sisters who worked in Samoa and are now living in their own countries;
• The Samoan Sisters serving in other countries;
• Many lay teachers and volunteers, local and overseas, who taught at various SMSM schools;
• SMOGA (Saint Mary’s Old Girls Association), thousands of ex-pupils residing in many parts of the world;
• Parents, Benefactors, Friends, and loyal supporters of our missionary works;
• The Marist family, priests, Brothers and the Third Order of Mary.
Our profound hope is that the same spirit lived by the valiant pioneers will be prolonged into the future, beyond these 160 years, so that the flame lit by them, may continue to burn brightly.
With hearts full of gratitude, we celebrate the divine guidance. In looking to the future, we trust that with God’s grace, we can persevere with renewed commitment. Where we anticipate challenges, let faith guide the journey ahead.
I applaud the foresight and belief to succeed and the faith that achieved it in the midst of all animosities. Today we witness the success of the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary (SMSM) in Samoa.
May the legacy continue to live in the hearts and spirits of generations to come.
Soifua ma ia manuia.
_______________________________________________________________________
Saunoaga a le Palemia Afioga Fiame Naomi Mataafa i le fa’ailogaina o le 160 Tausaga o le Tamaita’i Sa Ituaiga SMSM (Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary) i Samoa 7 Iuni, 2024
Lau Susuga i le Taitai o le Sauniga – Lau Afioga Patele Mikaele Matafā
Lau Afioga i le Masiofo, Faamausili Leinafo Tuimalealiifano Sualauvi II – Faatinā o le SMOGA
Lau afioga i le Sui Palemia ma Minisita o le Kapeneta
Le nofo ā Tamaitai Sa i le Ituaiga o le Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary i SAMOA
Lau afioga i le Peresetene ma le Laulau a le SMOGA ma le Komiti Faafoe o le Faamanatuina o le 160 tausaga
Le paia o Samoa ua potopoto
Ou te faatulou atu
O faiva e a’e manuia, o faiva na tapuaia. E sasa’a faaoti ma faasoa lona sosia e faasopolia ai se Nu’u po o se aiga, ma e manatua pea.
Ua tatou fa’atasi i lenei taeao e fa’amanatu le 160 tausaga talu ona amata galuega a Tamaita’i Sa o le Ituaiga SMSM (Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary) i Samoa. O se matati’a tāua lenei i lo tatou vaitaimi.
I le fa’ailogaina o le fa’amoemoe, tatou te manatua ai le taunuu mai i Samoa o Tamaita’i Sa sa mua i malae ma fa’avaeina le A’oga ma le
galuega i Savalalo i le aso 6 Iuni 1864. O Sister Marie Rose ma Sister
Marie de la Merci sa amataina ona fa’aauau ai lea e Sister Marie De la Misericorde.
E manatua foi Tamaita’i Sa uma mai vaega eseese o le lalolagisa tu’uina mai lo latou soifua e tautua i le galuega a le Atua ma tagata nu’u o Samoa i lenei 160 tausaga.
O le amataga lea o le galuega ma le valaauina o Tamaita’i Sa o le Ituga SMSM i Samoa, Tutuila, Tokelau ma Hawaii.
Ua tatou fesilafa’i i lenei fa’amoemoe ma le agaga ua tumu i le loto
fa’afetai ona o le alofa tunoa o le Atua (God’s grace) na ta’ita’ia le
faigamalaga. Ua momoli mai le feau mo tatou, ia fa’apea ona tumau le tautinoga ma le loto fa’afouina, e gafatia mea uma i le fa’atuatua.
O lenei taeao ua molimau ai le tautua atoatoa ma le loloto, i le agaga tu’uatoa i tulaga i a’oa’oga ma le manuia lautele o tagata aemaise o galuega fa’amisiona (missionary services) na amatalia e Tamaita’i Sa e pei ona iai nei le –
1. Kolisi o Sagata Maria i Vaimoso (SMSM St Mary’s College, Vaimoso)
2. A’oga Tulagalua o Sagata Maria i Savalalo (SMSM St Mary’s Primary, Savalalo)
3. Nofoaga ale SMSM mo tamā ma tinā matutua (SMSM Retirement
Home) i Vailoa Faleata
4. Tasi (1) le sui o le SMSM o loo ofoina atu lana tautua i le SVSG
(volunteer worker);
5. E toalua (2) sui o le SMSM o lo’o galulue i le Diocese o PagoPago.
E manatua i lenei aso –
• Ituaiga o Tama’ita’i Sa (SMSM) na galulue i Samoa ma ua toe taliu ma aumau i o latou atunu’u;
• Ituaiga o Tama’ita’i Sa (SMSM) o lo’o galulue ma tautua i isi atunu’u;
• Le to’atele o i latou sa galulue i totonu o a’oa’oga o Ituaiga o Tama’ita’i Sa o le SMSM e pei o faiaoga, i latou sa galulue e ofo fua le auaunaga (volunteers) i Samoa ma atunu’u e mamao;
• Teine tuai o Sagata Maria ma le to’atele o tamaita’i sa a’otauina e
Tamai’ta’i Sa o le SMSM o lo’o alala i tafa e fia o le lalolagi;
• O matua, uo ma paaga i galuega fa’a-misionare a le SMSM.
O le naunautaiga ma le fa’amoemoe ia aualiitia i tatou i le agaga sa
ta’ita’iina le loto-toa o ē na asaina le gasū o le taeao ina ia fa’aauau mo nisi tausaga o i luma. Ia fou mai ni tupulaga e fa’aola pea le mūmū o le lamepa ia ola le feau o le galuega. Ma ia tau’i pea le galuega i le anava a le Faalapotopotoga ‘e vivii o tatou loto i le Atua’.
Ou te fa’afetaia le tōfā mamao ma le talitonuga e manuia le fa’amoemoe e ui ina lotolotoi fa’afitauli ma lu’itau i le faigamalaga. Ua fai i tatou ma molimau o le fa’amoemoe ua taunu’u manuia o le galuega a Ituaiga o Tama’ita’i Sa (SMSM) i Samoa. .
Ia manuia le fa’amanatuina o le 160 tausaga o le Ituaiga o Tama’ita’i
Sa (SMSM) i Samoa. Ia apelepelea e le agaga o le Atua le fa’amoemoe.
Soifua ma ia manuia.
Ata Pu’eina: Mālō Samoa [Nanai Laveitiga Tuiletufuga l Pesetā Tusiga Taofiga]
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