The OLSH Sisters have been working in Kiribati for a long time. They are a province - but one which has expanded. Here are some stories and photos.
Hopes for missionaries to South Africa
In Africa, we are in South Africa, Angola, Congo, Cameroun, Senegal, Burkina Faso and South Sudan, the newest country of Africa. Africa is a huge continent and still needs more missionaries. We have two ready to go this year to South Africa but because of the Corona Virus, they get stuck here in Fiji. They are Srs Fualosa and Aren.
Foundation in Samoa – Falefa Village 21.10.15
It was at the final profession of our second Sister from Samoa, Sr Vita Anitelea that Archbishop Alapati of Samoa first got to know our Congregation and he invited our Sisters to work in his archdiocese. He gave us St Peters primary school in the village of Falefa to look after.
The Province sent 4 Sisters, 3 Kiribati Sisters. They are Sr Tokataake Raoboia from Marakei, Sr Monika Tiaon from Nonouti and Sr Teraen Beeta from Nikunau and the fourth is Sr Vita Anitelea from Samoa. The Sisters started their official work in January 2016.
Samoa is the first Polynesian island to be part of the province and Fiji, the first Melanesian island. Nauru, Marshall Is, and Kiribati are the Micronesian islands.
And the sisters' voices on the key challenge to Kiribati
The Sisters arrived at OLSH Convent Teaoraereke, Tarawa for the APA (Asia, Pacific, Australia) Conference on Monday 8th November. Sisters came from the Generalate, PNG, Indonesia, Philippines, Japan, Samoa, Marshall Islands and Australia joining the other local participating Kiribati sisters.
There was such a wonderful welcome, beautiful Opening Mass and a lovely meal, with lots of singing, dancing and laughs. This uplifting spirit was very evident throughout our time in Kiribati.
On Tuesday, the participants walked to MSC House where for the next eight days the presentations, discussions, group work and the APA meeting were held. The focus for the Conference was Climate Change. There were numerous people from Kiribati who presented topics connected with Climate Change, including; Creation and Science, Risk management and implementation of plans related to climate change in Kiribati and combating coastal erosion and ways of improving water resource management. We were challenged to think and see climate change as something real and happening now with some heart moving stories of how climate change is adversely effecting the Kiribati people’s way of life, livelihood, their security (including where they live) and access to fresh water etc.
The participants were taken to different places on Tarawa for us to see the eroding seawalls, contaminated fresh water wells, places where people had previously lived and are now covered by water and places where mangroves have been planted to try and protect the existing seawalls. The participants were eager to help in a practical way so a few mangrove planting excursions were organised.
