Savai’i, Samoa, 26 October 2016 -- Today is a big day for Savai’i. The grand opening of Fr Elio Proietto hall in Don Bosco College and Vocational Centre of Salelologa.
Savaiʻi is the largest (area 1700 km2) and highest (Mt Silisili at 1,858 m) island in Samoa and the Samoa Islands chain. The island is the fifth largest in Polynesia, behind the two main islands of New Zealand and the Hawaiian Islands of Hawaii and Maui.
The island of Savai'i is also referred to by Samoans as Salafai, a classical Samoan term used in oratory and prose. The island is home to 43,142 people (2006 Census) who make up 24% of the country's population.
This is my first visit to Savai’i to Salelologa College and Vocational Technical Centre where Salesians work for young people in this island. This visit is marked with the important event which is the Grand opening of the Salelologa Hall named after the first Salesian, Fr Elio Proietto who arrived there in 1981 and laid the solid and good foundation for Salesian works in Samoa and Pacific Islands.
From the earlier morning the Salesian Community, the parish of St Francis de Sale and the Salelologa Colle and Vocational Centre are ready to welcome guests, students and local people who gather to mark this special event of Savai’i Island. Today they welcome the Archbishop Alapati Lui Mataeliga, archbishop of Apia Samoa, the Minister of Education Mr Loau Keneti, representative of the Prime Minister Lupesoliai Malielegaoi Tuilaepa Sailele who can’t come in the last minutes and the Minister of Finance: Mr Sili Epa, the Australian High Commissioner Ms Sue Langford and many other guests.
At 9.30am there were 1000 people: students, parents, staff and guests arrived and settled for ready of the ceremonies. Fr Visesio Muliaga, Rector of the Salelologa community welcomes the VIP and guests and then invites the Archbishop Alapati to pray and bless the Hall. In the introduction of the prayer, Archbishop reminds everybody that we are the living stones of the building and today marks another important events of Salesians of Don Bosco work in Savai’I and in Samoa. Archbishop thanks Fr Mosese and his confreres for the untiring works for the young people.
Mr Sili Epa, Minister of Finance cuts the ribbon then all are invited into the hall. The Minister of Education Mr Loau Keneti, representative of the Prime Minister delivers his speech following the speech of Fr Anthony Nguyen, representative of Fr Greg Chambers, Provincial of Australia and Pacific.
This is the speech of Fr Anthony Quang SDB:
Very Rev Archbishop Alapati,
Minister of Education Mr Loau Keneti, representative of the Prime Minister
Minister of Finance Mr Epa
Australian High Commissioner Ms Sue Langford
Fr Petello, Delegate of the Pacific from next year
Dear Fathers, Sisters and Brothers, Distinguished guests and friends
It is a great honour for me to be with you all here today to mark an important event for Don Bosco College and Vocational Centre, Salelologa and your community.
One proverb says: “If you dream alone, the dream is hard to become reality but when you dream together the reality is coming true”!
200 years ago Don Bosco had a dream about the young people and Salesians in Australia and Pacific islands.
The Salesians arrived in Samoa in 1981 at the request of Cardinal Pio Taofinuu, Archbishop Samoa and Tokelou. Fr Elio Proietto first worked in a parish on the island of Savaii. The Salesians were then entrusted with responsibility for Moamoa Theological College, which they continued to administer until 2004. Other works were soon established including Don Bosco Technical Centre, Alafua (1988), St John Bosco Parish, Sinamoga (1987) and St Michael’s Parish, Leauva’a (1992).
The Salesians are now in Savaii in the parish of St. Francis de Sales and have opened a new high school and vocational centre. During 2010 and 2011 the Salelologa Don Bosco College was built by Fr Mosese Tui. Fr Mosese created a miracle! He turned the jungle and rocky areas into the beautiful school here today.
He is hard working man who received much help and assistance from parishioners, friends and many overseas benefactors. These benefactors came from Australia, Germany, Italy and the United States of America.
In May 2015 Samoa was visited by our new Rector Major. Fr Angel Artime.
He promised Fr Mosese that he would help to raise funds to build a new school hall and the name is Fr Elio Proietto hall to honour and remember him. I have privileged to live with him in the last 8 years of his life. He was quite even he could not travel to visit Samoa before he died but Samoa was always in his heart and in his prayers. I am sure that in heaven he looks down to us and asks the Lord to bless us all.
The whole project of the hall was budgeted to cost €573,378.00 or WST$1,595,700.00. The Rector Major arranged for funds amounting to €350,000.00 or WST$974,050.00 to be provided from Don Bosco Mission in Turin, Italy and the Salesian Mission in Madrid, Spain. Fr Mosese and the local school community decided that they would undertake another fund-raising walk around the island of Savai’i. This raised €39,350.00 or WST $109,510.9. The Australia - Pacific Province provided the balance of fund of€185,678.00 or WST$516,731.00 to ensure the project was completed.
On behalf of Fr Greg Chambers, Provincial of the Australia – Pacific Province I would like to thank our Rector Major and our overseas friends and supporters.
The support of the local people of Savai’i have helped to make this dream come true!
Congratulations to Fr Petelo Vito Pau, the new Delegate from next year and particularly to Fr Mosese Tui, Principal and Parish Priest and Fr Visesio Tovia Rector of the community here for their untiring commitment to work for the young according to John Bosco’s charism and spirit.
In the name of Don Bosco and our Provincial Fr Greg Chambers I would like to congratulate Fr Mosese and the college for the Grand Opening of the Hall today.
After the speeches, the students of Salelologa College and Vocational Centre present some entertainment items with dances and songs before Fr Mosese, Principal of the College presents some gifts to VIP and thanks ever body who involved in this special event. The ceremony is followed by big lunch provided by the school staff and parents.
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