Sisters From City Found New Monastery In Samoa

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28937, 3 July 1959, Page 2

Sisters From City Found New Monastery In Samoa

Seven sisters of the Roman Catholic Order of Carmelites left their Christchurch monastery, Halswell road, to found a new monastery in Apia, Western Samoa, earlier thiq year.. They Went at the invitation of the vicar apostolic of Samoa and Tokelau (the Most Rev. G. H. Pearce) This foundation, made possible through the generosity of benefactors, marks the advent of Carmelite sisters in the Pacific Islands. Writing to New Zealand, the sistets tell something of their experiences For some sisters it was the first trip away from the monastery since their arrival in Christchurch 26 years ago. On the flight to Samoa, the band of sisters stopped briefly in Fiji. “Two Marist sisters met us in Nandi and brought us to their little convent,” wrote one sister. “It was very poor, but solidly built and spotlessly clean, and we loved the pervading air of simplicity. There we had our first island meal consisting of pawpaws, bananas and a slice of water melon.” ,

High Honour From Nandi the sisters left for Suva in a 16-seater plane which had only started its career a week or so before. Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny met them there, and the vicar apostolic of Fiji (the Most Rev. V. Foley) awaited the sisters in his rooms where there was a short but solemn ceremony when a Fijian chief presented the superior (Rev. Mother Anne of Jesus) with the whale’s tooth—the highest mark of honour paid to a visitor and seldom given to a woman and then only to a queen. “The trip tb Samoa by seaplane was wonderful,” the sister wrote. “Clergy and natives lined the quay to meet us. We were met by a launch which took us to the little jetty especially decorated for the occasion. Everywhere we have passed there have been archways colourfully decorated with native flowers and greenery with the word ‘welcome’ written in large letters. “There were about 300 people there to meet us as well as all but one of the 25 priests in the vicarate and many of the sisters. The missionaries are French, French-Canadian, Irish, American, Samoan, German, and there are four New Zealanders. The sisters too belong to the same nations and there is hardly anyone who speaks the Queen’s English. The French and German priests and sisters find it easier. to express themselves in Samoan, and we have been trying to learn as many words as we can of the Samoan tongue.” From Apia the sisters travelled 10 miles to the convent at Leulumoga for a reception, and later came the traditional Samoan welcome at the church. “Made from white coral, the church of St. Anne is like a cathedral with lovely stained glass windows. “We went to the church in procession preceded ,by the Bishop, priests and catechists. There were seven prie-dieux for us while the rest of the people squatted on the matted floors. As we entered, the choir of catechists from Moamoa began singing.

Samoan Singing “Everyone sings in Samoa and the harmony is beautiful. Singing and dancing come naturally to the children right from the cradle. The choir is led by a catechist who was trained by a German priest and its Georgian chant is really worth listening to. They have no organ accompaniment because they don’t need it.

“The Bishop gave a short address welcoming us to Samoa, and i in a longer address to the Samoans in their native tongue he gave the history of our order as the Samoans are fond of hearing the genealogy of families. It was a warm day and we had to use our handkerchiefs often to

wipe our foreheads. However, we felt less mortified when we noticed hardened missionaries who had been here for up to 50 years do the same. The women used their fans to create a little breeze and thoughtfully shaded us with umbrellas. Kava Ceremony “The climax of the ceremony was the drinking of kava. This function was held outside in the church grounds. Chiefs made speeches and there were long, polite discussions as to who was to speak next. Of course everyone knew beforehand, but the Samoans are very particular about their etiquette. While the speeches were in progress the village taupou (virgin) mixed the kava. The root of the kava tree is pounded and the juice extracted. “The Bishop told us that it was sufficient to touch the cup if we didn’t want to drink the kava, but added that it would please the people if we could manage it. 'This will be your first penance here, sisters,’ a priest said. But the kava wasn’t so bad. It has a peppery taste, is not intoxicating, and some of the missionaries find it very refreshing. “When Mother drank her cup down without a blink they certainly showed their appreciation and gave her a great clap, happy that she had adapted herself so well to this first and important Samoan custom. Each of us had our drink in turn and received applause for the effort. We had to take the cup with both hands from a native who slid up on his lava spinning the cup to each of us.

“After this kava ceremony came seemingly endless handshaking. We felt like the Royal Family as they all filed past and shyly shook our hands” The sisters are now in their temporary monastery in Alpeita, 40 miles from Apia. They have already inspected possible sites for the permanent monastery on the hill at Apia.