CATHOLIC MISSION AT THE NAVIGATOR ISLANDS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 140, 7 January 1876, Page 7

CATHOLIC MISSION AT THE NAVIGATOR ISLANDS.

We extract the following from ' The Missions Catholiques,' edited at Lagon, 17th September, 1875.

Samoa Isles (Central Oceanica). — Reverend Mr. Poupircl of the Society of Mary, has just communicated to us the followingletter addressed to him by his Lordship Mgr. Elloy. It is dated from Apia (Upola), the 22nd May, 1875. " The Tuscarora, an American man-of-war, has brought us back Colonel Steinberger, who had come two years ago to inquire into the resources of Samoa, and the disposition of its inhabitants. This time the representative of the United States returns to fix his residence amongst us. His mission is to direct the Samoan chiefs in the formation of a regular government. He will be its Prime Minister, not the Governor of the Islands. He does not _ bring to us annexation, not even a Protectorate, but a cordial Wpnienie. In the name of the powerful Republic, he will give a direction to our federal tribes of Samoa, This will have the effect of disarming and reuniting parties, and of quelling restless ambition. We had already a constitution much like that of the United States ; however our President will bear the name of king. This very day he has been elected, but for four years only. The elect is young Malietoa Laupepea. The family of Jupu, represented by Maafa will reign afterwards. The Tuscarora has saluted the new king with the xisual firing. This settlement secures to us the blessing of peace, and a regular government. It was time for the happiness of our poor Archipelago, still threatened with war on account of feuds and hostility of parties. Apia having become the Seat of Government, and numerous conversions having taken

place in this district in the course of the year, the consequence is that our Church at Apia is three times too small, and it is necessary to enlarge it immediately. The good Brother Vial has known how to draw to his English school all the children, white or halfcaste ; but his health has been enfeebled by the excess of labor.

The Protestant children who were boarders m his establishment

have all become Catholics. They were baptised on the day of Pentecost, to the number of ten, with their parents' consent. Among them were the three sons of Mr. Foster, the American Consul. Our College of Catechists already forms a village of forty persons. I admire the courage of the young men who devote themselves to commence that school. They have to cultivate the ground, and make a living the best way they can ; for the new plantations will not yield their fruit before four or five months. The work of instructing has begun, school is held twice a day, or rather once in the day and once at night. The scholars encroach upon hours of sleep to consecrate more time to manual labor. We trust God will bless this generous devotedness, and we shall be soon able to keep pace with the progress which we anticipate from the good disposition of the people. They dare not ask me any longer for priests, which I cannot procure for them — they know my distress ; but lam importuned with demands for catechists. We are occupied with building the chapel of that college, placed under the patronage of St. Joseph; with God's help it will be finished in five months. Good Father, from a simple enumeration you can judge of the work which we had to undertake, and of the consolingbenediction imparted by God to our ministry. Besides the church of St. Joseph, we are achieving the large and fine church of Palega. That of Laulu is far advanced ; yet at the time of your last visit to Samoa we had not a single Catholic in this village. The chapel of Vailele, destroyed by war, is rising out of its ruins, more beautiful than it was before. Another has been commenced at Jaleulu, where the principal chiefs are for its. Very soon we shall undertake the construction of a chapel at Malic, the native place of King Malietoa. Next Sunday I shall preside at the procession of the Blessed Sacrament at Lculumocga, and I shall open a mission of five weeks in that district, where the Rev. Father Dole exercises his holy ministry in so admirable a manner. He too has finished three chapels, all of good stone ; and he is about commencing two more in order that none of his tribes be unprovided with places of worship. Our fathers of Savai are not less ardently at work. Father Violette re-built two chapels at Iva and at Paga. Father Paugle has two in the course of construction at Satina and at Sapune, villages in which, till now, Catholics were not found. We are in a stage of renovation. The American representative said to me : ' You must have more priests, and you must extend as far as Savai.' We have no missions in the western part of that Island, where we reckon already more than 300 Christians. The Protestant minister who occupied this district, has left it because he has lost his wife. There is no appearance of his having a successor. The moment is favorable for action on our part. But where shall we find laborers for the Lord's vineyard? Al/le missionaries are overwhelmed with work. Ah ! when will the long expected assistance arrive ? The Commodore of the Tuscarora and his officers have been to visit our schools and hear the singing of our children ; they seemed to be well pleased. They have been extremely kind to us ; their friendship was so great that, on the invitation of the Commodore, I celebrated a solemn Mass on board the Tuscarora, being assisted by deacon and sub-deacon in full dress. After the gospel, a priest delivered a lecture, which was listened to with the most vivid attention by all on board : all, from the Commodore to the last sailor, assisted at mass. It was a real triumph for our new Christians, whose ears have been stunned with the repetition that the Catholic religion was that of the French alone, that it was scarcely known in England and Aiuei ica. At the beginning of the Mass the American flag was lowered, and instead of it there floated in the breeze a large standard adorned with the Cross. It meant clearly that the Cross is honored on board the Tuscarora, and that Jesus, the Redeemer of the World, was received at that moment with the honor and glory due to his divinity.