Saleleloga Don Bosco

By Fr. Nuku Lefai, SDB

Savaii island, Samoa, 11 May 2019 -- It was a beautiful but drizzling day of May in 2015 when the successor of Don Bosco touched down for the first time on the island of Savaii in Samoa. You may admire the smiling photo on the cover the Salesian Bulletin (Australia Pacific, edition Winter 2015) also today. However, in 2015, the only place to gather the whole 200 students and teachers assembly was not enough under the assembly hall. All performing dance students got quite wet and the Salesians pleaded for help with the construction of the school hall.

Thanks to the generosity of many benefactors channeled through the Rector Major, in two years time the Saleleloga Don Bosco 'Memorial Hall of Fr Elio Proietto' (named after the first SDB missionary in Samoa) is proudly serving many youth and local society. The simple, functional and beautiful hall is also contributing to the the self-sustainability of the school with many events held in it. Even during the upcoming Pacific Games 2019 (July 7-20) to be held in Samoa, the boxing events will be in our school hall at Saleleloga.

At present, the Salesian community of five members (Rector Fr Visesio Tovia) is at the heart of the wonderful mission serving the 225 students of Don Bosco College & Vocational Centre with another 22 lay mission partners, as well animating the St Francis de Sales parish community stretching over three villages near the school (Saleleloga, Iva and Salelavalu). We pray that the youngest Salesian work in Samoa will grow in quality and in vocations!

Related article

• AustraLasia 3611: Go into deep sea (RM's visit to Samoa-Saleleloga)
• 2019 Samoa Pacific Games (venues)

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