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Home > Our People > Nuns (Sisters)
News From Wallis-Futuna
2nd April, 2004
Peace of Christ!
Dear brothers and sisters in Carmel,
Manuia te Pasikate! We all wish you a Blessed Easter.
Since I last wrote, there are a few small events to recount that
were important to us. The first was on 5th January, when we were
in the path of cyclone ‘Heta’. She kindly made a detour
as she came near us and we only experienced the tail end of her
fury. The people here attributed this to the prayers of the ‘monike’.
We hope that when the next cyclone approaches, the Lord of the
wind and the sea will help us to live up to our reputation. |
Carmelites, B. P. 112 Mata-Utu, 98600 Wallis-Futuna. |
Early in January we were allotted a postal box, which ensures that our
mail arrives safely, even though still very slowly. See address above.
St Joseph has not failed our trust in his competence as Master Builder.
The building material from Brisbane arrived early in December as planned.
There were five containers altogether. Students on holiday volunteered
to help the builders unload the containers at the building site. The
Customs tax was high and duly paid. However, at a meeting on 26th February,
it was decided to reduce the amount by 50%. We hope they will do the
same when the next shipment arrives. Thank you, St Joseph!
Despite delays caused by heavy rainfall, our monastery is now up to
floor level. A retaining wall had to be built on the west and north side
of the actual building site, as the soil was being washed down the slope
of the land at an alarming rate. This wall was built by voluntary workers
from the different villages under the guidance of Father Lafaele Tevaga
and Father Amasio. The villages are still taking turns at providing food
for the builders, material, and voluntary labour in the way of clearing
the land near the boundaries, as well as helping the team of builders.
This is the custom in Wallis and Futuna when a church is being built.
About once a month some of us go to Holo to see the progress of the
work. On 7th March, the six of us went to bury a small jar of relics,
medals etc. in the foundation of the church. Richard Meredith, our architect
and builder, mixed the cement and covered the precious jar and his own
plaque of Our Lady. On our last visit we noticed how the work had gone
ahead speedily with the help of our heavenly friends. Richard visits
us regularly to tell us of the progress of the work and to discuss the
plan with us.
We have had a quiet Lent. Through the kindness of our sisters in Christchurch
Carmel we have a set of framed pictures for the Stations of the Cross.
They were erected in our small chapel early in February. Yesterday, from
our garden, we witnessed an outdoor Way of the Cross by the two hundred
school children and their teachers in the school grounds. All stood in
a wide circle whilst a small group with a large wooden cross acted each
Station. It was very moving.
Since January we have been able to support ourselves with work: baking
Hosts, painting pictures, making coconut shrines and other handicrafts.
This week we received a large order for vestments. We are pleased to
have this order, even though we are rather cramped for space at present.
Through the generosity of our sisters in Samoa, as well as of Des Krone,
a Samoan builder whom we have known for years, we now have a computer,
which will make communication much easier and cheaper for us. Des has
worked with Richard on the plan of our monastery from the early stages.
He is in regular contact with us by fax, which is not always satisfactory
here.
May the joy of Our Lady and the Apostles when they saw Our Risen Lord
be yours at
Easter and may your hearts be filled with renewed hope and love.
Your grateful sisters in the Carmel of St Therese.
Carmel de Ste Thérèse, Wallis
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