Balmoral – Good Shepherd

History of the Samoan Community               View photos here >

The Balmoral Samoan Community, formerly known as the Mt Eden Samoan Community, began their journey at St Benedict Parish in the year 1964.
In 1978, the Mt Eden Samoan Community were one of four communities to start a Sunday school within the Samoan Chaplaincy, with the purpose of teaching the message of God and the principles of the Catholic Faith; and to improve the language of Fa’asamoa and cultural understanding. As St Benedict Parish did not have the facilities to cater for the Sunday school, the community used the facilities at the Good Shepherd Parish. In 1984, the Ekalesia made Good Shepherd Parish their new home and became the first ethnic group in the Parish.
Due to the location of the Good Shepherd Parish, the Samoan Community officially changed their name to Balmoral in 2003. The Samoan Community has worked well together with other Communities and has continued to assist the Parish and local community.
The Samoan Community is currently led by time-honoured member, President Fesola’ai Sauni Lavea. Over the years, Lavea, his predecessors and their officers visited many Samoan families, inviting them to join the Community or become part of the Parish. His current officers are Vice President Tutuila Chadwick, Secretary Pelenatete Siufaga and Treasurer Ana Esera.
Since the founding of our community, each and every President has had a vision for the community, with each leaving their successors a legacy of vision and unity. The following is a list of Presidents who have left behind a piece of their history for our future:

– Malota Williams
– Patū
– Maulolo Maulolo
– Sefo Salafai
– Paseta Masae
– Sio Fata
– Muliagatele Iosefo
– Mulipola To’o
– Vaipou Tovio
– Ili Taualai
– Peter Asi Pa’u (2005-2008)
– Tutuila Chadwick (2009-2010)
– Fesola’ai Sauni Lavea (2011-present)

President Lavea is the longest serving President of the Community, being elected to the role for three different terms, serving more than two years each. Before that, he was also President of the Mt Eden Youth and President of the Mt Eden Sunday School, respectively. President Lavea inspires the young in our Parish community, to wholeheartedly commit and serve God and the church.
There are several groups within the Samoan Community that have contributed to its continuity.
The Sunday School has been active for 27 years and is currently led by President Luafitu Ikenasio. Her officers are Vice President Paul Pua, Secretary Telesia Esera and Treasurer Weekend Esera. School is held every Sunday, starting 8:15am, before the 9:30am mass. Whether it is a hot summer day or a cold winter morning, our students always commit themselves to attending their classes to learn more about God and the Catholic society.
The Community’s Choir was established in 1985, following their move to Good Shepherd Parish, when the then-Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Leo Doyle asked the parish to form choirs to sponsor each Sunday mass. The choir currently sponsors every third Sunday mass of the month. Over the years, the Choir has been blessed with many talented pianists and Choir Masters, with the likes of the late Sala Atonio Mulipola, Rasela Tauili’ili and, currently, Falaniko Ikenasio. The Choir have sung at weddings, funerals and birthdays and have also visited and organised small liturgies for the sick within the Community and Parish in hospital or at home. The Choir is led by President Tutuila Chadwick alongside Vice President Paul Pua, Secretary Maelega Esera and Treasurer Bernadette Siufaga.
The Ekalesia also has a Youth Group to cater for the increasing number of youths within the community. In 2008, the Youth experienced great heights when former leader, the late Nive Schwenke, was elected Treasurer of the Chaplaincy Youth Group. In 2015, the parents and youth of the community unanimously voted to temporarily discontinue the group for the year, as it recruits more families to join the Ekalesia.
Balmoral is very active in the Good Shepherd Parish, participating in parish liturgies, events and projects. Most recently, our Parish celebrated its Centenary, where our Ekalesia were asked to do the offertory, the Samoan way. This was one of our greatest moments in showing pride in our culture.
Tutuila Chadwick is the community’s representative in the Parish Pastoral Council and is a member of the Liturgy Committee and Caring Committee, while Paul Pua is the community’s representative in the Parish Finance Committee and is a member of the Liturgy Committee and the Youth Ministry, serving as the Ministry’s Communications Officer. Any reports from the Council and Malaeola are discussed at our monthly meeting every forth Sunday.
The community are scheduled monthly to clean the church and provide flowers for the altar and other statues. This job is shared amongst the communities of our Parish. Many members of the Ekalesia have taken roles in the liturgy as Minister of the Word (Lectors), Minister of the Eucharist (Extraordinary Ministers) and altar servers.
Our community are extremely proud of their history and are always active to serve the Parish and to serve God.

 

 Tutuila Chadwick 

Tutuila Chadwick our Vice President