Education
Oldest Surviving MBOPA Member Urges Younger Marists to Uphold its Legacy
By Staff Reporters/
Apia, Samoa – 01 August 2024 – The Marist Brothers Old Pupils Association (MBOPA) oldest surviving member, 97 year old Sapa’u Lilomaiava Vitale has one wish for the Association as it celebrates its 100 years this week. That is for the younger generations of Marists to uphold the Associations legacy.
Founded by the Marist Brothers in 1924, their schools and colleges had nurtured and produced many of Samoa’s leaders in all walks of life; from politics, to business, church and spiritual life, sports, law, agriculture, health, education, to family matais and village leaders.
Sapa’u, is a former Member of Parliament after serving as a police officer for forty years and was a well-known rugby player and sports enthusiast.
Participating at 100th celebrations parade alongside Beach Road on Tuesday, Sapa’u encouraged the younger members to remain in unity as an Association where their caring attitude is the backbone to the continuous success of the Marist and St. Joseph’s schools.
It took a while for him to respond when asked for his thoughts about the celebrations and MBOPA’s future.
The Marist Spirit
The well-respected heart and soul of the “Marist spirit” is that all old or former students are equal; and despite their positions be they Prime Minister, Judge or teacher, they are all the same when they enter the Marist grounds as former students.
It is the spirit that drives unity for a common purpose and whoever has been chosen to lead the Association, gets the respect and support of all its members.
As a social platform for the former students to socialize, Sapa’u has his advice. He took off his sunglasses, smiled broadly and speaking very slowly said, “E le o se asosi e omai na o le taumafa ava, talitalie ia ma faitatala, ae tele le fesoasoani a le asosi mo matou, aemaise matou mai kuapeki.” “It’s not a place to gather and drink alcohol, laugh and talk rumours, but a pace where we help each other and we’ve had a lot of help especially for us from the rural villages,” said Sapa’u.
He could not remember the years he attended Marist schools but he spoke well of the support and care rendered them by the MBOPA members then.
He said at their time, it was not easy for them from the rural villages and they would frequently come late as they resort to walking if there was no bus or other available transport.
“And the fear of being late is less compared to the fear of not knowing what and how to respond in English if questioned by the Brother,” said Sapa’u.
“Tele matou fa’afitauli, pei ole tau sailia o auala e omai ai i le aoga……ia ae a tuai mai, ua fefe i nanu mai le felea ae leiloa tali.”
The Marist Spirit among the old and the young. Sapa’u Lolesio, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi and Tuatagaloa As Blakelock dancing the taualuga with current MOBPA President Tuatagaloa Ming Leung Wai joining in.
Former Head of State and former Prime Minister, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi is the grandson of MBOPA’s first President, Taisi Olaf Nelson.
He, like other elderly members were excited to be part of the 100th anniversary celebrations and this was evident not only in their presence but by their response to the activities.
“MOPA has come a long way and has made a significant impact on the development of Catholic schools and also the country, and I pray this legacy will continue on by the young people of the association,” he said.
Former Police Commissioner Tuatagaloa Asi Blakelock is one proud Marist.
In his eighties, Tuatagaloa said during his tenure as a police officer and Commissioner, it saddened him when a Marist member is involved in any criminal activity and he tried to avoid any contact with that person.
“E oso lo’u ita ona e leai se agaga Malisi.”
“It made me angry as that is not the Marist spirit,” said Tuatagaloa.
When the taualuga was called to close the opening ceremony in-front of the government building on Tuesday morning, Tui Atua and Sapa’u were the first to stand up and started dancing. In response, the others in the crowd instantly joined in, in a warm and cheerful spirit of comraderies as embodied in the Marist Spirit.
Both Tui Atua, Sapa’u and other senior members of the association were honoured by MBOPA in past celebrations and MBOPA will again honour some of its members on the Awards Ceremony on Saturday night.
The Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour, Leota Laki Sio joining the senior members in the taualuga.