Celebrating 100 Years of Life and 80 Years of Missionary Service

By Esther Yvonne Atonio/

Apia, SAMOA – 9 April 2026 – Sister Malia Tolotea Tauaifaga, who serves in the Missionary Sisters of Society of Mary (SMSM), celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday, 8 April 2026. It was the celebration of a milestone that marked 80 years of dedicated service as a missionary in the Catholic order of the Missionary Sisters of Mary. Her long and faithful journey in the mission embodies her lifelong commitment and devotion to her calling.

Sister Malia Tolotea celebrated her life’s journey at the Elders SMSM’s residence at Vailoa that began with a thanksgiving Mass conducted by Archbishop Mosese Vitolio Tui.

Sister Malia Tolotea was born on 4 April 1926 at Leauvaa village. She is the daughter of the late Tauaifaga Laumua Lafaele Tevaga Malaeulu Musu and Vete Akata Setiu. She was the eighth in a family of 10 siblings with 2 sisters and 8 bothers.

During the celebration, Sister Maria’s niece, Tina Mauga Lauano, who takes care of Sister Malia in her twilight years, shared their family’s connection to Sister Malia and her journey over the years.

Tina expressed that Sister Malia has done a lot for their family, especially in raising her siblings’ children. Sister Malia was a kind-hearted person who made things such as ice cakes to sell to help pay for their school fees especially at a time when their family was not financially stable and mostly relied on their land and plantation for survival.

Tina also shared that Sister Malia’s interest in missionary work started when she attended sewing lessons taught by missionary sisters from France who were posted at Leauvaa and was close to the older missionary sisters. Assisting the sisters with various chores and sent by her parents to send food for the French missionaries, it was during this time that Sister Malia was inspired and led to her choice to become a missionary sister.

Sr. Pelenatete Peni served as the representative of the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary (SMSM), shared about when Sister Maria Tolotea first joined the missionary work.

“When Sister Malia was about 17 or 18 years old, she told the missionaries she wanted to become a sister in our community.

“On 12 September 1946, she took her first step by making her religious profession. A few days later, on 20 September 1946, she was officially called a missionary sister. In 1952, at age 26, she took her final vows and became an official missionary sister of our community,” said Sr. Pelenatete.

At 100 years old, Sister Malia shared with clarity some of her experiences as a missionary sister, talking about what she has learned along the way. She then challenged parents to encourage their children to become missionaries of the faith and follow God’s call.

“I first served as a missionary in Safotu, then in Falealupo Savaii. I also served in Tonga, which was challenging because of the language, but I loved helping the poor and serving church leaders. I encourage parents to support their children in service of God and the church – Ofo le ola mo le Ali’i,” Sr Malia said.

“I thank Archbishop Mosese for celebrating the mass for me, and I also appreciated all the priests, deacons and their ladies, relatives, and my loved ones for joining us.

“A special thanks to my community, the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary (SMSM), for supporting me along the way and having my back. The rosary of Mother Mary and prayer were my strength during my journey. I dedicate everything to God.”

At 100, Sister Malia is the oldest missionary currently living at the residence for the retired missionaries of the Society of Mary at Vailoa.