Lotofaga, Samoa, 25 July 2021 -- After 16 years of discernment and training for the priesthood, Fr Sinapati Ioane received the sacrament of Ordination at the hands of His Grace Alapati Lui Mataeliga on Saturday 10 July 2021.

All parishioners of St Joseph the Worker at Lotofaga and many friends witnessed the first ever priestly ordination ceremony held at their own church. Archbishop, Alapati Lui Mataeliga was the main celebrant together with the Delegate of the Salesian Delegation for the Pacific, Fr Petelo Vito Pau, and all Salesian priests, Diocesan priests and other religious orders participated in this great celebration. In his homily, the Archbishop emphasised “the calling to the priesthood, it is a call to holiness in order for the priest to make people holy in and through his ministry.”

The church was filled with family and friends of Fr Sinapati, together with members of the Salesian Family. Staff members attended to represent their respective schools in Alafua and Salelologa.

The following day was also full with almost the same people eager to hear and see Sinapati celebrate his first mass which he did very well and with confidence. His Rector preached a very impressive and amusing homily with a strong message: “We are not called to be famous or popular; but we are simply called to do the will of God.”

Fr Sinapati is now continuing his ministry as a priest at Salelologa; assisting at Don Bosco College and Vocational Technical Centre as well as helping at our Salesian parish. Congratulations to Fr Pati!

The whole Pacific Delegation (AUL) of Samoa, Fiji and New Zealand congratulates our new Salesian priest and wishes to live with the heart of Don Bosco for the benefit of the young people in the Pacific!