| Background: I was raised by Mo’unga Siua of Pea, Tongatapu and Lei Veimau Siua of Lapaha, Tongatapu. I have 5 siblings which makes me the only boy and second to the youngest. I was born and raised in Petesa, American Samoa and moved to Tonga in 2007. I attended elementary school at Marist St. Francis in Lepua, American Samoa then finished up with high school in Tonga at Tonga High School. After high school I worked on the Big Island in Hawai’i before joining the Sacred Hearts Community. When did you first think that God might be calling you to be a priest? I felt this calling to priesthood when I was a child and did not really understand it more until I got older. During high school, my desire to join the priesthood still whispered in my ears so I accepted the call after high school and joined the SS.CC. Community. Why did you choose the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts? Choosing the Sacred Hearts was quite interesting. I was attracted by the habit when they came to Tonga. It as the first time for me to see a religious community with this type of habit and wearing it around even in downtown Nuku’alofa. So, I started research about the Sacred Hearts, and I learned more about it when I moved to Hawai’i, with all of the interesting stories of their mission work in Hawai’i. Learning more about the Saint of the Community quite inspired me with the life that he had chosen to serve the leprosy colony in Moloka’i. I chose the Sacred Hearts for how rich its Charism, but mostly with a focus on living and proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. Favorite hobbies and/or fun fact about yourself: Socialize with the people. Don’t take any jokes seriously because we love to joke a lot here in the South Pacific. Favorite Bible passage: 1 John 2:15 "Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." Your favorite saint: Mother Teresa/ Damien I am amazed how Damien’s life had contribute to the service for the poor as was done by Mother Teresa of Calcutta. |
