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Permalink Reply by Tiare Erekana on August 25, 2009 at 5:40pm

Mauri Reei ao ko rabwa nte discussion topic aei. Akea reitana irou ma ko rawa n taiaoka ni kaninganinga te National Archives ae irarikin am aobiti anne ... e mena ao iai copies of Te Rib'aeai ke tao ana Annual Magazine Tabwiroa n taai akekei ke tao te articles ... News papers n taai akekei aika a kawakinaki ikanne n rekereke ma Tabwiroa.

Permalink Reply by Reei Tioti on August 25, 2009 at 5:57pm

Mauri Tiare,

E raraba anne ao ngaia tao e bon maiti te nan articles irouia Tiina I Teaoraereke ao I taku naba ba iai taian Ribaeai Magazine ikekei ma Nna kataia ni kakaea au tai ae maawa ao I a kai check ma Sr Tiura ke Sr Margaret n raibaea aia boki...lol.. Iai ngkanne te article ae I warekia ae ana rongorongo temanna Te Tina are e tia reirei ngkoa I Tabwiroa n taai akanne..Ia post inano ikai ba kamwa kai warekia...

Permalink Reply by Reei Tioti on August 26, 2009 at 7:12pm

Extracted from the article on Foundations of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart - Gilberts:

1933 - 1939 - The South of Abaiang was evalised by Fr. Alexander Cochet who took up residence in 1903. He spent the next 15 years composing and printing of books in Gilbertese with the helo of Brother Etienne, besides having charge of a boys' school and a third of Abaiang as his parish. The printing press was later transferred to Buota and later to Tabwiroa where quite a lot of literature was printed. Book-binding was also done. Father Crochet died in 1918 and the school and printing press passed into the hands of Father Pouvreau. In 1927 at the wish of the new Vicar Apostolic - Bishop Bach, the school took on the form of a minor seminary where Gilbertese boys commenced training for the priesthoood. However, after some years of trial this venture was seen to be premature. Sisters Hermelande and Irenee arrived in 1933 to take charge of the domestic arrangements for the seminary. Besides the cooking and other household works these two sisters with the help of some women form the village, washed, mended and looked after all their clothes. When the Seminary was closed a priest still remainded at Buota but buildings etc. were transferred to Tabwiroa to begin a secondary boarding school for boys.

St. Joseph College, Tabwiroa - In 1939 the minor seminary was closed. The young men returned to their home islands and Brother Guatier (nephew of Sr. M. Hermelande) with a team of local young men, commenced levelling the property at Tabwiroa and erecting new buildings. At the end of 1939, I, Sr M. Helena, arrived at Tabwiroa in the very early hours of the morning on a barge loaded with timber, cement and all sorts of supplies. How very different from Tabwiroa nowadays! There was no large crucifix in the west to greet us. A sort of "bareaka" had been built, the main part closed in and locked for storing cargo - timber, cement, etc. brought from Tarawa by ships and barges. On the open part was the Mission Canoe.
At the west part of the road could be seen the ocean side, with a native building fairly close to the ocean side for the MSC. dining room. Tabwiroa at that time, had many small hills and holes for taro pits and banana pits. About half way along the road were a couple of native houses for workers. Then a little further along was the nearly completed Sisters' new Convent, the upstairs not yet finished. Just at the back of this convernt was a native building for the Sisters' dormitory. Already tehre from Buota were Sisters M. Hermelande and Irenee with Sr M. Jeanne d' Arc. This building was very primitive - a dirt floor, no wardrobes etc. To the west of this was another small native building divided into 3 where Sr M. Baptists had her sleeping, bathing quarters etc. To the west of this was another very small native structure with 3 sections. Sr M. Hermelande did a lot of gardening so all her picks, shovels etc. were in section one. The second section contained baskets of feathers etc. as Sr M. Irenee had charge of killing, plucking , and cleaning the fowls which were then given to Sr M. Jeanne d' Arc to be cooked. The third cubicle was bare so I used this one. Se M Hermelande besides gardening, washing, mending etc. the boys' clothes also looked after a number of pigs and fowls. The boys' were patched and repatched, so that oftern there were more patches than the original article. After some time the boys did their own washing, and looked after their own clothing. To the east of the native dormitory for the Sisters was a large cement tank, 2 small store rooms and alongside was the Sisters' dining room and kitchen. Cement and lime were used for these first buildings. Back on the road to the north was the boys’ dining room (cement and lime). Then a fairy large maneaba. The main two storey building (still standing) was almost adjoining the maneaba. Downstairs was the chapel, a very narrow classroom, then a small store and book-shelves, and another classroom. Upstairs were rooms for the MSC, priests and brothers. These were at both ends while the boys’ dormitory was in the middle. To the south of the land was another small native house for Brother Paul MSC. Later on when Brother Convrad and Eloi arrived each has his own small house. To the north of the boys dormitory was another large tank and a native structure was east of it for the boys’ suitcases, etc. Just to the east of the MSC, dining room was a small structure where the cement bricks were made. East of that was a very deep h*** where rocks and stones were burnt to make lime. Later on the cement dining room (toys’) was changed into a classroom, while each island had its own kitchen etc. on the small hills just north of the buildings. At this time also some of the deep holes in the west were utilized for taro pits, each island having charge of one pit. Little by little other buildings were erected for workmen teachers etc. A new chapel was built by brother Hermann and some of the local young men and the ex-seminarians.

The chapel was completed not long before the Japanese arrived. Brother Hermann moved across to Ocean Island to build their new church. He was later killed by the Japanese.

The college was opened in February, 1940 with Father I. Durand as Director and Sr M. Helena in charge of the school with a lay teacher – Kanikua – from South Tabiteuea – to help. There were about 40 boys in the roll, the youngest being 12 years old. These boys had been brought by the Mission Ship – “St. Teretia” from Northern Islands, Makin, Butaritari, Marakei and then from Tarawa. After a few months some more came from Maiana.There were also a number from Abaiang. As well there were some of the ex-seminarians who wished to continue their studies. The oldest was born the same year as their teachers. Among these were Bokarawa, his brother Tianere (later killed by the Japanese at Ocean Islands; Arebonto (now a Catechist in the Solomons); Taukoriri who was a teacher and Catechist for many years; Joane Iaman who later became a doctor in charge of a very large hospital in the Marshalls; and Tito (Marakei) who was killed by the Japanese at Mille, in the Marshalls, as he tried to escape from the enemy. There were a few difficulties with a few of the older pupils as in the Gilbertese customs; the man does not take orders from a woman, but the Director help greatly in upholding the authority of the Sister so the school progressed. There were also a few young men who helped the printing press, but wanted to learn some English. So they just came in for their English classes. There were at first only two classes; one composed of those who had been to the seminary and who knew little English and Arithmetic; and the other group of boys who were barely acquainted with the simplest operations in Arithmetic. Classes were held only in the mornings, and in the afternoon the boys helped with the work. There was plenty to be done as there were quite a lot to be done despite Brother Gautier’s long and hard work with his team. Hills had to be leveled off and the sand was used to try and fill in many of the large holes. Between the Sisters’ new convent and the now existing chapel were two large deep holes separated by a very narrow path. On moonlight nights one could hear the boys with their wheelbarrows and a large cart moving coconut logs, rocks, stones and other rubbish, to fill these holes. The actual leveling off and filling up took years to complete. Every Friday the Abaiang boys went home to collect sufficient food for the following week, while those from other islands tried to find relatives or friends near-by, otherwise they have to depend on the Mission Ship to bring supplies of dried fish and coconut syrup from their people.
The classrooms were far from being convenient; one was barely 10 feet wide and not very light; while the second one at the east end of the building had four huge cement pillars which supported the dormitory above it. There were no programmes of work, no teaching aids of any description, no charts, while the few text books were tattered and out of date.
During the first year many trips were mad to and from Buota to collect fooed, chase fowls etc. In the east our property pathways were made by the continuous going and coming. The boys would go off to collect coconuts, pandanus fruit and breadfruit. At night time, Sr M. Hermelande with some boys would try and catch some of the fowls up the trees at Buota.

At the beginning of 1941 some new boys were admitted, but at the end of the year the Japanese took the colony. By this time many of the oldest men had dropped out. Bokarawa was in Betio, the Sisters preparing his clothes so he could go overseas to continue his studies for the priesthood. He had to return to Abaiang.

The school was able to function all through the war years, but there were no new enrolments. As there was a great shortage of food, the time-table had to be changed so the boys could go fishing. The Japanese often visited the school but did not interfere with it. English was taught when they were not around.

In August, 1942, Father Durand together with Father Marquis – Parish pries of South Abaiang, set out on a large canoe with a number of Marakei boys and a few sailors for the island of Marakei to the north-east. The two priests wished to visit their confrere there while the boys were to remain on their own island. After two unsuccessful attempts to set out they at last left Abaiang, but strong currents dragged them out of their course. They met a Japanese ship on their way – two were taken on board and questioned and then returned to their canoe. They were becalmed for three days, and finally arrived in the Marshalls on the island of Mille where there were strong Japanese fortifications. The first lots of Japanese were all right, but when these were changed the second lots were very hostile. After a short time the two Priests were put to death by the Japanese. Some of the boys and sailors were able to return after the war.

In 1958 Father Dwyer arrived from Australia to take up duties as Director of Catholic Education. At the same time he acted as Rector of St. Joseph’s College till 1963. Father Scrivener was Rector later on. At one time His Lordship, Bishop Terrienne thought it would be more appropriate to have Brothers teaching these boys. Two Christian Brothers – Brother Realey and another Brother did come to the Gilberts to see the situation, but however, they did not want to take over this work. So the Sisters continued to be in charge. From 1959 onwards students have sat for overseas examinations. From 1959 – 1964 Sr M. Francis Xavier (now known as Sr Margaret Sullivan) undertook to train graduates from St. Joseph’s to teach the higher classes in the Primary Schools in order to cope with the education requirements of the Government. 1n 1970 the teaching staff was assisted by volunteer teachings form the United Kingdom. Later teachers also came from the PALMS organization in Australia; and some from America. Co-Education commenced in Tabwiroa 1972. Later on more buildings were erected when Sr M. Alice was in charge, so Tabwiroa has quite a different outlook than in the beginning. At times the Sisters at Tabwiroa had contact with the Primary School in the South. A large native buildings on the north side nor far from the little cemetery – “St. Paul’s “or as we called it “St. Paul’s outside the walls” – was used as classrooms. At another time it was Fr Ramuz’ residence. When Sr M. Baptiste was buried at Tabwiroa in August, 1941 the bones of two deceased Brothers, who had been buried at Teaereke, were transferred to Tabwiroa. Then in 1952 Sr M. st. Pierre was buried there. On Abaiang are four Primary schools. These were supervised by a Sister living in Koinawa. Sr Rita Mary, who was lost at sea in 1971 had charge of these schools for some time. She was in a hurry to get back to them from Tarawa when she was lost.

Permalink Reply by TMC on August 27, 2009 at 5:03pm

Mauri Reei,

Wow! that is very interesting post. Where did you get this article? Is it from a book? thank you for typing this up.

Permalink Reply by Reei Tioti on August 27, 2009 at 7:23pm

Mauri Taoata... bon anne raoi... e anganai Sr Margaret te article ae typed on a fullscap papers... e tara n ae tao around tao te late 1970's... I bon karau ni wareware iai ao e rangi n tara ni interesting riki nakon te ara ane ae Tabwiroa ba ngaia bon etina raoi anne (bwi). Ao ngaia ngai ngkai kanga ai te biri n detective irou kee ba are I a kakaei taian information ae kanga a rangi ni historical ibukin ara reirei arei...lol.... ao I a bon tia naba n tuangiia Sr Tiura ao Sr Margaret ba Nna kabanea au tai n te taina ni kakai au information riki iaon te baere te Ribaeai Magazines akekei.. e bon raoiroi ae a bane ni collected ao man posted ikai kee ba eaonga n ae ngkana ena bon karaoaki te boki iaon Tabwiroa n tain te ka70 n ririki ao a rangi ni easy aron te kakaeakiia ba a kai downloaded naba taian news tabeua ni ikotaki ma tamnei kee.... E tau e raraba moa anne ao keep posting from your side ao ngai nna keep posting naba mai ikai...lol...

Tekeraoi moa ao take care moa

Permalink Reply by TMC on August 28, 2009 at 4:27pm

mauri Reei, ngaia anne i boutoka neiko are ko taku ba ena karaoakite boki teuana. ena bon bae ni kakaongora ba are tabwiroa ena bon tiraua ana stories..ao irarikin anne ena kona n sell books aikanne ibukin naba buokan ara reirei kekanga? eang ao tao ti kona naba ni use some info tabeua man ara discussion ni karinna inanon te boki ai bon nonorana kee.tia kakarekeiakoia riki ma tabeman ake iai aia iango. BTW I no doubt that Sr Margaret has so many info about tabwiroa..she must have loads kee ma ko bon kaan mangaia ma ko ongora irouna ehehe. eraba moa ao manga ongoongora imina tekeraoi

Permalink Reply by Kabwebweua on December 1, 2011 at 3:38am

Mauri ngkami kain Tabwiroa n te namwakaina ae ea boou reirei man kakukurei aei.

Ai te kakatekeraoi nakoimi n ami tai ni kakatauraoi nakon te kiritimati aei ao te ririki ae boou ae nang roko aei ke.

 

Tai mamaninga nako n te kariri ma kekeiaki n tai nako n kaota am reirei ae tangiraki n te anua ae akakin St Joseph ae aoriorioa n mwengana n katiai tabena aika arangi ni kakawaki n te utu ae kakukurei.

May a good preparation before the Child Jesus anniversary Birthday