FILE PHOTO : MBOPA march past at Mulinu’u for the independence flag raising celebrations it attends every year.
By Staff Writer
The school halls for Marist Mulivai and St. Joseph’s College Alafua are in for new renovations worth $1m tala shared from ex-students donating to the $100-A-Marist fundraising drive.
The Marist Brothers Old Pupils Association, MBOPA, is behind the celebration of the Catholic Order’s 100th years of service and donating to the schools is where they are putting their main support.
“Our Marist executive committee thought it apt that we start our 100th Anniversary of MBOPA
activities with the $100-A-Marist project,”President Tuatagaloa Ing Leung Wai announced.
“The 100th Anniversary will be celebrated next year from 29th July to 4th August 2024 but we will kickstart things with the $100-A-Marist project.
“The halls for both Marist Brothers School in town and St Joseph’s College at Alafua need to be renovated.
“Renovated halls will benefit our students and we will also look at hiring them out for
functions, as well as families to use during their reunions or camps during school holidays. We aim to raise $1m for this project, God willing.”
This latest MBOPA fundraising drive was launched last week and it has drawn response already from the former students of the schools.
Prominent local businessman, Tuiaopo Andrew Ah Liki, handed over $500 to become the first ex-St. Joseph’s College pupil to donate to the worthy cause.
“I love my school and I hope my initial contribution will get the ball rolling,” he told President Tuatagaloa as he handed over his contribution.
MBOPA is the main fundraising arm of the long established contribution to national education of the Marist Brothers Order in Samoa.