"This is my first visit here, but I think it is really great. I would not consider myself a really devout or religious person, but I really like the look of the building, and the coffee served here is excellent as well", said Leilani Su'a who visited the place with a colleague.

The shop sells sacramental and ceremonial items for the Catholic Church. And religious statues, images and devotional books, scripts, that is inspirational and motivational to all religious.

The café sells an All Day Breakfast Menu and light lunch meals with our specialty coffee of flat white, mocha; and tea.

The Immaculate Religious Shop and Café's setting is unique. Looking up, customers can discover a ceiling panel in the style of Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam" in Sistine Chapel in Rome.The café's walls are decorated with Christian scenes such as Leonardo da Vinci's famous "Last Supper".

Immaculate Religious Shop and Café is the brainchild of five women Kereti Ah Liki, Tanya Grey, Francine Fruean, Trude Clarke and Jackie Fepulea'i. They got to know each other through their church group Divine Mercy.

Each of these women already has had experience in leading a business.

The Immaculate Religious Shop and Café is located in an old historical building in the Catholic Cathedral Compound in the heart of downtown Apia, Samoa.ia. It is across the road from the Samoa Tourist Information Centre.

"It has been going really well so far for us. We see our business also as a part of the community service, which is not only limited to the Catholic community only but is also open to all the other religious communities in the area," said Francine Fruean.

Fruean told Samoa Observer that churches are not the only only ones interested in these item. Some of Samoa's more devout tourists also discovered a certain joy in them.

Source

• sobserver.ws
• facebook.com
• Image: facebook.com

The president of the association, Peseta Kasiano Ioane, said the cheque, presented earlier this month, is to help out with teachers' pay.

"We received a request from the school that they needed help with the teachers' salaries," he said.

St Joseph's deputy principal Br Bryan Stanaway acknowledged the support from the association.

It would enable the college to recognise its staff, he said, and enable them to catch up on pay rates for teachers in government schools.

"As you are aware, the teachers have a seven per cent pay rise across the nation," Br Bryan said.

"We just couldn't do that until the association came forward and said this is our help towards the staff salaries."

He said he wasn't sure the donation would quite cover the pay rise.

But he suggested that the difference could be made up and said the grant made it possible to continue for the rest of the year.

Br Bryan praised St Joseph's teaching staff for their professionalism, with the school having its best academic results in three years, in terms of students qualifying to attend the National University of Samoa.

The college has 22 full time teachers, plus a secretary and other workers who keep the college running.

Sources

• Samoa Observer
• Image: Samoa Observer

The Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States is to be held in Samoa from September 1-4.

It will focus the world's attention on a group of countries that "remain a special case for sustainable development in view of their unique and particular vulnerabilities".

With support from Marist Brothers' schools and other organisations, the old pupils association has held a series of "clean up days".

Hundreds of people of all ages attended their first efforts in Apia.

The initiative first came from association president Peseta Kasiano Ioane.

It was initially envisaged as a one day exercise only.

A discussion with the SIDS conference organiser led to the goal of cleaning up Apia waterfront and town.

Participants were told to wear white or green.

The clean up days were described as completely successful.

The old pupils association especially thanked Chanel College, St Mary's College and St John's College and their principals for their efforts.

Teachers, the elderly, children, pastors and parents were also thanked for their contributions.

As part of preparing for the conference, the Samoan government also arranged training for businesses, food handlers and operators who will be allowed "official stalls" as part of efforts to feed the thousands of visitors expected.

More than 150 participants attended the training a few weeks ago. The goal was to ensure that national food standards are adhered to.

Sources

• Samoa Observer (Marist clean up)
• SIDS conference
• Samoa Observer (Food preparation)
• Image: Everything Everywhere

The Church's media spokesperson, Father Ioane Ono, confirmed this when contacted by the Samoa Observer.

Ono said while he knew prisoners had assisted with the demolition of the old Cathedral, he was unaware they were being used to help with its construction of its replacement until Father Ricky Bernard told about it after he, Ono, had been leading a service at Mulivai a while ago.

Bernard, according to Ono, is the leading carpenter at the project.

"I am not sure what has been worked out between Father Bernard and the prison," he said. "All I knew was they were helping."

He said the prisoners were only on the Church grounds on Saturday - and they assist Fr. Bernard from morning until afternoon.

He dismissed questions about the safety of members of the public and the risk of prisoners running away.

He said when the prisoners are at the Cathedral they are accompanied by Police officers.

Source

• Samoa Observer
• Image: Facebook

Assistant Police Commissioner Le'aupepe Fatu Pula said ten students were arrested from Fugalei Market after a fight erupted between students from Leifiifi College and St Josephs College.

"Their charges will be finalized as soon as the investigations are completed, before bail is considered."

Leaupepe said they are expected to appear in court to answer to charges on December 8.

"The business community has voiced their concerns with our office in fear of another violent school brawl erupting and the damage it would cause to their properties. This is the main reason why once students are caught in such activities they are immediately arrested because the Ministry is looking out for the benefit and safety of the general public," he said.

Source

• samoaobserver.ws
• Image: wormulon.net

Church spokesman, Father Penitito Mauga, said that the Church wants to pool its vast tracts of land in the town area and lease it to businesses at a higher rate.

"We have very few sources of income but have a lot of assets. The church is undergoing several expensive development projects that require lots of money. The Mulivai Cathedral for example." he said

Father Penitito said tenants have been given the option of buying land or take up a relocation package of a free quarter-acre at Moamoa and $30,000 cash.

In May the church said the move was the realisation of plans to expand the business locations in Apia. The Director of Lands with the Catholic Church, Fuimaono Foutanu Eti O. Lino was reported by the Samoa Observer as saying, "It's not our initiation. It's the Government's initiation to allow businesses to develop for the betterment of the country."

Many of the Church leases at Saleufi and Fugalei have been vacated with families having already relocated to Moamoa.

Savali News also reports that The Church has also has agreed to allocate over 1,500 acres of Church land up at Malololelei and Lepiu for a national reserve.

"Over a thousand acres in the water catchment area will be given to government, but tied to certain conditions including compensation. Another 500 acres and more - which is identified as crucial watershed areas including gullies and waterways - will be held in a Trusteeship between government and the Church" said Fr Penitito

Source

• Savali
• Samoa Observer
• Image Savali

Parents are using their children as a bait to win people's sympathy, says Security's Officer, Aloi Perosi. "That's why many of them are out here at a very late hour," he says. "It's not about selling goods. It's about people feeling sorry for them and then giving them loose change. It's about these parents playing with people's emotions," he said.

"My question to these parents is this, is your child's life worth $2?"

"Can the lousy money you get from the hair pins your kids are selling buy their life back if they are struck by a car here?"

Street vendors as young as five years of age sleep on the cold tar-sealed streets when they cannot sell their wares, an investigation by the Samoa Observer has found. They are part of a growing group of young boys and girls who beg from customers at McDonald's Family Restaurant late at night and in the early hours of the morning.

Source