The community of Moli in Choiseul Province took delivery of their new secondary school on Friday.
St Joseph Moli Catholic Secondary School is a gift from the Catholic Church to the community and the people of Choiseul.
The Catholic Church headquarters in Choiseul is located at Moli.
According to the Gizo Diocese Bishop Lucian Capelli, the handing over and official opening of the new boarding school was a solemn occasion for the 140 students, the community, and education authority representatives from the church and province.
“The occasion started with a Liturgy to thank God for the gift of the new school,” Bishop Capelli said.
He said during the ceremony, he challenged the students and the community to accept this gift of God of a new school and to respond to this gift with responsibility and respect.
“Students were told that the new facilities are for them to be used properly because they belong to the Choiseul youth of today and tomorrow as well,” Capelli said.
He said the whole school community will soon go through a formal training in envisioning its mission and planning a strategy and methodology to be followed to build good Christian students of their churches and honest citizens of their country.
“Students were made aware that they are born for greater things and they should dream high and fight to make their dreams come true also as to be ready for the national competitions for higher studies.
“The buildings have been blessed, the students have settled down and so the staff, the church will take an active part in the running of the school by creating a formation environment which respects God’s law, each other’s freedom and dreams and where a family style relationship will make the students live and behave as true brothers and sisters.”
Capelli said the challenge is great but the Gizo Diocese Education commitment is a true priority as brought about by the chairman of the St Joseph Parish.
Speakers during the event expressed appreciation to Bishop Capelli, the benefactors especially the Bachman Foundation through the Don Bosco Mission Procure of JEW Austria, who also helped to build St Peter Gizo and Saint John Bosco in Nila.
Speakers mentioned the Italian volunteers who came to share their experience and hard work skills and the communities that built and took over the school in three years as per MOU with the Choiseul Education authority.
Speakers expressed their hope that there would be a true community effort by all so that the school will be a school with competence and a school with a soul.
“What was great was the atmosphere of joy and gratitude for a gift received… the commitment of all sectors was equally generously worded and promised,” Capelli said.
“The start was great; it is up to us now to make the sweet talks become a reality that will make our children dream big dreams for their future.
“Yes St Joseph Moli Catholic Secondary school is only a baby… but watch out… it’s a baby Lion.”
