Pope Francis has elected Cardinal Mafi of the Diocese of Tonga and Niue as member of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples and the Pontifical Council.
Cardinal Mafi, 53, was among 15 cardinals the Pope has announced yesterday as members of various Vatican congregations and councils.
Cardinal Mafi takes part in the council’s decision making body deciding on matters laid out by the curia office to make sure the church’s humanitarian relief operations reach out to victims of disasters, foster charity and encourages cooperation and coordination of other Catholic organizations.
Cardinal Mafi is the youngest member of the College of Cardinals who was elevated to the cardinalate in February.
Real Tonga Airline has chartered an aircraft from Fiji Airways to replace the controversial Chinese aircraft MA60 the Tongan government has grounded two month ago.
The Real Tonga has added the twin-engine turboprop short haul regional airliner, 68-seater ATR72-600, to its fleet in an attempt to meet its passengers’ growing demand.
Matangi Tonga Online has quoted Real Tonga’s Director Tevita Palu as saying, “The sudden unavailability of the MA60 aircraft meant that we had to urgently re-adjust our fleet…”
The MA60 aircraft was returned to the Tongan government on February 8 after its lease was terminated due to the new legislation.
The Chinese aircraft is now leased out to a new Tongan company, the Royal Tongan Airline, owned by a group that involved Tonga’s Former Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu and others.
Vaipulu claimed the MA60 would start flying domestically this month. His claim came after the Minister of Infrastructure told Kaniva News in Auckland recently Royal Tongan Airline had been given four conditions to fulfil before the MA60 was allowed to operate in Tonga.
None of those conditions had been met, the minister said.
Hundreds of members from various churches and students from Catholic schools walked about two kilometres from the Basilica of St Anthony of Padua to the royal palace in Nukuʻalofa last Friday to present the fakatūʻuta to the King.
The presentation of pigs, mats, ngatu and yams to His Majesty King Tupou VI was one of cultural activities organised to mark the elevation of Cardinal Mafi to the cardinalate on February 14 in Rome.
According to tradition, the presentation was made before any other activities organised for the celebration.
The king attended the presentation, but we understand he was sitting on his seat by the door inside the palace.
His heralds were seen sitting in the verandah of the palace, facing Cardinal Mafi and his followers who were sitting outside at the front lawn, few meters away from the palace.
Cardinal Mafi, 53, was escorted by Former Prime Minister of Tonga, Lord Sevele-‘O-Vailahi and some of the church leaders and heralds.
It was announced in February, before Cardinal Mafi’s elevation, that the Catholic church would celebrate the event after Lent and Holy Week, which ended on Easter Monday.
[wp_ad_camp_1]
Tongo, the herald who spoke on behalf of Cardinal Mafi to the king through his herald, Vakalahi, mentioned the “Lion at Mala’ekula Royal Tomb” a metaphor referring to King Tupou I, who first accepted Christianity into Tonga.
The heralds’ speeches on such occasion are poetically worded and use metaphors and figure of speech. They are intended to enhance the king’s prestige by comparing him to things such as a lion or a tower or the untouchable sky.
Tongo mentioned King Tupou I because of his acceptance of the Christianity into Tonga, a way of saying that without it there may have been no such presentationmadelast week.
Such poetical speech is also intended to show how much those presenting fakatū’uta value the significance of achievements such as those of Cardinal Mafi.
Their Majesties Queen Nanasipauʻu and King Tupou VI were in Rome while Cardinal Mafi was elevated, although only the queen attended the ceremony at the Vatican. However, Tongo expressed his excitement at the king’s presence in Rome, saying that although it was a coincidence, it was an honour for the church.
[wp_ad_camp_1]
Tongo then mentioned the “Tuku Fonua ki Langi” that was made in Pouono in 1875, the announcement by King George Tupou I that he was handing over Tonga to the protection of God and not any foreign countries. This led to the motto “God and Tonga are my inheritance.”
The royal herald, Vakalahi, acknowledged Tongo’s speech it was by calling on the person who counted the presentation to present a kava toho to Tongo. The presentation of the kava toho was a sign of acknowledgement by the king’s herald, but Tongo told the counter to return with the kava and give it to Vakalahi so he could keep it to present in future presentation at the Palace.
The fakatūʻuta was followed by a celebration at Apifo’ou College compound where a feast and Tongan dances were presented before Cardinal Mafi, their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u.
Crown Prince Tupouto’a and Crown Princess Sinaitakala also attended, as well as Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva and some of his ministers.
The celebration was concluded with a choral performance on Sunday night at the Cathedral of Mary Immaculate in Ma’ufanga.
Crown Princess Sinaitakala Tukuʻaho performing as the central performer. Behind her is Lady Sīʻatu-Ki-Moana Vaea performing as assistant central performer. Photo/Soane Niukapu GallaherCardinal Mafi’s fakatūʻuta. Men unloading and arranging kava, pigs, mats, ngatu (tapa cloth), yams and other traditional gifts in order at the royal palace ‘s front lawn.Kailao (war dance) performed by Houma Parishioners at the Catholic’s ‘Apifo’ou College compound. Photo/ Soane Niukapu GallaherThe celebration was concluded with a choral performance on Sunday night at the Cathedral of Mary Immaculate in Ma’ufanga. Photo/Soane Niukapu Gallaher
The main points
Hundreds of people from various churches and students from Catholic schools walked from the Basilica of St Anthony of Padua to the royal palace in Nukuʻalofa last Friday to present the fakatū’uta to the King.
The presentation of pigs, mats, ngatu and yams to His Majesty King Tupou VI was organised to mark the elevation of Cardinal Mafi to the cardinalate on February 14 in Rome.
Cardinal Mafi was escorted by Former Prime Minister of Tonga, Lord Sevele ‘o Vailahi and some of the church leaders and heralds.
The fakatu’uta was followed by a celebration at Apifo’ou College compound where a feast and Tongan dances were presented before Cardinal Mafi, their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u.
About fakatūʻuta
The custom of fakatū’uta involves a presentation of pigs, mats, ngatu (tapa cloth), yams and other traditional gifts. The presentation must be counted by another herald, who shouts out how many pigs, yams and kava have been presented. The same thing can be done for mats and the ngatu, but instead one of the women announced their sizes and amounts to the king’s heralds.
The custom is the highest presentation that can be made to the king on such occasions. It can only be performed when something of great importance has happened, such as the elevation of Cardinal Mafi by the Pope. The palace office must be informed by the presentation organisers, seeking His Majesty’s approval and availability before the ceremony can be performed.
PHOTO. L-R: Steven John Caldwell, Magistrate Salesi Mafi and Deputy Commissioner ‘Unga Fa’aoa. Photo/Tonga Police
After signing his contract on Thursday 9 Steven John Caldwell from New Zealand was sworn in at Longolongo Police Headquarter by Principal Magistrate Salesi Mafi this morning Monday 13.
The swearing-in ceremony was witnessed by Acting Deputy Commissioner Viliami ‘Unga Fa’aoa, Deputy Commissioner Pelenatita Fe’ao, Acting Deputy Commissioner Ashley Fua and Acting Commissioner Salote Grewe Tonga
Caldwell’s wife Wendy Caldwell also attended the ceremony.
Sia Adams from Police Communication Unit at Longolongo said Caldwell will leave for New Zealand tomorrow for a week before returning to Tonga on Tuesday 21.
Caldwell took up the post after he became Police Superintendent at the Bougainville Police Service for two years and 17 years of service at the Marlborough police.
PHOTO: Īnoke Pepa of Vainī died in November 2012. Photo/Supplied
Two Tongan police officers charged with manslaughter with an alternative count of grievous bodily harm went on trial last week at the Supreme Court in Nukuʻalofa after ʻĪnoke Pepa, 20, of Vainī died in November2012.
The Director of Public Prosecutions ‘Aminiasi Kefu believes Pepa died from head injuries after he was allegedly assaulted by Police Officers Samisoni Tāufa, 32, and Sōsefo Masalu, 27.
The trial before Mr Justice Cato continues this week.
PHOTO. R-L: Lord Fielakepa, Hon. Lupepau’u Tuita Taione, Prince Ata, ‘Eiki Tevita ‘Unga and Lady Lupemeitakui Fielakepa
His Majesty’s Lord Chamberlain Viela Tupou has announced today April 10 at about 3pm that the King had bestowed the title of Fielakepa on the Commander of His Majesty’s Armed Forces, Tupou Tonga Poʻuli Aleamotuʻa, 48, at his Mataʻutuliki residence in Kolomotu’a.
His Majesty King Tupou VI was pleased to confer the title on His Armed Forces’ Commander since his eldest brother, late Baron Fielakepa, died in 2013 without an heir.
The next in line to the hereditary title after the death of Baron Fielakepa was Mōsese Taulupe Aleamotuʻa but he died suddenly in 2007. He was survived by his mother Lady Tuna Fielakepa and his wife Mele Simiki Aleamotu’a and their nine children.
Fielakepa’s bride, Lupemeitakui Aleamotuʻa, will be known as Lady Fielakepa. They have three children.
The bestowment began with a prayer service led by the Haveluloto’s Free Wesleyan Church minister Rev. Tēvita Latailakepa and attended by Fielakepa’s kāinga and family.
Members of the royal family including Prince Ata and Hon Lupepauʻu Tuita Taione attended the ceremony. Lord Vaea and Lord Nuku from the nobility also attended.
A direct flight from Guangdong to Tonga and routing Chinese liners through the South Pacific to the Friendly Islands were some of the issues discussed by Tongan delegates and Chinese officials in China Wednesday 8.
A delegation from Tonga led by Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni was in China following an invitation by the Chinese government.
Officials from both countries discussed matters related to tourism, fisheries, medicine and agriculture.
The Tongan representatives expressed their gratitude to the Chinese government for allowing the Chinese medical ship, The Peace Ark to visit Tonga last year 2014.
In a statement from Tonga’s Prime Minister’s Office, the Information Director ʻAnitelū Toimoana, who joined the delegation was quoted as saying, “We had two meetings this afternoon and it was with the Governor of Guangzhou, Zhu Xiaodan”.
“In this meeting the discussion was around areas of tourism, fisheries, medical and agriculture sectors. The Governor echoed his willingness to see some possible projects in those areas as he can envision great opportunities and development would happen to benefit both Tonga and the Guangzhou Province.”
Xiaodan acknowledged that Tonga and China has been in a diplomatic relationship for 18 years now.
Deputy Prime Minister Hon Siaosi Sovaleni was also quoted in the statement as acknowledging “the visiting of the Chinese Medical ship, The Peace Ark, which treated more than 2,000 Tongan people in one week when it visited [Tonga] last year”.
The Tongan delegates also met with the Director General of the Guangdong Reform and Development Commission, He Ningka and his team.
Hon Sovaleni also told Chinese officials Tonga wanted to see an increase in the number of tourists visiting Tonga and that an opportunity for a direct flight from Guangzhou to the kingdom and other Pacific nationscould make that happen.
In his response He Ningka said a direct flight from China to the South Pacific has already been planned since their President visited Fiji, where he met with all the Pacific Island Leaders last year.
“Other areas that they are planning on in expanding to the Pacific is the routing of their cruise liners to the South Pacific islands including Tonga”, Toʻimoana was quoted as saying.
Members of the Tongan delegations told Chinese officials Tonga wanted to create investment projects on tourist accommodation, open new markets for fisheries, technical assistance and equipment to assist agricultural sector.
He Ningka said Guangzhou is China’s leading tourism destination operating the China Southern Airline, which is one of the biggest airlines in China. He said there was a possibility to provide direct flight from Guangdong to Tonga.
The 16-member delegation from Tonga included four Cabinet Ministers, seven Parliamentarians, and five government officials arrived in Guangdong on April 8 and will return to the kingdom on April 17.
PHOTO: Princess Angelika and Crown Princess Sinaitakala Tukuʻaho escorted by Thai’s security guards. Photo/Supplied
Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tuku’aho witnessed greatopportunities for Tonga while she visited Thailand’s Chitralada Royal Project Last month.
The Princess visited the kingdom as part of her role as the concurrent Ambassador-Designate to the Kingdom of Thailand.
The Princess met with key members of the Thai Chamber of Commerce in which she was briefed on benefits Tonga would commercially obtain from Thai markets.
Princess Angelica, accompanied by his sister-in-law Crown Princess Sinaitakala Tukuʻaho, visited His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s Chitralada Royal Project.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej initiated the project to support his economic idea based on – Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy. It aimed at educating and encouraging people of Thailand to be able to manage limited natural resourcesavailable to them locally and advocate self-reliant attitudes among his people.
A statement from the Tonga High Commissioner’s office in Canberra said: “During the royal tour, the Princess fed cows, attended at a fish pond and explored various experiments, factories and productions with best practices that would be ideal at the village-level in Tonga. The Princess believes that one practical solution for Tonga is sustainable self-sufficiency; the realities of which she had witnessed at the royalproject”.
Princess Angelika at a fish pond while visiting His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s Chitralada RoyalProject. Photo/Supplied
“The Princess had hoped for technical cooperation in areas of disaster management and disaster mitigation in light of the natural disasters which continue to impact Tonga such as cyclone Ian of 2014 and the threats posed by sea-level rising”.
Princess Angelika is also Tonga’s High Commissioner to Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and Singapore. She is also ambassador to Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates and the Philippines.
High Commissioner is the term used to describe ambassadors accredited to other Commonwealth countries.
Moves to sack the head of Tonga’s Association for Sport and National Olympic Committee are unconstitutional, according to the Secretary General of the Oceania National Olympic Committee, Ricardo Blas.
And he warned TASANOC President Robyn Kaho to follow his advice so the International Olympic Committee’s legal counsel did not get involved in the matter.
As reported recently by Kaniva News, TASANOC head Takitoa Taumoepeau was sent a demand from the organisation’s executive on March 30 asking him to resign or face the sack.
Blas has written to Kaho, saying her actions were not “supported by TASANOC’s Constitution.”
He advised Kaho to reverse the decision and reinstate Taumoepeau as elected General Secretary before the Tongan committee held its next general assembly.
Blas reminded Kaho he had advised her of the proper procedure to follow if the executive wanted a member of TASANOC to resign or be dismissed.
He referred to a similar incident in 2013 when he advised Kaho on how to deal with a similar incident, but said it appeared she had ignored his advice.
Taumoepeau was entitled to defend himself against Kaho’s allegations, which Blas said must be supported with concrete evidence.
He told Kaho it was his responsibility as ONOC Secretary General to make sure TASANOC practiced good governance.
“Your letter to the General Secretary violates the framework of your constitution on what is allowable by TASANOC as a whole and not by the Executive,” Blas said.
Blas told Kaho “natural justice” was not followed when Taumoepeau was barred from the meeting of the executive at which the demand for his resignation was discussed.
This is not the first time Blas has become involved in a dispute between TASANOC and Taumoepeau.
In July 2013 the national sporting body announced it had it terminated its contract with Taumoepeau, citing an alleged mismanagement of officefunds.
He was later told he could continue in the position as a volunteer.
However, he was restored to his post after Blas intervened and told TASANOC its termination of Taumoepeau’s contract was unconstitutional.
Taumoepeau told Kaniva News this afternoon he would not comment as he has taken legal action on the matter.
Moves to sack the head of Tonga’s Association for Sport and National Olympic Committee are unconstitutional, according to the Secretary General of the Oceania National Olympic Committee, Ricardo Blas.
And he has warned TASANOC President Robyn Kaho to follow his advice so the International Olympic Committee’s legal counsel did not get involved in the matter.
As reported recently by Kaniva News, TASANOC head Takitoa Taumoepeau was sent a demand from the organisation’s executive on March 30 asking him to resign or face the sack.
Blas told Kaho “natural justice” was not followed when Taumoepeau was barred from the meeting of the executive at which the demand for his resignation was discussed.
of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples
