Marist Laity in Kiribati by Sr Shirley Morid smsm
Most people will immediately be asking themselves 'Where is Kiribati?' Some may know the country as the United Kingdom of “The Gilbert & Ellice Islands”. Others may be aware of Kiribati as being under threat with global warming. The country of Kiribati is located in the Central Pacific Ocean, one of 32 atolls and one raised coral island surrounded by 3,500,000 square Kilometers of ocean and straddling the equator.
The story of the Marist Laity in Kiribati begins when one young Kiribati woman, TeresaKhun , became a postulant in the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary. We SMSM came to Kiribati in 1988, just four years after the Marist Brothers arrived. Now to continue Teresa’s story...
 Teresa went to Sydney in December 2000 to continue her formation. Soon it became apparent that she was not well and tests showed that she had Hepatitis B. As her prognosis was not good Teresa returned to Kiribati and resumed a normal life. She enrolled in the Primary Teachers’ Training course on Tarawa.
When she was admitted to hospital in June 2003 Teresa expressed her desire to make her promise as a member of the Third Order of Mary. Our community gathered around her bed to listen to Teresa make her promise. We had just finished singing the “Salve Regina” when she became unconscious.
Five days later Teresa woke up and she talked about being in the most beautiful garden full of roses like she had never seen before. At a distance she could see some of her dead relatives and she wanted to go with them but they told her that it was not yet time for her.
On the 21st June 2004 as she was in hospital singing along with the radio which was playing a vocation Hymn, and at the words “I am calling you” Teresa closed her eyes and went to her God.
On the 9th November 2004 another young woman Purebo Kauriri made her promise as a TOM and after nursing on Christmas Island returned to Tarawa in 2009. From these two woman a small group gathered to commence Marist Laity Kiribati in May 2009. We pray united with Marists around the world for you. Please pray for us.
Below pictured at our first meeting: Purebo, Teiti, Poka, Rachel smsm & Matamata. 
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News September 2009 |
