Salesian Sisters South Pacific Region

The Sisters in Lepua run a primary school, an after school programme, summer school, an apostolic group and a camp.

Contact details:

Address:  Salesian Sisters, Lepua,
                  PO Box 6609
                  Pago Pago 96799
                 American Samoa
Phone:    +1684 - 644 4573
Email:     fmalepua24@yahoo.com

Click on the links below to read more about each ministry.

• Marist / St Francis Primary School  
• After School Programme 
• Summer School 
• Children of Mary
• "Fully Alive" camp

Marist / St Francis Primary School

Principal: Sr. Carol Tevaga, fma
Phone: +1684-644-1784
Fax: +1684-644-2580
Email: fmalepua24@yahoo.com
Convent: +1684-644-4573

The Salesian Sisters took over the administration of the School in January 2002.  In 2009 there are 151 pupils from Yr 1 to Yr 7.  The children love to sing and speak English with an American accent.  There are three Salesian Sisters working at the school together with about 7 lay staff.  The school year has two semesters, the first from January to June and the second from September to December. The school day begins at 7 am and finishes at 1 pm, with one recess break.  The community leader, Sr Kathleen Hanna, has raised funds from benefactors and the diocese to make significant repairs to the school and build a new computer block.  There is an excellent reading programme in the school.  The children love the Sisters very much.  Marist/St Francis is one of only two Catholic primary schools in American Samoa.

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 After School Programme

Principal: Sr. Carol Tevaga, fma
Phone: +1684-644-1784

Most children don't go home from school at 1 pm.  Instead they have lunch and stay for more Maths, English and reading lessons until 3 pm. Sisters and staff give these lessons to the children.  Sr Kathleen Hanna has writing competitions and spelling bees to make learning easier in this very hot part of the day.

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Summer School

Marist/St Francis Primary School, Lepua, 
Leloaloa village
Phone:  +1684-644-1784

During the whole month of June, the first month of the long holidays, Summer School is held at Marist/St Francis.  It is run by the Sisters and staff every weekday and is funded by the government of American Samoa.  The emphasis is on English and Mathematics.  At the end of the month the children receive a Certificate of Participation.

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Children of Mary

Leader:  Sr Carol Tevaga FMA
Salesian Sisters, Lepua

Sr Carol leads a Children of Mary group at Lepua, Leloaloa village.  There are about 20 girls in the group.  They meet regularly for spiritual development and also attend the annual retreat for all the Children of Mary of the diocese.

 "Fully Alive" camp

Leaders:  Salesian Sisters, Lepua

This is the first year the "Fully Alive" camp has been held in American Samoa.  Four youth leaders came from Samoa and joined three teachers and local youth leaders in a training weekend prior to the camp (3-5 July 2009) run by Sr Carol Tevaga, with input on Salesian/FMA saints given by Srs Kathleen Hanna and Josephine Bargigli.  The "Fully Alive" camp was held from 9-11 July, 2009.  There was a good Salesian mix of fun, prayer and activities. The children were so happy with the camp that they didn't want to go home.

To read more about the story of Lepua, click here.