CtaholicNET - Tribute to Br. Edwin Merisinihinua FMS.

Death of Br. Edwin Merisinihinua FMS. St. Joseph's Temaru

Speaker of the Parliment - Hon. Paul Touva pays his final respects.

“I touch the future……
- Fr. Ambrose Pereira sdb

Fr. Jack Harris cm, Professor of dogma at the Holy Name Seminary, celebrated the Requiem Eucharist at St. Joseph’s Tenaru, on 8th August, 2001 at 3pm on the occasion of the death of Edwin Merisinihinua FMS.Present on the occasion were the school students of St. Joseph’s School, Tenaru, his family members, fathers and brothers of the different congregations, several old students among them Hon. Paul Touva, speaker of the Parliament and many well wishers.

“I teach the young.I tough the future”, words of Br. Edwin when he was asked to comment on his life as a Marist brother.This was what Fr. Jack Harris highlighted in his homily as he spoke to the hundreds gathered to bid their last tearful farewell to one who had been their inspiration, their guide and who had touched the future of their lives.

Br. Edwin chose to follow the footsteps of St. Marcellin Champagnat and professed in the congregation as a Marist Teaching brother in 1955.He imitated St. Marcellin in the following ways: Simplicity, no hidden agendas, people would not need to decode us in trying to figure out what we really mean. Humility, helps to bring out the best in his students and not to dominate them with his way of thinking.
Discouragement, as we need to be part of an on-going development where we might not be around to see the fruits of what we have begun.Mortification, a word that involves discipline.Br. Edwin set aside family life and embraced celibacy, to dedicate himself single-mindedly to the Lord, in the service of His Kingdom.In his recent years he accepted his suffering and illness with resignation and patience.

Representing his family from Makira was Fr. John Tauasi from the Church of Melanesia, Walter Rapeihinua, his cousin; Emmanuel Rumu, hs uncle; John Bagamamu, his brother; cousings and nephews.Concelebrating at the Eucharist with Fr. Jack Harris cm, was Fr. Bernard O’Donnell, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Honiara, Fr. Moses from the Diocese of Auki, Fr. Joseph Kluwen sm, Fr. Augustine Marsup cm, Fr. Marek Owsiak cm and Fr. Ambrose Pereira sdb together with several sisters, brothers, friends and well-wishers.

His life story
Brother Edwin Merisinihinua FMS, was born at San Cristobal on 26th March 1933 and died on 7th August, 2001.He came to Tenaru School in 1948 and spent time setting up the school for the commencement of the new scholastic year that commence with 72 boys.In 1950 he went to Australia to do my forms 1, 2 and 3, returned for a year of Practice Teaching and then went back to complete schooling at a Teacher’s College where I later gained his Victorian registration diploma – how to each – then returned in 1963.

In an interview with SIBCs Julian Maka, on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the celebrations of St. Joseph’s Tenaru, on 12th May, 1998.Br. Edwin Merisinihinua FMS, had this to say:

What was your biggest hurdle?
“One of the biggest hurdles that I encountered was the speaking of English. The brothers were Australian and we came from the villages, but speaking English was the biggest problem.We therefore did our best to speak it constantly despite the many mistakes we made.The Brothers were very friendly.They shared our life with us.They came down to our level, helped us in the garden, kitchen, played with us and ate with us.That is why, despite being an Anglican, I decided to join them.…..In 1963, I was asked to go to Kieta and that is how I remained with the brothers, if not I would have gone home”.

A lot of your past students still remember you as a rough and serious person…
“I was young and enthusiastic and wanted to pass on some things that I knew. Some of them were slow in getting what I really wanted them to understand, so I’d dong them on the head…. One of them was Sir John Muria himself a person of importance and standing in our country today.

What changes do you see today?
The school has changed a lot.The kids have so many things with them.At times they seem engrossed in materialism.

What is your vision for the future of St. Joseph’s School, Tenaru?
My vision is this – Tenaru is going out too far.We are loosing our culture.The school takes in several students and at times the character of a Catholic school is downplayed.I do hope that there will be more Catholic catechism in here.

Life chronology:
Birth:-26th March 1933

Appointments
1952- Minor Juniorate, Bowrai
2nd July, 1955- received the habit at Mittagong
1956- First Profession, received the name Edwin
July-December 1956-Bondi Beach
1957-Drummoyne Scholasticate
1958-Rigu
1959-1960-Tenaru
1961-Champagnat College Dundas
1962-1971-Tenaru
1972-1973-Rigu
1974-Vanga Point
1975-Centre Champagnat Honme at Ashgrove
1976-1978-Vanga Point
January – June 1979-Fribourg Second Novitiate
July 1979 – June 1980Mittagong
July 1980 – 1983-Lomeri Novitiate
1984 – 1988-Rokera
January – August 1989Boroko
September – December 1989Marcellin Hall Auckland
1990-1998-Tenaru
1999-2000-Port Moresby
2001-Tenaru

Age, 69 years
Religious Profession for 47 years

Sharing:
“He came from the island of Mikira, yet he fitted well in Australia as a fierce sportsman.Returning to the Solomon’s he found it difficult to adjust to dress, habits and thinking.He was considered a stranger.Reconciling to the two different cultures was a problem, something that still hurt him”.
His letters to his superiors bring out strongly what he stood for, “I will go anywhere you sent me”.He will be remembered all over the many lands.His legacy is indeed International.
“During the ethnic tension our Blessed Mother protected him.In the cross fire between the two groups, at Tenaru, he got up from the chair he was sitting on and went to the feet of our Blessed Mother.
When the shooting subsided, he noticed that a bullet had hit the headrest of the chair he was sitting on just a short while earlier.Had he continued to sit there, he would have been killed”
-Br. Brendan Neily fms, Superior of the Marist Brothers in Papua New Guinea and
Solomon Islands.

“He came from a family of three boys and a girl, from West Kirakira.His father Joseph and Mother Alice were hardworking people and very God fearing.He did his schooling at Wainoni Bay, St. Josephs and then went to Australia.He is indeed somebody in the world by his hard and dedicated work”
-Fr. John Tauasi, cousin brother

“On behalf of the Marist Family, we thank Rose, Reuben, Andrew, Margaret and others who were so faithful to him, as they came in to care for him with love and dedication as Br. Edwin’s health failed him since his fall in November last year.On Monday, he asked the brothers to forgive him and Br. Noel said, “”God forgives you and so do we”.On Tuesday he became weaker and weaker until he died peacefully during the afternoon.We thank our God that Eddie did not have to suffer very long and will now rest beside his friend Alphonsus Laumanasa, the first Solomon Islands Brother to die.
- Br. Noel Hickey fms, member of the Marist community at Tenaru.

Ambrose Pereira sdb
Catholic Communications Solomons, P.O.Box 647, Honiara, Solomon Islands
Tel: 677-36222/22125 Fax: 677-36333
E-mail: ambrose@donbosco.org.sb;
Web page: http://www.catholicnet.com/solomon
http://www.catholicnet.com/solomon/katolika-main.htm

Death of Br. Edwin Merisinihinua FMS. St. Joseph's Temaru
Speaker of the Parliment - Hon. Paul Touva pays his final respects.
“I touch the future…… - Fr. Ambrose Pereira sdb Fr. Jack Harris cm, Professor of dogma at the Holy Name Seminary, celebrated the Requiem Eucharist at St. Joseph’s Tenaru, on 8th August, 2001 at 3pm on the occasion of the death of Edwin Merisinihinua FMS.Present on the occasion were the school students of St. Joseph’s School, Tenaru, his family members, fathers and brothers of the different congregations, several old students among them Hon. Paul Touva, speaker of the Parliament and many well wishers. “I teach the young.I tough the future”, words of Br. Edwin when he was asked to comment on his life as a Marist brother.This was what Fr. Jack Harris highlighted in his homily as he spoke to the hundreds gathered to bid their last tearful farewell to one who had been their inspiration, their guide and who had touched the future of their lives. Br. Edwin chose to follow the footsteps of St. Marcellin Champagnat and professed in the congregation as a Marist Teaching brother in 1955.He imitated St. Marcellin in the following ways: Simplicity, no hidden agendas, people would not need to decode us in trying to figure out what we really mean. Humility, helps to bring out the best in his students and not to dominate them with his way of thinking. Discouragement, as we need to be part of an on-going development where we might not be around to see the fruits of what we have begun.Mortification, a word that involves discipline.Br. Edwin set aside family life and embraced celibacy, to dedicate himself single-mindedly to the Lord, in the service of His Kingdom.In his recent years he accepted his suffering and illness with resignation and patience. Representing his family from Makira was Fr. John Tauasi from the Church of Melanesia, Walter Rapeihinua, his cousin; Emmanuel Rumu, hs uncle; John Bagamamu, his brother; cousings and nephews.Concelebrating at the Eucharist with Fr. Jack Harris cm, was Fr. Bernard O’Donnell, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Honiara, Fr. Moses from the Diocese of Auki, Fr. Joseph Kluwen sm, Fr. Augustine Marsup cm, Fr. Marek Owsiak cm and Fr. Ambrose Pereira sdb together with several sisters, brothers, friends and well-wishers.
His life story Brother Edwin Merisinihinua FMS, was born at San Cristobal on 26th March 1933 and died on 7th August, 2001.He came to Tenaru School in 1948 and spent time setting up the school for the commencement of the new scholastic year that commence with 72 boys.In 1950 he went to Australia to do my forms 1, 2 and 3, returned for a year of Practice Teaching and then went back to complete schooling at a Teacher’s College where I later gained his Victorian registration diploma – how to each – then returned in 1963. In an interview with SIBCs Julian Maka, on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the celebrations of St. Joseph’s Tenaru, on 12th May, 1998.Br. Edwin Merisinihinua FMS, had this to say: What was your biggest hurdle? “One of the biggest hurdles that I encountered was the speaking of English. The brothers were Australian and we came from the villages, but speaking English was the biggest problem.We therefore did our best to speak it constantly despite the many mistakes we made.The Brothers were very friendly.They shared our life with us.They came down to our level, helped us in the garden, kitchen, played with us and ate with us.That is why, despite being an Anglican, I decided to join them.…..In 1963, I was asked to go to Kieta and that is how I remained with the brothers, if not I would have gone home”. A lot of your past students still remember you as a rough and serious person… “I was young and enthusiastic and wanted to pass on some things that I knew. Some of them were slow in getting what I really wanted them to understand, so I’d dong them on the head…. One of them was Sir John Muria himself a person of importance and standing in our country today. What changes do you see today? The school has changed a lot.The kids have so many things with them.At times they seem engrossed in materialism. What is your vision for the future of St. Joseph’s School, Tenaru? My vision is this – Tenaru is going out too far.We are loosing our culture.The school takes in several students and at times the character of a Catholic school is downplayed.I do hope that there will be more Catholic catechism in here.
Life chronology: Birth:-26th March 1933 Appointments 1952- Minor Juniorate, Bowrai 2nd July, 1955- received the habit at Mittagong 1956- First Profession, received the name Edwin July-December 1956-Bondi Beach 1957-Drummoyne Scholasticate 1958-Rigu 1959-1960-Tenaru 1961-Champagnat College Dundas 1962-1971-Tenaru 1972-1973-Rigu 1974-Vanga Point 1975-Centre Champagnat Honme at Ashgrove 1976-1978-Vanga Point January – June 1979-Fribourg Second Novitiate July 1979 – June 1980Mittagong July 1980 – 1983-Lomeri Novitiate 1984 – 1988-Rokera January – August 1989Boroko September – December 1989Marcellin Hall Auckland 1990-1998-Tenaru 1999-2000-Port Moresby 2001-Tenaru Age, 69 years Religious Profession for 47 years

Sharing: “He came from the island of Mikira, yet he fitted well in Australia as a fierce sportsman.Returning to the Solomon’s he found it difficult to adjust to dress, habits and thinking.He was considered a stranger.Reconciling to the two different cultures was a problem, something that still hurt him”. His letters to his superiors bring out strongly what he stood for, “I will go anywhere you sent me”.He will be remembered all over the many lands.His legacy is indeed International. “During the ethnic tension our Blessed Mother protected him.In the cross fire between the two groups, at Tenaru, he got up from the chair he was sitting on and went to the feet of our Blessed Mother. When the shooting subsided, he noticed that a bullet had hit the headrest of the chair he was sitting on just a short while earlier.Had he continued to sit there, he would have been killed” -Br. Brendan Neily fms, Superior of the Marist Brothers in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. “He came from a family of three boys and a girl, from West Kirakira.His father Joseph and Mother Alice were hardworking people and very God fearing.He did his schooling at Wainoni Bay, St. Josephs and then went to Australia.He is indeed somebody in the world by his hard and dedicated work” -Fr. John Tauasi, cousin brother “On behalf of the Marist Family, we thank Rose, Reuben, Andrew, Margaret and others who were so faithful to him, as they came in to care for him with love and dedication as Br. Edwin’s health failed him since his fall in November last year.On Monday, he asked the brothers to forgive him and Br. Noel said, “”God forgives you and so do we”.On Tuesday he became weaker and weaker until he died peacefully during the afternoon.We thank our God that Eddie did not have to suffer very long and will now rest beside his friend Alphonsus Laumanasa, the first Solomon Islands Brother to die. - Br. Noel Hickey fms, member of the Marist community at Tenaru. Ambrose Pereira sdb Catholic Communications Solomons, P.O.Box 647, Honiara, Solomon Islands Tel: 677-36222/22125 Fax: 677-36333 E-mail: ambrose@donbosco.org.sb; Web page: http://www.catholicnet.com/solomon http://www.catholicnet.com/solomon/katolika-main.htm