My Vocation Story

Fr. Taaia Tawaia, MSC

My name is Fr. Taaia, my father’s name is Tawaia, my biological mother is Teitirua and my step-mother is Atarena. I am the only child from my parents but I have four step-brothers and four step-sisters.

My parents were divorced before I was born. I lived with my mother but when she got married to another man, my grandparents raised me. My grandfather was a Catechist and every day before I went to bed, he told me a story from the Bible; and that is how I came to know and began to love God dearly in my life. When I was six years old, my father took me from my grandparents and never sent me back to them ever again.

After I completed primary school, I had a chance to continue my studies at the secondary school at Chevalier College in Abemama, one of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Schools. I was the youngest in the school so, Fr. Patrick, who was a principal, and Br. Barenaba decided I would stay with them in their community house. Toward the end of the year, Fr. Patrick asked me whether I wanted to join the MSC or not. I said yes, so he gave me a paper and a pen to write my application letter. I was shocked and did not know what to write since I was just in grade one (college/high school) at that time. So, he told me everything I needed to write in the letter. He read it out loud to Br. Barenaba and he said to me “you are accepted”! From that moment on I had a strong desire to become an MSC in the future.

I continued my secondary studies at Saint Joseph College; a school built by the MSC and later was given to the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. There I met Fr. Daniel from Fiji. I told him that I was already accepted as a candidate to the MSC by Fr. Patrick, so every weekend Fr. Daniel asked the principal for me to stay with him. My desire to become an MSC was strong and deep. When I reached grade 6 (college/high school), my desire began to fade away so I planned to get a job and get married after I finished school.

After I finished school, I got a job as a police officer; I was posted at the Police Maritime Unit. I started smoking and drinking and forgot about prayers and the Mass. One day I felt bored and aimless and became lonely, and I felt like I didn’t want to talk to anyone. Now as I was sitting there all alone, one of the Sisters walked by and asked me what was wrong. I told her I was bored and I didn’t want to talk to anyone. She told me that when that feeling comes, it is a way that God wants to talk to you. She exclaimed “go and don’t waste your opportunity”! So, I went to the Church and I was crying and my desire to become an MSC came back strongly in my heart. When I went home I told my Dad that I wanted to become an MSC but he did not accept it. I was not happy but I respected him.

One day my step-mother was angry with me for something I did not do and I wanted to commit suicide but I was afraid so I wrote a letter to Mother Mary to ask her Son Jesus to take my life. I promised her that I will be faithful in saying my novena every day until my prayer was answered.

Surprisingly, the more I said my novena my desire to become an MSC grew stronger. When I asked my father again, he still did not accept it but I found strength and courage to disobey him and told him I’m going. He told me that once I stepped out of this house, I am no longer his son. So, I packed my bag and left the house. From that moment I felt like an orphan, but I trusted in God’s love and protection.

I spent almost one year at the formation house and then was sent to Fiji to join the Novitiate program. After years at the novitiate, I continued my study at the Pacific Regional Seminary. After three years at the seminary my dad called me and he apologized and he promised me that he would give me full support in my journey as an MSC. I entered the Pacific Regional Seminary in the year 2012 and was ordained on the 26 of May 2018.