Montfort Technical Institute, Tonga.

 "Thou shall sanctify the twenty fifth year and shall proclaim to all the inhabitants of thy land: for it is the year of jubilee." Leviticus 25:10. The jubilee year is a time of joy and happiness. A silver Jubilee is a significant milestone in every institution’s life. 

Introduction: 

Tonga was first inhabited about 3,000 years ago by Austronesian-speaking people of the Lapita culture, best known from their elaborately decorated pottery. At least from the 10th century, Tonga has been ruled by a line of sacred kings and queens. When seafarers associated with the Lapita diaspora first settled the islands which now make up the Kingdom of Tonga. It has many islands along with Fiji and Samoa, the area served as a gateway into the rest of the Pacific region known as Polynesia. Montfort Brothers started technical school in the year 1996.

Montfort Technical Institute, Tonga has completed  25 years of mission by Montfort Brothers of St.Gabriel under diocese of Tonga. It was a big success and unimaginable journey of willingness to spread the Montfortian education mission.  In the beginning, the Tongan Bishop invited Montfort Brothers to the diocese, there were two Brothers namely Bro.George PJ and Bro.George Padigara were teaching in school, after one year they returned to India and Fiji. The MTI was started by Bro.Joseph Kotter in 1996. And thereafter, Bro. Jim joined with Bro. Joseph Kotter for running the mission. There were many Brothers worked as an assistant to Bro. Joseph and five Brothers worked as principals starting Bro. Joseph Kotter, Bro. V.U. Thomas, Bro. Cruz, Bro. Sebastian Joseph and now Bro. Maria Joseph.

In the beginning, we started the course carpentry and automotive running for 20 years and then in the year 2016 the course of electrical engineering was included. Since last five years we have good number students come to our institution and now the courses are competitive and demanding because of the job opportunities in other countries.

The Tongan people are affectionate, loving  and  so kind hearted and have a deep Christian faith in their daily life. The people are spiritually involved so much in their work and daily life even though very slow in working or executing a plan. The people are poor and they do not have much savings for their future needs.  They go to oversea New Zealand and Australia for work. 

The Agriculture of the Tongan Archipelago is largely based on the farming of yams, squash and root crops. Agriculture is the mainstay of the Tongan economy. The crops like Squash, coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans constitute the main cash crops, and yams, taro, cassava, corn (maize), watermelons, pineapples, breadfruit, limes and tomatoes.Here all Catholic institutions including our Montfort institution is run by the diocese of Tonga. All the institutions and business activities are closed on Sundays in the island. Sunday is only for prayer and rest.  Last 25 years in Tonga was very challenging mission to our Brothers.

Jubilee Celebration of MTI:

The jubilee year is a time of joy and happiness. A silver Jubilee is a significant milestone in every institution’s life. It marks the success of 25 years of its happy mission life. When I call it a ‘success,’ it is because the institution has faced it all, be it worst and best, at all situations. Moreover, completing 25 years of mission with challenging conditions is nothing less than an achievement. It calls for an absolute celebration. 

The Silver Jubilee was celebrated with much pomp and grandeur. The preparations for celebration started before a month. All old students were intimated and a grand Alumni meet was organized. They being old students of the school their hearts swelled with pride and love for the institute.

The Silver Jubilee program started at 9 a.m and it went on till 3.30 p.m. The Cardinal was the chief Guest and the other participants were Minister of Education, Parliamentarians, High Commissioner of different countries and Lieutenant Colonel General, Priest and Sisters, Church leaders, parents, old students and local lay people were present here. We started with Holy Mass with Cardinal  as main celebrant with other priests.

We combined Jubilee celebration and graduation ceremony of outgoing batch of this year 2021 with help of army troops. Our students paraded march-past respect to guests. The traditional dance was presented voluntarily by people and children with costumes in order to support and encourage Montfortian mission in Tonga. Each performance was denoted to St.Montfort.

There were around 1200 people participated in both Holy Eucharist and in the cultural programs. We provided food for everyone with the help of parents and ex- students who voluntarily not only contributed financial help but also they were always present on the jubilee celebration to ensure that everything goes on well.

These ex-students had taken charge of making food and all the other works. They were fully involved from beginning to till the end of celebration. Some companies, where our old students are working, had sponsored to our institution and for the success of Silver Jubilee celebration.

By God’s grace and blessings our mission has completed 25 years of service. It is an opportunity to be thankful to God for all the blessings He has rendered to the Montfortian Mission in Pacific and beyond. We look forward to the future with hope.

Words of appreciation:

As we celebrated the Silver Jubilee of MTI, Tonga, I praise and thank God for the dedicated service of Montfort Brothers who worked before me as principals and brought up this institute, what it is today. It is certainly those Brothers' hard work and commitment that made Tongan mission as a successful one.

I thank the Bishop, Priests and religious Sisters for their support and cooperation in our mission. It is an opportunity to be thank and praise God for all the graces He has given to the Montfortian Mission in Pacific and beyond. We look forward to the future with hope and fully trusting God.

I would like to once again sincerely thank Bishop, Priests, Sisters, Education Minister, Parliamentarians, CEO, President, High Commissioners, Lieutenant Colonel General,  the family members of students, the well-wishers on jubilee, guests, our old students, Religious from other communities and everyone who has been part of the Jubilee celebration on 26th November 2021 at Montfort Technical Institute, Tonga.

Let me sum up:

There are so many things my heart wants to say to Rev.Bro.Jim, the staff and old students, all of which can be summed up in just three words – thanks for everything. I love and appreciate you for organizing the jubilee celebration the best way possible.  May this institute be that living text of today’s gospel. 

I visualized and dreamt that life was nothing but joy. I woke up and found that life was nothing but service. I served and realized that service is joy. As I conclude, my wish and prayer is the same as that of St. Paul’s to the Thessalonians “In this endeavour, may you all be kept safe, spirit, soul and body”

Bro. Maria Joseph,

Montfort Technical Institute, Tonga.