Sr. Malia Viane Tuiafitu

List of Deceased Sisters

Date of Death 09/05/2025

    Born: 28 December 1932

    First Profession: 8 December

    Death: 9 May 2025

“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.”(Ephesians 5:19)

Sr Malia Soane Viane was born on 28 December 1932 at Falaleu, Hahake, Wallis, the only daughter of Petelo TUIAFITU and Saveve Malekalita KAFOA. She was given the name Valelia TUIAFITU at her Baptism.

She felt God’s call to Religious life and in 1954 she began her postulancy with the SMSM in Sofala, Wallis. She made her First Profession on the 16^{th of} July 1957 in Sofala taking the religious name of Sr Malia Soane Viane.   

Her first missionary assignment was to New Caledonia in 1958, where she ministered at La Riviere Salee.  Her first renewal of vows took place at Kone on 16 July 1958. From 1959 to

1962 Sister Malia Soane Viane helped out at La Foa. She made her Perpetual Profession at Mont Mou on 16 July 1963. She remained in New Caledonia for some years to undertake professional formation in catechesis and to improve her French.  

Sister Malia Viane travelled a lot between Wallis and Futuna. She was first assigned to Futuna to teach at the Primary School at Alo in 1965 to 1970.  

She left for her Second Novitiate in 1971 in New Caledonia andfollowed some more catechetical formation there. Upon her return to Wallis, she set out for Futuna again, where she continued teaching and giving religious education to the college students at Alo from 1973 to 1979. She loved working with the adolescents and small children, especially in giving catechism classes. She also worked in preparing couples for the Sacrament of Marriage.  

Upon returning to Wallis in 1980, she was assigned to the community in Mua where she continued to teach catechism in primary and secondary schools. She was also involved in vocation ministry. From 1992 to 1993 Sister Malia Viane had a time of renewal in Rome. She made the most of this important time to do some studies at Regina Mundi. She was ready to take upthe leadership role as Regional of Wallis and Futuna. In later years, she spent timein Futuna.  

Sister Malia Viane possessed the gifts of composing songs and loved to sing and dance. She translated the Magnificat and many other songs into the language of Futuna and Wallis. The people of Futuna and Wallis still echo her songs today. Her love of music is expressed very well in (Ephesians 5:19)

One of the sisters who knew Malia Viane very well told us: “When Malia Viane was a young lady, she told Sister Leonia that she hoped to become a soldier, and Leonia replied: I hope you won’t kill the soldiers!” Other Sisters said that Malia Viane was a happy person, always serene, and that she loved to praise God through what she did in her life. She was very hospitable to all those who came to the community. She truly had good qualities.  

One of her qualities was being positive. This attitude was like a ‘beacon’ that radiated the openness of Sister Malia Viane’s heart towards children, their parents, young people and adults, whom she was a person who sowed hope and courage. Through this contribution between people of different generations, she accepted imperfection and the need to move out of her comfort zone. That is, she tried to share with kindness people’s situations in life. Sister Malia Viane was a person whom others could easily approach. She would ask questions or spoke about things that only seemed appropriate. She embraced the positive aspects of a situation rather than the negative. She was a person with an immense amount of energy.  

It was at the end of December 2021 that Sister Malia Viane was assigned to the Notre Dame community for elderly sisters at Sofala. During her last years at Sofala, her health gradually diminished. On 31^st March she suffered a stroke and was hospitalised that same day. She never ceased thanking us when we went to visit her. She tried so hard to stand up, but she could no longer regain her independence. Sister was discharged on the 17^th of April. The Sisters in the community were happy to see her again, despite her disabilities.   

The people who helped at Notre Dame would, at the end of their day’s work, go to Sister’s room where they would sing and pray for her. The Sisters from Mua also came to offer her their support, as did the sisters in Sofala.  A week before her death, Father Jean Ives came to administer the Sacrament of Anointing the Sick. The community members surrounded her and prayed with her. Sister Malia Viane’s family members came in turn to pray with her and tried to converse with her. These were very emotional moments for her family, especially since they could no longer discuss things with her. It was in the morning of 9^th May that the Lord came to take her back to himself. Malia Viane departed very peacefully. She was silent and serene.  

The King, chiefs of Wallis and a good number of priests joined in the last farewell ceremony for Sister. During Father Kapeliele Katoa’s homily at the requiem Mass, he mentioned that Sister Malia Viane spent most of her missionary life in Futuna. She had taught their grandparents, then their parents, and as they grew older, they had been blessed by her catechism classes. Father Katoa also mentioned that most of the priests and Religious from Futuna were strengthened in their vocation by Sister Malia Viane. She was gifted at mingling with them at social events and helping them on their spiritual journey.  Their vocation had been helped and supported by Sister Malia Viane.  

Sister Malia Viane dedicated amajor part of her missionary life to the people of Futuna. She wished to die next to Saint Peter Chanel and be buried in Futuna. Father Kapeliele mentioned that when the SMSM Congregation made the decision to close the SMSM community in Futuna, the request was made for the sisters there to return to Wallis. Sister MaliaViane refused to go back to Wallis, but a while later, she finally gave in and returned to Wallis. Going back to Wallis was a challenge for her, but she became a great and humble person. She had been a great resource for the inhabitants of Futuna and Wallis, especially in helping people in their vocations.   

We offer our heartfelt thanks to you, Sister Malia Viane, for the joy you shared, for your great discretion, your silence, and for being so active in serving others. Thank you for your life joyfullydedicated to the needs of the children and young people in Wallis and Futuna. Your life speaks volumes to us as it is expressed in our Constitutions #23.

May our Lord and the Blessed Virgin Mary welcome you to paradise and may your soul rest in the love and compassionate heart of God.  

 Sisters Lutekate Fauvale, Benedicte Fakatauhila, Polycarpe Pipisega, & Nau ‘Apikotoa.

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