Bishop Epalle Catholic Secondary school will today mark the birthday of one of the first missionaries who set foot in the Solomon Islands and his name adopted by the school.
Bishop Jean Baptiste Epalle from France was one of the first overseas Christian Missionary to have set foot on Solomon Islands soil on 19 December 1848.
Bishop Epalle who was born on 8 March 1808 in Marlhes, France; became a Catholic priest and then later became Vicar Apostolic of Melanesia, Pacific (Oceania) on 19 July 1844 at the age of 36.
He was later killed in Isabel on 9 December 1844 when he made his maiden trip to Oceania.
Bishop Epalle secondary school celebrated the patron’s birthday every year and various activities are set for today’s celebration.
School Principal Jackson Meke said the annual event is not necessarily to mark his birth day “but more importantly to allow the students and teachers to reflect on their patron’s life and the way he chose to live”.
“The short Missionary life of Bishop Jean Baptiste Epalle should be seen as an example that we can follow in our various calls to responsibility as students, teachers and parents.
“For students, let us offer our utmost best to the work of the students and likewise, teachers and parents for the love we offer our children to get the best from our abilities,” Mr Meke said.
He said parents who started the school had chosen this name based on Bishop Epalle’s missionary life and not necessarily because he was the first Christian Missionary in Solomon Islands.
The school’s principal said the celebrations today will be divided into three parts, the holy mass in the morning and sharing by selected students and the teachers.
One of the highlights will be a presentation on climate change to be made by the Solomon Islands youth Christina Ora who represented the country during the recent talks in Copenhagen.
Ms Ora who is a fifth form student at the school will share her experience and present climate change necessities that youths need to consider.
Her presentations will be followed by other selected students sharing their experiences about being in the school, followed by their teachers.
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