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Sr Michael SoaniI read a shabby booklet Philomena Soane (Sister Michael)I was born in Suva Hospital at that time the family lived in a village in Suva. My mother and father were from Wallace and lived in a village in the Suva area that had been given to the Wallacesian people by the Bishop of Fiji. My grandparents looked after the place.
I was about 8 or 9 when my mother sent me to a boarding school in Nadi. The Marist Sisters ran the school and they were from New Zealand, Australia, England and France. Many of the girls came from rich families and I was the only non Indian at the school. I was in an environment were I learnt many things including the Hindi language. When the World War II broke out I went home to Vatukola where my father had work at the gold mines. After the war I went back to Suva and lived at the Wallacesian village with my uncle who was the caretaker. I went to school at St Anne’s in the city. At that time there was segregation within the school according to your ethnic background. St Philomena’s was for the mixed blood, St Anne’s full blood (which meant full Fijian, Indian or Wallesian) and the convent school was for the Europeans. At play time and at Mass the non Europeans mixed together. At that time we didn’t think anything of it. It was not until later on in life when people started talking about the segregation that I reflected on it. At the time it was different; we were young. I learnt to mix with others and I knew the Indians very well. My grandfather was working at Makogai were the SMSM Sisters were nursing people suffering from leprosy. My grandfather was the gardener and he supplied the vegetables for all the people. When I was 15 I went there for a holiday. After a few days I found living on the Island difficult. I told my grandfather that I couldn’t stay. My grandfather told me that the boat would be back in 12 months! I went away and cried however through my tears I said to myself I am going to learn the language. My grandfather was so good to me. He frequently said to me “It won’t be long, it won’t be long.” Sister Anne understood how I was feeling and she took me to the kitchen and to the garden. She taught me how to cook. One day I was given a sack by Sister Anne and she said “We are going to collect coconuts.” I had no idea what to do. The other girls all had sacks and were going to collect coconuts so I went with them and they showed me what to do. Shortly afterwards I was to go fishing. I had never been fishing before. I could not speak Fijian; the girls told me to come with them and I followed them. In time I could speak Fijian; I would listen to the girls and then I would imitate them and that is how I learnt. I was at Makogai until Bishop Foley came. He asked me “What are you doing here?” I replied “I am on holiday.” During our conversation he asked me if I would like to come back to Suva and to work for him. The year was not up and I missed Suva so I took the opportunity and went back with him. I looked after a group of ladies, Patricia Kent (now an Australian Mercy Sister), Mary Coleman from England and the Bishop’s niece, Patricia Foley also from England. I also looked after the Bishop. By this time I was becoming very multicultural. Patricia Kent taught me how to dance. I was with the Legion of Mary and after Mass on Sundays I had my turn selling books. One day I found a little shabby book on Mother Aubert. It was the untidiest book on the shelf. My eye first caught on the work for the elderly. At this time I had no intention of becoming a nun. Fr Abbot and Fr Cahill, Marists from New Zealand came to give a mission in the parish. I thought I would just go to the morning Mass as I had too many other things to do. Fr Cahill spoke on vocations. He said. “If God calls you listen as he might not call again.” This sentence hit me and I thought about it. Then the Sisters of Compassion came to Suva to establish a nursing home and I thought “Oh these are the sisters that I read about.” I went to visit them. I didn’t want my mother to know anything about it. She wanted the whole family to be religious. She had already told me about the Home of Compassion and the sisters. Sister Anne SMSM had heard that I had visited the Home of Compassion. She came to see me and asked “Why don’t you enter the SMSM Sisters?” I said “I can’t, I just can’t.” Sister Anne was wonderful she didn’t push it. She left me with these words “You go and I will pray for you.” In a short time I then went to see the Sisters of Compassion again. Sisters Perpetua and Celestine encouraged me and helped me to obtain the various documents that were required like my medical certificate. I was now at the stage where I had to pay for my travel. I needed to tell my Mum as I wanted to ask her for a little more money to put towards my travel. My mother was happy for me and helped me. My father didn’t say much he just said “Hmm, Hmm.” My choice 50 years ago to be a religious sister was influenced by the experience of being with the different races and living and working with the SMSM Sisters on the Leprosy Island, Makovai. Although I did not have the vocation to enter their congregation the sisters’ life gave me something to think about. Another strong influence was my mother’s example of caring for others. Mother managed to look after many people who had nowhere else to go; although we were poor she managed and she had a great spirit of faith. My father’s example was also important. He never said much. What he said was significant. During these 50 years I have had the opportunity to nurse, teach, cook and offer pastoral care to nursing home residents in New Zealand, Australia, Tonga and Fiji. Sisters Rae & Michael at Island Bay celebrating Sr Michael's 50th Jubilee
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My parents’ marriage was arranged by their families and they were married in Suva. My father was a great carpenter and the missionaries always asked him to go and build places and as a small child we went to live at Naiserilagi near Navua. We moved from mission to mission with Dad doing all the buildings.