Viriditas2: Soul Greening
Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
When people ask where I come from, I proudly say, “The beautiful island of Samoa.” It is the place that first nurtured my faith and where God quietly planted the seed of my vocation.
As a young woman, I met the Missionaries of Faith when they came to our island. They invited young people to discover a life of service, and through them I began to recognize that God was calling me to something greater than I had imagined.
My formation eventually took me to Rome, where I studied, learned Italian, and served in parishes and schools. Living in another country taught me that faith has many languages, but the love of Christ speaks to every heart.
Today, that same call has brought me to Hawaii.
My journey here did not happen the way I expected. I was supposed to arrive before the Maui wildfires, but those devastating events changed everything. The convent where I would have lived was destroyed, so my assignment had to be postponed. Then, while I was waiting, my mother passed away, and once again my plans were delayed.
Finally, I arrived on Maui in February 2025. Those unexpected turns reminded me that our plans are not always God’s plans.
One lesson I have carried throughout my religious life came from one of my superiors, who told us that our greatest gift is not necessarily what we do, but simply our presence. We are called to make the presence of Christ visible in the lives of others.
Whether I am helping in the parish office, teaching or simply listening to someone who needs encouragement, I hope people encounter not me, but Christ.
Coming to Hawaii has also renewed my vocation. At first, I found myself comparing everything with home. I expected to find familiar customs, familiar ways of doing things and familiar relationships. Instead, I discovered that every mission is different.
God does not ask me to recreate Samoa in Hawaii. He asks me to love the people who are here, just as they are.
I have always seen myself first as a missionary and only second as a teacher. If I think of teaching as simply a profession, my work is limited to the classroom. But when I remember that I am a missionary, every conversation, every lesson, every smile and every act of kindness becomes part of God’s mission. My classroom extends beyond four walls into every encounter of the day.
There are still moments when I wonder whether I am worthy of this calling. Like St. Paul, I know what it is to feel weak. Yet it is precisely then that I remember his words: “When I am weak, then I am strong.” God’s grace has never depended on my strength but on my willingness to say yes.
Looking back, I can see that every unexpected delay, every change of plans, and every new mission has become another invitation to trust. Wherever God sends me, I know I am never alone. The mission is always His, and my joy is simply to be present, carrying his love to others one day at a time.
Sister Vitoria Mauu is a Missionaries of Faith sister and 26 years professed. Hailing from Samoa, she is one of eight children. At Sacred Hearts School in Kaanapali, Maui, she ministers in the Early Learning Program and in the preschool.