“During 1985 the Leadership Team asked me to go with Sisters Hulita Hefa, and Mary Gallagher to Tonga to start a Home of Compassion there, we were the pioneers. It was difficult going there not knowing what we were going to do. Bishop Finau, the Bishop was very good, he told us not to worry about what to do because by our presence he wanted to bring the Spirit of Compassion to Tonga. So we started visiting people especially the sick in their homes. That was our first job to visit people on the Western side of the island. When I returned to Tonga in 1995, Bishop Foliaki asked me to work in the hospital as Chaplain. I no longer had the time to visit the homes in the villages. So I did the chaplaincy work in the hospital. Later on after two years the Sister who was working in the prisons left Tonga to return to New Zealand. Bishop Foliaki told her to find someone to replace her. Sister Irene the Mercy Sister approached me and asked me how I would like to do the prison work, she told me she thought I would be the right person. All along I had always wanted to do that kind of work, so straight away I said yes I would love to. Because I was doing the hospital chaplaincy I divided the days to cover both. I had Saturday, Wednesday and Sunday in the prison. Monday was my day off, which was one thing I learnt in England ‘I must look after myself. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in the hospital. Also I was evolved in the Parish at Houma, doing the church liturgies and also working with the Women’s League.”  Sister Colette Tupou