Tongan Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi visits Little Saints Ministry in Sydney

Tongan Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi attended a showcase by the Little Saints Ministry at All Saints parish in Liverpool on 5 October. The Cardinal, who traveled to Sydney to celebrate the 50th jubilee of the local Tongan Catholic community, accepted an invitation from families to watch the children perform songs, prayers, and dances in the church hall.

The ministry began in April 2026 with five Tongan families seeking to pass on their Catholic faith and Tongan culture to their children within the parish. Organizer Makatalena Afeaki said the program serves to build a bridge between their culture and the Catholic faith.

The ministry follows a specific monthly schedule. On the first and third Sundays, children attend Sunday school in Tongan, while on the second and fourth Sundays, they participate in the parish Zacchaeus Treehouse program alongside English-speaking peers. Parents also meet for fellowship every third Sunday to share their faith and stories.