Montfort Technical Institute, Nuku’alofa, Tonga

The Montfort Brothers came to the Kingdom of Tonga in 1989 at the invitation of the Bishop of Tonga. Two brothers George Padikara and P.J. George reached Tonga on the 20th. January 1989 and stayed in the Bishop’s residence for a few weeks before moving out to a rented house.

The invitation was to start a Technical training Institute. Bro. George padikara was assigned to do the preparatory work of the proposed Technical Institute while working part time in a secondary school belonging to the diocese and Bro. P.J. George was a full time teacher in the same school.

Bro. George Padikara made the preparatory plans and estimates. After it was submitted to the funding agency MISEREOR for aid, he returned to India by the end of 1990. Bro. P.J George continued his teaching till the end of 1991 and he too left for India.

The project took some time to get approved and meantime the follow up of the project was done by the mission superior in Fiji. MISEREOR finally approved the project in December 1993.

In 1994 Bro. Joseph Kottoor was assigned to execute the project. He arrived in Tonga in July 1994 and stayed in the Bishop’s residence while the necessary buildings are being built. The structures are one double story building for administration and class rooms, two workshops, one toilet block, one staff residence and brothers residence. The institute is in a 16 acre land belonging to the Diocese.

The buildings were ready by the middle of 1995 and then the machine, equipment and tools arrived from Germany and was set up. With the help of the machines and tools the necessary furniture needed for the school were made in the school itself.

At the end of 1995 Bro. Jim Tekkan arrived from India and Bro. Joseph Kottoor also moved out from the Bishop’s residence and started staying in the campus.

In the beginning of 1996 thirty trainees were admitted for training in Building/carpentry and Motor Vehicle Mechanic Trade. (15 each for trade) The regular classes started in March of that year. The two brothers and two teachers were on the staff that year and in 1997 another two more staff were taken when the second batch of trainees were admitted. The official opening of the Institute was on the first November 1996. The Institute was officially opened by His Majesty George Tupou fourth, King of Tonga and blessed by His Lordship Dr. Soane Lilo Foliaki SM, bishop of Tonga.

The first group of trainees graduated in November 1998. In 1999 Bro. Jim was transferred to Montfort Technical Institute, Savusavu, Fiji and Bro. V.U.Thomas from Fiji replaced him.

In 2003 Bro. V.U. Thomas was transferred to Montfort Boys Town, Suva, Fiji and Bro Arul Amal from Trichy Province replaced him.

In 2004 Bro. Joseph Kottoor was transferred to Montfort Technical Institute, Savusavu, Fiji and he was replaced by Bro. V.U. Thomas as Superior and Principal. In 2006 April Bro. Arul Amal returned to his Province of Trichy and was replaced by Bro. Lourdusamy from Montfort Boys Town, Suva.

At the end of 2007 Bros. V.U.Thomas and Lourdusamy were transferred.The former to Montfort Technical Institute, Savusavu and the later to India. These vacancies were filled By Bros. Joseph kottoor and Arockiasamy from Trichy Province. In April 2010 Bro. Arockiasamy returned to his province of Trichy and was replaced by Bro. Amalanathen.