New archbishop calls for parishes to work together

Lance Pollux/

Apia, Samoa – August 24, 2024 – The new head of the Catholic Church in Samoa, Archbishop Moses Vittorio Tui, has called on the diocese to come together to put an end to what he called “so much sad news”.

The new Archbishop delivered the homily at a thanksgiving Mass held at the St. Theresa’s Pastoral Centre in Leowa on Friday, August 23, a day after he was installed as Archbishop of Apia, Samoa, at a packed and joyful Mass.

“My dear Archdiocese of Apia, Samoa, there is so much sad news for my fellow priests, my fellow deacons and their beautiful wives, missionaries and their wives,” he said.

“Because there is conflict between deacons and deacons, deacons and pastors, pastors and pastors. We had better stop this conflict and work together. Then our prayers will be manifested in us.”

Well-liked and popular, with a great sense of humor and the ability to effectively communicate poignant ideas, Moses was the first Salesian priest to be appointed Archbishop and lead the Church in Samoa.

His message is simple. “If we work together, we’ll see God in each other; that’s where we start.”

A worker known for his pragmatic approach, he took the lead in establishing Don Bosco Technical Centers in Alafua and Salelologa, giving life chances to young people who were at the bottom of the academic ladder in the current education system.

Bosco Academy is renowned for its teamwork and students have made their mark in history with their outstanding achievements phantom – Longboat races and charming Samoan dancing/singing and entertainment, maintaining their character and self-esteem.

The problem is not the school, but the students
His philosophy on education was informed by his own personal experience and he insisted on completing his education in a Catholic school on Savaii, where families both on Savaii and in his mother’s village in Safotu usually sent their children to Apia for education.

“I hate that they insist that the schools in Apia are better,” he said in his sermon.

Later, when he entered seminary, he found himself among students who attended school in Apia.

Moses’ parents were missionaries and this was a life-changing experience for the family, who struggled to survive on very limited material possessions during their four years at Moamoa Seminary.

He recounted how his sisters sold mangoes on Apia Seaside Road to make ends meet while his parents learned the work of serving God.

After graduating from seminary, Moses’ parents served as missionaries in the villages of Asau, Pu’apu’a, and Siumu before moving to American Samoa.

Despite their limited material wealth, their livelihoods depend on natural and fresh products, such as fresh water from streams and fish from Siumu and Asau, as well as fresh sea grapes – Algae In Pu’apu’a.

Later, his parents moved to American Samoa, an experience that changed his life.

“Carrying water, fish and Algaemy father asked me to get him a bottle of Mountain Dew from the refrigerator.”

His parents lived alone in a two-story house with eight bedrooms, each with a telephone, even in the bathroom.

“My parents died early after they moved to Pago because of the change in their lifestyle, they started drinking carbonated drinks and eating fast food,” Moses said.

But the whole family was committed to serving God and His work. A deceased brother was a Catholic priest, and several sisters were nuns.

“My family was poor, but my faith was rich,” he said.

A wealth of talent – let us unite and work together
Archbishop Moses inherited a diocese in financial trouble, with the church selling some land around Apia town and Malololele to pay off debts.

“Our archdiocese is a poor archdiocese, but who cares? We have plenty… the people… the people! You… you… me!” said the archbishop.

And because he came from a poor family, “I promised not to use any parish money.”

After five years in Oakland, he said everything was in order.
“The collections, the parish… everything is in good order. Here… well… I’ll leave it to another time…”

On July 22, Moses returned to Samoa to be ordained and take over the leadership of the church. During the welcoming ceremony by the priests, Moses was asked to say a few words.

“My dear brother priests, do not worry that our Archdiocese owes money… do not worry… let us unite and work together… this is a good start. Build a team. It is not your task to build the Archdiocese… it is not my task. It is our task!”

When he received his Ava During the ceremony Wednesday afternoon, Moses said he saw God in the people who worked so hard on the various committees, in his family and in everyone’s efforts to support the appointment.

“As the saints of old have said; Mother Teresa, St. Francis, St. Martin de Porres, St. Vicente de Paul, their witticism is – we see God in the faces of the poor.

“We’re not poor, we’re just lazy. But if we work together, we’ll see God in each other! That’s where we start.”

There’s no reason I should change
He urged the church to leave the past behind and move forward, with everyone contributing.

He chose “My soul praises the Lord” as his motto.

“It’s very simple. If the parish complains, I will say, you praise the Lord and I praise the Lord.”

The new archbishop also told his parishioners not to compare him with his predecessors, the late Cardinal Pio Taofinu and the late Archbishop Arapati Rui Matliga.

“Many members of our church no longer know how to pray. We cannot understand basic doctrines.”

Moses said the church seems to be dealing with difficult things from a higher level at the expense of the basics and fundamentals.

“This is me. This is the Moses you know and the Moses you will be with in the future. I have no reason to change.”

Bishop Peter Brown has served as Acting Administrator since the death of Archbishop Louis Martliga in April 2023, and the extensive work he has done will lay the foundation for the new Archbishop’s leadership role.

“He didn’t want to come. But he did a great thing like John the Baptist. He did a great thing in his own way. He started a business of love. So I have to keep the momentum going,” Moses said.

The ordination of the new Archbishop was a joyous and colourful celebration that spanned and integrated the Christian and Catholic faiths and Samoan culture. After his ordination, a light rain fell and the presiding celebrant, Bishop Peter Brown, acknowledged the gift of God.

The Last Words of the Family – Moses, Serving God with Love
The three-day celebration attracted a host of guests, including the papal representative, Cardinal Thorn Partita Pani Maafi of Tonga and Niue, clergy from American Samoa, Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Kiribati. The head of state led local guests, the prime minister, the cabinet, the speaker and members of parliament, church groups and dioceses.

The Archbishopric families of Safutu, Safai and Falefa played a major role through cultural introductions and gifts by giving their sons as servants of the Lord to lead and serve as shepherds of the Diocese of Apia, Samoa.

At the end of the speech late Friday afternoon, speaker Ravia emotionally spoke final words and blessings to their son: “Serve God with love, give food to the hungry, give water to the thirsty, and leave your family behind in the service of God.”

The new archbishop, dressed in full regalia, wiped tears from his eyes as he listened to the words, knowing he still has a lot of work to do and that every decision he makes will affect people and may not be popular with some parishioners.