Royal Ava Ceremony in Honour of the New Archbishop

By Lance Polu/

Apia, Samoa – 21 August 2024 – Following the Profession of his Faith and Oath of Fidelity this morning, Archbishop-elect Father Mosese Vitolio Tui was honoured in a royal Ava Fa’atupu – befitting his position as new head, shepherd and teacher of the Catholic faith for the Samoa Apia diocese.

It was the first day of the official ceremonies for his ordination. The distinguished cultural Ava ceremony was performed by the Archbishop-elect’s village of Safotu.

The Ava ceremony embraces the Christian values of inclusiveness, welcome, acceptance and friendship. In accepting their Ava cups, the distinguished guests ranging from the representative of the Holy Father, Cardinal Soane of Tonga, archbishops, the Speaker of Parliament, Prime Minister, government  and community leaders conveyed their congratulations and best wishes for the new leader of the Catholic Church in Samoa.

The Taupou mixing the Ava flanked by the Aumaga of Lilomaiava.

Taking the final Ava cup, Father Mosese Vitolio Tui thanked everyone who contributed to the occasion and acknowledged the spirit of God he said moved in the breeze and the movement of the tree leaves; the church members who were busy with the preparations, and in the spirit manifested in everyone from various walks of life who gathered for the celebrations this afternoon.

Orator Lavea of Safotu voiced the villages’ best wishes and presented a home-made staff carved of local hardwood to be used by the new Archbishop as the shepherd of his flock.

Parliament adjourned
In Parliament this morning, the Speaker announced the invitation to the ordination of the Catholic Church new Archbishop and in honour of the invitation, and Parliament adjourned its Thursday and Friday sessions until next Monday to allow the MPs to attend the ordination ceremonies.

This morning, Parliament launched into a heated debate of the amendments to the Constitution Act 2020, the Judicature Act 2020 and the Lands and Titles Court Act 2020 that were all passed in December 2020 three months prior to the April 2021 general elections.

Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa acknowledged the significance of the ordination of the Catholic church leader which she said the church had been in prayer for the appointment of its leader since the passing of the late Archbishop Alapati Lui Mateiliga in April last year.

The ordination ceremony of Archbishop Mosese will be at 1000 Thursday 22 August at the St. Therese Pastoral Centre, Leauva’a to be followed by cultural presentations.

At 1000 on Friday morning, Archbishop Mosese will conduct his first Mass at the St. Therese Pastoral Centre, Leauva’a and will be followed by entertainment by the church youth.

Talamua is carrying the livestream of the Ordination and the new Archbishop’s First Mass through Talamua Media’s YouTube Channel:

https://talamua.com/2024/08/21/faauuga-o-le-tama-o-le-puleaga-faa-akiepikopo-a-samoa-apia/