New Archbishop calls diocese to work together

Archbishop Mosese Vitolio Tui with the wooden Staff gifted by his family from Safotu as he delivered his sermon during his first Mass after his ordination, Friday 23 August.

By Lance Polu/

Apia, Samoa – 24 August 2024 – The new leader of the Catholic Church in Samoa, Archbishop Mosese Vitolio Tui has called on the diocese to work together and put an end to what he described as “so much sad news”.

The newly ordained Archbishop was delivering his homily in his Thanksgiving Mass on Friday 23 August after his ordination as Archbishop of Samoa Apia in a packed and cheerful atmosphere at the St. Therese Pastoral Centre, Leauva’a the day before.

“My dear archdiocese of Samoa Apia, my fellow priests, my fellow deacons and their beautiful wives, the catechists and their wives; there’s so much sad news,” he said.

“Because deacon versus deacon; deacon versus priest; priest versus priest. We better stop that and work together. Then our prayer will be a visible manifestation in ourselves.”

Likeable, popular and armed with a sense of humour that he uses effectively to direct his sharp messages, Mosese is the first Salesian priest to be appointed Archbishop and to lead the Samoa church.

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

A worker known for his practical approach, he spearheaded the founding of the Don Bosco Technical Centre at Alafua and Salelologa that gave life chance opportunities to young men who were somewhat lumped at the lowest of the academic ladder in the current education system.

Don Bosco colleges are popular in the manifestation of team work and the students have carved their place in history with winning fautasis – longboat races and fascinating Samoan dancing/singing and entertainment upholding their character and self-esteem.

The Archbishop is anointed with the holy oil.

It’s not the school but the student
His approach to education is rooted in his own experience where he insisted on completing his education in the Catholic schools in Savaii Island. It was customary for families in Savaii and his mother’s village in Safotu to send their children to Apia for education.

“I hate it when they insisted in the belief that schools in Apia are better,” he stated in his sermon.

Later, he found himself alongside students who went to schools in Apia when he attended theological college.

Mosese’s parents were catechists that were a life changing experience for the family who struggled with very limited material wealth to survive during four years studies at the Moamoa Theological College.

He relayed the story of his sisters selling mangoes along beach road in Apia in order to make ends meet while his parents were studying to serve Gods work.

After Theological College, Mosese parents served as catechists in Asau, Pu’apu’a and Siumu villages before they shifted to American Samoa.

Despite the limited material wealth, their life survived on natural and fresh products such as fresh water from the stream and fish at Siumu and Asau and fresh sea grapes – limu at Pu’apu’a.

Then there was a life changing experience when his parents shifted to American Samoa.

“From carting water from the stream and fresh fish and limu, my father called me to get him a Mountain Dew drink from the fridge.”

His parents stayed by themselves in a two storey house with eight bedrooms and each room had a telephone even in the bathroom.

“My parents died young due to the change (in lifestyle) when they shifted to Pago and to a diet of fizzy drinks and fast foods,” said Mosese.

But the family were dedicated to serving God and his work. A late older brother was a Catholic priest and sisters were nuns.

“My family is very poor, but rich in faith,” he stated.

Archbishop Mosese Vitolio Tui in full regalia after ordination on Thursday 22 August 2024.

Rich in People – Let’s get together and work together
Archbishop Mosese inherits a diocese that had been struggling financially and some of the church owned lands around Apia town and Malololelei were sold off to pay for the debts.

“Our archdiocese is a poor archdiocese, but who cares? We’re rich with what we have… People….people! Yu…you….me!” said the Archbishop.

And since he came from a poor family, “I promise I won’t use any diocese money.”

Having served in Auckland for five years, he said everything is in order.
“The collection, the diocese…it’s very organized. Here….well……I’ll leave that for another moment…”

Mosese returned to Samoa on 22 July to prepare for his ordination and to take over the church leadership. During the welcome by fellow priests, he was asked to say something.

“My dear brother priests, don’t worry about our archdiocese owing money…don’t worry….Let’s get together and work together…that’s a good start. Make a team. It’s not you to build the archdiocese…not me. It’s us!”

When he received his Ava during the ceremony on Wednesday afternoon, Mosese said that he sees God in the people who work so hard in every Committee, he sees God in his families and in everyone’s effort in supporting the ordination.

“As the Saints of old; Mother Theresa, St. Francis of Assisi, St Martin de Porres, St Vicent de Paul, their punch line – We see God in the face of the poor.

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

“This is me. This is the Mosese you have known and the Mosese that you will be with in the future. There is no reason why I should change.”

No reason why I should change
He urged the church to forgo the past and move forward and for each to make a contribution.

He selected as his motto My Soul Magnifies the Lord.

“It’s simple. If the diocese complains, I say, you praise the Lord and I also praise the Lord.”

The new Archbishop also told his parishioners not to compare him to his predecessors – the late Cardinal Pio Taofinu’u and the late Archbishop Alapati Lui Mateiliga.

“A lot of our church members no longer know how to pray. We fail in our basic catechism.”

Mosese said that the church seems to be dealing with difficult things at a higher level at the expense of the foundation and the basics.

“This is me. This is the Mosese you have known and the Mosese that you will be with in the future. There is no reason why I should change.”

Since Archbishop Alapati Lui Mateiliga’s passing in April 2023, Bishop Peter Brown had been the Acting Administrator and a lot of the work he has done will be the foundation for the new Archbishop in his leadership role.

“He didn’t want to come. But he did a beautiful job like John the Baptist. In his own way, he did something beautiful. He started something loving. So I have to keep the momentum going,” said Mosese.

The new Archbishops ordination had been a cheerful and colourful celebration that crosses and embraces the paths of Christianity, the Catholic faith and Samoan culture.  There had been a light shower after he was ordained and the main celebrant Bishop Peter Brown acknowledged God.

Archbishop Mosese showing the Mandate of his appointment from the Holy See

Families Final Words – Mosese, serve God with Love
The three day celebrations were well attended by the representative of the Holy Father, Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi of Tonga and Niue, members of the clergy from American Samoa, Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Kiribati. The Head of State led the local guests, the Prime Minister, Cabinet, Speaker and Members of Parliament, the Fellowship of Churches and the members of the diocese.

The Archbishops families from Safotu, Safa’i and Falefa played a major part through the cultural presentations and gifts as they offer their son as the servant of the Lord to lead and as the Shepherd of the Samoa Apia diocese.

At the close of presentation late Friday afternoon, Orator Lavea’s voice broke with emotion as he uttered his final words and blessings to their son “to serve God with Love, to feed the hungry and give water to the thirsty and to forgo your families as you serve God.”

The new Archbishop, dressed in full regalia, wiped a tear from his eyes as he absorbed the words. He knows that he has a lot of work ahead and every decision he makes henceforth, will affect people and may not be popular with some parishioners.