Catholics Celebrate Jubilee of the Journey of Purpose

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 3 March 2025 – The rain did not dampen the spirit of hundreds of Catholics around Samoa who gathered at Mulinuu for the march towards the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Mulivai to celebrate the Year of the Jubilee on the theme Journey of Purpose.

Led by the police band, it is the first time the church has come together as one to celebrate the event which is normally celebrated by each Vicariate.

It is one of the changes made by Archbishop Mosese Vitolio Tui in unifying all parishes of the church and bringing them together under one banner to celebrate as one unified church.

When the parade arrived at the Cathedral, Archbishop Mosese carried the cross from outside the church to the front where it was place during a brief service led by the Archbishop before everyone entered the Cathedral for the celebration of the Jubilee Mass.

According to the church’s Chancellor, Father Paletasala, the celebration of the jubilee is a time of forgiveness, freedom, and renewal of faith based on the Jews tradition.

He said rarely, there’s a chance for people to participate in such a prestigious event as its celebrated every 100 years, hence the church’s decision to reduce the number several times from 50 to 25 years.

“There was a celebration in 2000 then15 years later in 2015, and now we are celebrating it again in 2025,” said the Chancellor.

Archbishop Mosese Vitolio Tui, priests and deacons leading the procession from Mulinuu.

Feel the love of God
Archbishop Mosese, known for his humour and directness of his messages, then told the congregation what was lacking in their lives.

“Our problem is we do not feel the love of God unless we are in trouble,” he said.

Although there was laughter in the congregation, the message was hard and direct.

“People are too busy hating and mocking each other instead of forgiving. They are too busy being angry they forgot how to be happy,” said the Archbishop.

“The history of the jubilee evolves around its lands, the sea and family and we need to sit down and look at where we are. We do not know who we are, but we are special and I remind you to love God,” he said.

Families urge to reinstate evening prayers
Archbishop Mosese reminded the priests, deacons and parents that Samoans grew up in a tradition of evening prayers where families come together in the evening to praise God and for parents to talk and share with their children

Gone are the days where a mother after a headcount of her children would go searching for the missing child and drag him/her to attend the family prayer in the evening.

“Today, parents are too busy pumping muscles at gyms or doing something else rather than a family evening with the children,” said the Archbishop.

“I urge you all to go back to our family evening of prayers where the nurturing of children starts,” he said.

He also called on priests and deacons to have seminars for the youths. He noted that bible knowledge is lacking and that too needs to be improved.

Archbishop Mosese is aware that some of the changes he made in the church are not welcomes by some of the priests and deacons, but his goal as Archbishop is to build the spiritual side of church members.

“If a priest is not happy, they go and serve in Pakistan,” he said.

He acknowledged all Catholic church members, youth and students around the country and challenged them to be strong and remain steadfast in their faith.