Roman Catholicism in Samoa
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Church in Samoa is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, which, inspired by the life, death and teachings of Jesus Christ, and under the spiritual leadership of the Pope
and Roman curia
in the Vatican City
(within Rome) is the largest Christian church
in the world. Catholic missionaries arrived in Samoa
in 1845 and today Catholics account for around 20% of the overall population. Archbishop Alapati Lui Mataeliga
was ordained as head of the Archdiocese of Samoa-Apia in 2003.
The population of Samoa is about 99% Christian. According to the CIA World Fact Book, in the 2001 census, Roman Catholics accounted for 19.6% of the population, being the second largest Christian denomination
after Congregationalist at 34.8%.
arrived at Sapapalii. In 1836 and Pope Gregory XVI
commissioned the Marist Fathers to bring Catholicism to the Western Pacific and missionaries from this French religious order
arrived in Samoa in 1845. In 1848, the first version of the New Testament
was printed in the Samoan language, followed by a Samoan version of the Old Testament
in 1855. Catholics and Protestants competed for converts amidst a backdrop of Imperial rivalries between Catholic France and Protestant Britain. Christianity took firm root in the islands and attendance at Church on Sundays has remained high to the present day
In 1896, Mgr. Broyer was appointed Vicar Apostolic of Samoa and Tokelau
, with residence at Apia. In 1954, Pio Taofinu'u was ordained as Polynesia's first Catholic bishop. In 2006, having been made the first Pacific and first Samoan Cardinal
, he died at the age of 82. In 2007, in a ceremony organized by the Catholic Church, the Samoan head of state asked for divine forgiveness of his country's sins. At World Youth Day
2008, "up to a thousand" Samoan youths participated in the activities in Sydney
.
Churches of various denominations are often the grandest buildings in Samoan villages. The Mulivai Catholic Cathedral is located in Apia. Catholic religious organisations have been active in health, education and social work
in Samoa, including the work of orders including the Marist Brothers
and Little Sisters of the Poor
.
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
and Roman curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
in the Vatican City
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
(within Rome) is the largest Christian church
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
in the world. Catholic missionaries arrived in Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
in 1845 and today Catholics account for around 20% of the overall population. Archbishop Alapati Lui Mataeliga
Alapati Lui Mataeliga
Alapati Lui Mataeliga was born in Sataua, Samoa on January 4, 1953. He was ordained for the presbyterate of the Diocese of Samoa and Tokelau on July 5, 1977. Upon the retirement of Cardinal Pio Taofinu'u, Father Mataeliga was appointed by the Holy See as the second Archbishop of Samoa-Apia on...
was ordained as head of the Archdiocese of Samoa-Apia in 2003.
Demographics
A 2002 census revealed that out of 176,848 Samoans, 24,754 of them were Roman Catholics.The population of Samoa is about 99% Christian. According to the CIA World Fact Book, in the 2001 census, Roman Catholics accounted for 19.6% of the population, being the second largest Christian denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
after Congregationalist at 34.8%.
History
Prior to the arrival of European visitors, Samoa had a complex polytheistic religion which also incorporated elements of ancestor worship. The war goddess (Nafanua) had prophesied that there would come a new religion which would end the rule of the old. Christian Sailors had been visiting Samoa from the late 18th century, and had been teaching Christianity and some locals had converted. In 1830, the London Missionary SocietyLondon Missionary Society
The London Missionary Society was a non-denominational missionary society formed in England in 1795 by evangelical Anglicans and Nonconformists, largely Congregationalist in outlook, with missions in the islands of the South Pacific and Africa...
arrived at Sapapalii. In 1836 and Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI , born Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari, named Mauro as a member of the religious order of the Camaldolese, was Pope of the Catholic Church from 1831 to 1846...
commissioned the Marist Fathers to bring Catholicism to the Western Pacific and missionaries from this French religious order
Religious order
A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practice. The order is composed of initiates and, in some...
arrived in Samoa in 1845. In 1848, the first version of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
was printed in the Samoan language, followed by a Samoan version of the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
in 1855. Catholics and Protestants competed for converts amidst a backdrop of Imperial rivalries between Catholic France and Protestant Britain. Christianity took firm root in the islands and attendance at Church on Sundays has remained high to the present day
In 1896, Mgr. Broyer was appointed Vicar Apostolic of Samoa and Tokelau
Tokelau
Tokelau is a territory of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean that consists of three tropical coral atolls with a combined land area of 10 km2 and a population of approximately 1,400...
, with residence at Apia. In 1954, Pio Taofinu'u was ordained as Polynesia's first Catholic bishop. In 2006, having been made the first Pacific and first Samoan Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
, he died at the age of 82. In 2007, in a ceremony organized by the Catholic Church, the Samoan head of state asked for divine forgiveness of his country's sins. At World Youth Day
World Youth Day
World Youth Day is a youth-oriented Catholic Church event. While the event itself celebrates the Catholic faith, the invitation to attend extends to all youth, regardless of religious convictions....
2008, "up to a thousand" Samoan youths participated in the activities in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
.
Churches of various denominations are often the grandest buildings in Samoan villages. The Mulivai Catholic Cathedral is located in Apia. Catholic religious organisations have been active in health, education and social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
in Samoa, including the work of orders including the Marist Brothers
Marist Brothers
The Marist Brothers, or Little Brothers of Mary, are a Catholic religious order of brothers and affiliated lay people. The order was founded in France, at La Valla-en-Gier near Lyon in 1817 by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a young French priest of the Society of Mary...
and Little Sisters of the Poor
Little Sisters of the Poor
The Little Sisters of the Poor is a Roman Catholic religious order for women. It was founded in the 19th century by Saint Jeanne Jugan near Rennes, France. Jugan felt the need to care for the many impoverished elderly who lined the streets of French towns and cities.This led her to welcome an...
.