Samoa Lotu-A-Tamaiti

October 12

Samoa Celebrates Lotu-A-Tamaiti is a public holiday.

The people of Samoa will celebrate its Lotu-A-Tamaiti or

White Sunday on the Monday after the second Sunday of October.

Celebrating the children on White Sunday

By Tina Mata’afa [email protected]

Samoa News shares….

Church leaders on the west side of the island say White Sunday services are vital in moving the islands’ children forward after last week’s disaster but as children are celebrated tomorrow, leaders note that families who have lost their children and children who have lost their parents will be remembered. In addition to the families in the Samoan islands who celebrate the children in White Sunday services, Samoan churches across the globe honor the children on this day, Oct. 11. (Samoa News invites all churches to send your 2009 White Sunday photos to [email protected].) In Fa’ilolo, where two-thirds of the village has relocated uphill, says Rev. Livigistone Peseta, about 40-50 children are preparing for White Sunday. The reverend and faletua Mrs. Luana Livigistone lead the Methodist Church in Fa’ilolo. Families have each been given the responsibility of preparing their own programs and are expected to descend the hills to attend White Sunday services set for 9:30 a.m., said a Fa’ailolo father of 10. “The children are preparing…the focus is on the families who have each prepared their own White Sunday programs,” said Rev. Peseta. “There are small changes in the program because this is our last year…the program is special for the children, for the kids to remind them of the challenges of life and for awareness on what happens in life…right now two thirds of the village is staying up on the mountains where they evacuated for safety.” After church services, he says families will gather for toana’i, Sunday feast. “it will be a celebration for the survivors of the tsunami…usually we don’t have a toana’i but tomorrow we will feast together and remember the tsunami and give thanks to God for sparing our lives,” the reverend said. Catholic Church member Cecelia Solofa, a mother and grandmother who also is director of the Catholic Social Services says like other churches which have been affected by the disaster, members of the Catholic faith “are trying to move on and celebrate the children.” “Despite all this — our families have lost their children but they are not allowing it to deprive the children of this day…the need is to celebrate the lives who have been lost,” Solofa said.” At the same time one thing with the Catholic church that is unique, always, in every mass, everyday, all over the world — we pray for the souls of those who have died.” She says the international Catholic community is preparing “the best we can as the children should still be honored.” “A lot of children have been traumatized by this disaster and this will help. It tells them that life goes on and we are celebrating life because it is very important,” Solofa said. We have been spared and we need to move forward and celebrate this great day for the children.” In lower Poloa, where communication lines are down and the CCCAS church building suffered some damages, members will be celebrating White Sunday with the Fagali’i CCCAS. Poloa Methodist Church Rev. Faamafu Bourne and faletua Mrs. Fagai Bourne says their synod is moving forward with White Sunday celebrations with the usual songs and skits. “It’s different…families have lost their children and this, this is an important day for families…where families all gather at the home of the eldest person in the family of their matai…but we have lost some of our children as they have died in these natural disasters,” said Rev. Bourne. “May God extend his warmth to these families…we feel for those how have lost their loved ones…may God help them…give them strength.” From Rev. Bourne, and the Methodist Church in Poloa, they extend to all the children of Poloa and American Samoa a happy White Sunday. At the nearby Se’etaga CCCAS, Rev. Tavita Mailoto and faletua Mrs. Patronilla Mailoto say children are preparing but with some churches damaged by the earthquake and tsunami last week it will not be the same. “We have not much time to prepare because here on the west, we have been very affected by the tsunami…it’s not the same…but for the children — we have to remember them especially those who have died,” said Rev. Mailoto. “It’s not the same because this year in White Sunday services we will be remembering the children who we have lost this year and honor them.” He says they will pray for the families who have lost their children that may God comfort them and provide them with strength to move forward. Said Rev. Mailoto: “It’s not too much of a happy time for some families but we will pray that God may help us to get through this…for the children and parents we have lost, we will miss their faces and their beautiful voices,” on White Sunday. The Monday that follows White Sunday, Oct. 12, is Columbus Day holiday in the U.S. Samoa News will not publish on Monday but look forward to our Tuesday, Oct. 13 issue. Samoa News management and staff extend the warmest greetings for a safe, blessed White Sunday to all the families of American Samoa and Samoa. EAST SIDE PREPARATIONS FOR WHITE SUNDAY As the Samoan islands prepared for White Sunday — its biggest annual event honoring the children of the islands, church leaders say an air of sadness will prevail, but that the youngsters who have lived through last week’s natural disasters must go on with life. Gov. Togiola Tulafono, in his White Sunday Message, said “we celebrate White Sunday this year with hearts filled with sorrow, for the sons and daughters of American Samoa, lost in the recent earthquake and tsunami.” Each year children in the Samoan islands are honored in White Sunday services of various faiths — including Catholic, Methodist, Assembly of God, Baptist churches, Christian fellowship churches and the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa, the largest denomination in the territory. “In Pago Pago, all of the kids are affected…there is dust…we are trying to put some kind of order to it,” said Rev. Masalosalo Sopoaga, leader of the Pago Pago CCCAS. “Our church has not lost anyone…we are trying to put forth positive thinking that life goes on.” White Sunday is always held the second Sunday of October, when children dress up in new, gleaming white dresses and suits. They participate in morning parades, recite Biblical verses, sing spiritual songs and put on skits. Also, they are honored at special feasts that follow morning church services. Rev. Sopoaga said about 122 children have been practicing three weeks at Pago and that they will host the usual program — children reciting their memory verses (tauloto) and presenting spiritual skits (evagelia) and songs. “We are going forward this Sunday…everyone is down and it’s not the same,” Rev. Sopoaga said, noting there was a woman who lived near the church who died in the tsunami. “But the kids, they have been affected…they look to the ocean…the tsunami has dragged them down but we still have the spirit.” Because tsunami waves destroyed the Catholic and Assembly of God churches in Masefau, in far eastern Tutuila, Masefau CCCAS leaders lay preachers Mr. Mui Gaoa and Mrs. Laupama Gaoa (who are standing in for Rev. Sefa Fiso and Mrs. Sauiluma Fiso who are off-island on sabbatical) say they will observe White Sunday together with the children from the two other faiths. “We are celebrating White Sunday together…no one was hurt or lost in the tsunami in Masefau…we thank God we survived this tragedy and we are safe…it is a happy time and we are getting ready for ‘Lotu Tamaiti’…but we still cannot forget the tragedy,” said Mrs. Gaoa. “For the villages and districts who have felt sadness with the loss of their parents and children…for those who are not with us this White Sunday, the children who did not make it to White Sunday because of this tragedy, we send our love and condolences to all those families and villages.” In Vatia, the Methodist Church says there are talks of merging their White Sunday services with the Vatia CCCAS, whose church has been damaged by the tsunami, however, nothing has been confirmed, said a spokesperson for the Vatia Methodist Church yesterday. Rev. Kereti P. Faiai and faletua Mrs. Yvonne Faiai, leaders of the Afono CCCAS say because they have no power at the church, there will be just one church service, instead of two. Churches usually host two services — one in the morning and one in the afternoon. This year he says families of the church have been given the responsibility of creating their own White Sunday programs. “What has happened (the tsunami) does not change the importance of White Sunday…it does not decrease the sadness but we are Christians and we must keep the faith and look to God for the future of our children and our families,” said Rev. Faiai. “White Sunday does not happen everyday…there are lots of preparations…it comes only once a year…who knows about next year.”

A Celebration of Women

sends our blessings to all the Women of our World in Samoa.

Celebrate Lotu-A-Tamaiti!