The leader of the Catholic Church in Samoa, Archbishop Alapati Lui Mataeliga became the first Samoan priest in history to celebrate Mass at the largest Catholic Church in the United States.
On Sunday, April 17, while American Samoa was commemorating the 116th year of union with the United States, Archbishop Alapati who spent many years in the Diocese of Samoa-Pago Pago and looked after parishes at Fatuoaiga and Laulii, celebrated Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, situated on the campus of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. 
He was the celebrant and homilist of the 10:30 a.m. English Mass, one of the National Shrine’s six Sunday services.
This was the same church that Pope Francis celebrated Mass during his historical trip to the United States last September.
A leader of the Samoan Catholic Community in D.C., Johnny Toma, a Pago Pago native, said the Mass was well attended by hundreds of regular worshippers, pilgrims, and tourists from all over the world including about 50 Samoans.
He said it was a special treat for D.C.’s small Samoan Catholic community to witness a Samoan bishop lead a service at the main Catholic Church in the nation’s capital.
It was especially meaningful because April 17 was American Samoa’s Flag Day.
Toma said the Samoans were seated in the front pews and several of them were in tears because they felt so happy, proud, and blessed to see Samoa’s Archbishop celebrating Mass on the altar of the National Shrine.
Archbishop Alapati is well known for his beautiful homilies and he did not disappoint.
Without notes, he spoke from his heart and his mind, eloquently elaborating on the meaning of the Gospel reading: the fatherhood of God.
The previous evening, representatives from the Samoan Community of Washington, D.C., hosted a potluck dinner and reception in honor of the Archbishop, Sister Fay Josephine Pele of Laulii, a nun of the Daughters of St. Paul, whose ministry is in communications, and members of the Pele family who are traveling with the Archbishop on a pilgrimage to Canada.
The potluck was held at Malolo Bed and Breakfast, a local establishment in D.C. co-owned by Samoan businessman, David Alaga.
The Archbishop spoke about his admiration of the faith of the people in America.
Toma said the Archbishop’s visit was a blessing for Samoans in the nation’s capital and his Mass at the National Shrine highlighted the presence of the Samoan community in D.C.
There are six Samoan Catholic families and they’ve expressed an interest in establishing their own chaplaincy allowing them the opportunity for a Samoan priest to celebrate their Masses in Samoan.
