Easter is regarded as the most important event on the Christian calendar, when believers commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ and his resurrection on Easter Sunday morning.
Holy Week began with Palm Sunday services and continue with the Tridium, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Also on Tuesday for the Catholic Church was the Chrism Mass where oils that will be used for Holy Week services were blessed and priests renewed their vows and pledged their commitment to serving God and His people.
Holy Thursday services this evening will include the washing of the feet, where the bishop or priests will wash the feet of chosen parishioners, a reenactment of Jesus washing the feet of the 12 apostles during the Last Supper.
Mass this evening will be followed by prayers and hymns , similar to wake services for funerals.
Tomorrow Good Friday begins at dawn with Stations of the Cross, during which church members will walk the journey that Jesus took carrying a cross while being beaten eventually hung on a cross. and culminating with his rising from the dead.
Some parishes in the Diocese will process on the main road.
For example the Holy Family Cathedral at Fatuoaiga will begin its Stations of the Cross from the airport parking lot at 5am and the procession will end at Fatuaoaiga.
The Easter Vigil on Saturday night will begin with the blessing of the fire and the lighting of the Paschal or Easter candle.
A blessing of the water will also be held and new born babies or adults entering the church for the first time will be baptized.
Then on Easter Sunday, Christian churches will ujnite in choruses of Alleluia heralding the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Tomorrow Good Friday is a holiday for the American Samoa Government and ASG offices will be closed.
Most businesses will also be closed, but a lot of retailers will still be opened.
Federal agencies like the Post Office, and Social Security are still opened tomorrow as Good Firday is not a federal holiday.
The Disaster Recovery Center in Pago Pago will also be opened tomorrow.
