Palm Sunday services are usually marked with processions, reenactment of the passion of Christ and members waving palm leaves and singing hosannah to the Son of David.
But not this Sunday.
The ban on all church services under the emergency declaration for COVID-19 goes into effect today.
Church leaders have used social media to notify their members that there will be no religious services this Sunday.
The largest church in the territory, the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa said in a notice in Samoan posted on FaceBook, that all church services on Sunday will be suspended until further notice.
It said that while it’s true but the territory is not in Code Yellow as was stated in the initial emergency declaration for COVID-19, and there has been no confirmed case of coronavirus in the territory, the Committee of Elders has accepted the appeal from the Governor in the interest of protecting the health and well being of the people and to avert any unforeseen tragedy.
The church leaders encourage families to hold prayer services in their homes, and parishes are urged to use social media like FaceBook to stream their sevricews.
The CCCAS was the only mainline church which held church services last Sunday.
General Secretary Rev Nafatali Falealii had told KHJ News last Friday once there is a confirmed Coronavirus case in the territory CCCAS will cancel all Sunday services.
The Methodist, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Services and Catholics canceled all Sunday services last week.
Following the ban on church services which was issued on Thursday Bishop Peter Brown notified all priests, “With sadness but understanduing we accept the governor’s declaration to suspend all church services in American Samoa. This covers all services. For example weekday Masses and Way of the Cross.”
He said, “I know this will challenge the hearts of the faithful. We are asked to do penance in the Season of Lent. This situation is a great opportunity to totally place our trust in God’s mercy.”
Last Sunday the local diocese began streaming Masses on its FaceBook page Diocese Samoa Pago Pago.
