Catholics in American Samoa will farewell Bishop Peter Brown who officially steps down at a service of the Mass to install the new leader of the local Diocese, Bishop Kolio Etuale Tumanuvao.
The installation Mass will be held at the Holy Family Cathedral, Fatuoaiga, at 9:00 AM Saturday, April 29.
Bishop Brown is retiring and will be returning to New Zealand. Apostolic Nuncio or Papal Delegate, Archbishop Novatus Rugambwa informed Bishop Brown of the Holy Father’s acceptance of his letter of resignation as Bishop to be effective on April 29.
He said, “Your missionary zeal and the total donation of yourself for the Gospel have contributed enormously to the strengthening of the faith in, both, Western and American Samoa. As you become a Bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Samoa-Pago Pago you will certainly be accompanied by the prayers of your people and of the Universal Church. On behalf of the Holy Father Pope Francis and the entire Holy See, I thank you wholeheartedly for your tireless service in the Church as a priest and a Bishop especially in the CEPAC territory.”
Bishop Peter Brown succeeded the first bishop of the local diocese, the late Bishop Quinn Weitzel, when he was ordained in August 2013. Parishes and various church organizations have been holding farewell events for Bishop Brown in the last several weeks. During the 2023 Flag Day celebrations, he delivered the invocation and was recognized with gifts from ASG and the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa.
