Mulivai Cathedral, Apia

In an article regarding casinos in Samoa in the Samoa Observer Online, March 12, 2013, Father Ioane Ono, Chancellor of the Catholic Church in Samoa, confirmed that in Samoa Sunday is currently recognized as the day of the resurrection, that is the first day of the week. This is contrary to claims by representatives of the Seventh-day Adventist Church who have said that Sunday is now the seventh-day Sabbath, which would make it the day before the resurrection.

Asked about casinos opening on Sunday, Father Ioane says that personally, he had no problems with it. He says the church on Sunday is a day of “celebration.”

“For Catholics or any Christian for that matter, Sunday is a day of rest, a day of giving thanks and praise to the Lord.It is also a day of joy and celebration because for the Catholic Church, Sunday is the day of resurrection of Jesus.” (Samoa Observer, March 12, 2013)

According to a news item published on EventPolynesia.com, August 15, 2013,  Samoa-Tokelau Seventh-day Adventist Mission President Uili Solofa has written that other churches are now keep the seventh-day Sabbath, along with Seventh-day Adventists:

In a written statement, Pastor Uili Solofa wrote, “The majority of church leaders, worshippers and villages (in Samoa) are not saying they are happy that Seventh-day Adventists are keeping Sunday, instead what they are saying is that – we are going to keep the Sabbath of the Seventh-day Adventist church; praise God!” (EventPolynesia.com, August 15, 2013)

Chancellor Ono does not appear to share that view.

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