Roman Catholic Diocese of Samoa-Pago Pago
Encyclopedia
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
overseas dependency of American Samoa
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
. It was canonically erected on September 10, 1982, taking territory from what once was a unified Diocese of Samoa and Tokelau. The diocese is a suffragan to the Archdiocese of Samoa-Apia
Archdiocese of Samoa-Apia
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Samoa-Apia consists of the Independent State of Samoa. The origins of the archdiocese stem from the August 20, 1850, canonical erection by the Holy See of the Vicariate Apostolic of the Navigators' Archipelago, entrusted to the Society of Mary...
.
The prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
is a bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
which pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
s the mother church
Mother Church
In Christianity, the term mother church or Mother Church may have one of the following meanings:# The first mission church in an area, or a pioneer cathedral# A basilica or cathedral# The main chapel of a province of a religious order...
, the Cathedral of the Holy Family
Cathedral of the Holy Family in Pago Pago
Cathedral of the Holy Family in Pago Pago is a cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It is the mother church of the Diocese of Samoa-Pago Pago and is the seat of the prelate bishop of American Samoa. It is located in the City of Pago Pago.-References:...
in the City of Pago Pago
Pago Pago, American Samoa
Pago Pago , also spelled ', is the capital of American Samoa. In 2000, its population was 11,500. The city is served by Pago Pago International Airport. Tourism, entertainment, food, and tuna canning are the primary industries here. From 1878 to 1951, this was a coaling and repair station for the...
. He is also pastor of the Co-Cathedral of Saint Joseph the Worker.