By Martha Taumata Fa’avae
Churches are busy again today as normal Sunday service schedules are restored with the lifting of the coronavirus emergency lockdown restrictions.
The Catholic Church and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints hold multiple services throughout the day so there will be more movements for them.
The hustle and bustle of returning to church should carry a grateful lift after the initial lockdown orders banned all group worshipping on Sundays.
Church goers were forced to pray at home until a few weeks ago when the restrictions were eased to allow for only one service on Sundays.
“We’re thankful for being allowed to return to our normal Sunday services and we’re making a start this Sunday,” Catholic Church spokesman, Father Sanele Lui, said on Friday.
Father Lui was also quick to offer the church support to any of the health security measures to continue to keep Samoa free from the coronavirus pandemic.
The Latter Day Saints Church had already scheduled their first return to Sunday services today for only one worship session.
All the plannings were in place for the one service before the ban was lifted on Friday so rather than re-arranged everything, the church leaders are staying with only one service for this Sunday.
“We will go ahead with our plans for this Sunday but reorganize for the next Sunday,” LDS Church Communications Director, Mr. Price Sa’u reacted.
The return church services started yesterday for the Seventh Day Adventist Church Sabbath.
Lockdown restrictions have also been eased on church activities scheduled during the week, started at the same time only one service per Sunday was allowed.
National gatherings for meetings where more than one congregation are involved as still not allowed.
Social distancing restrictions are also still enforced with Church Ministers for each congregation entrusted to police the requirements for members to keep 2 meters apart.
The freedom to pray and worship together as congregations, however, has come a long way from having to pray at home on Sundays.
Church leaders have resorted as well to online links to reach the homes of the followers of the faith as well during the ban.