More than 200 Catholic faithful accepted the sacrament of confirmation at the Spiritual Center in Logo-i-Pulotu in Savai'i on Sunday, according to Father Eteuati Eteuati, the Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Samoa Apia.

Father Eteuati, when confirming the number of people who received the sacrament in Savai'i, also spoke of its significance to a Catholic adherent.

"Today we celebrated the sacrament called confirmation. It is a sacrament instituted by Jesus. It confers the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord) upon the child receiving it," he said.

"That's why we celebrated it altogether, there is probably more than 200 kids who received the sacrament today."

In an interview with Samoa Observer on Sunday, Father Eteuati said the ceremony was supposed to be held on Pentecost Sunday so that it will go together with the descendants of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, but he is still happy that they did it on Sunday of the Holy Trinity.

"It's just like the Ascension of our Lord to heaven and he sends his helper which is the Holy Spirit to guide us through these cruelties," he added.

"We were supposed to have it on Pentecost Sunday but we postpone it to this Sunday called the Holy Trinity which goes together with the father of the Archdiocese and his availability."

The sacrament can only be conferred by the Archbishop, but on Sunday all the Deputy Archbishops were present at the ceremony to conduct the service, with the Archbishop leading the service and the Deputy Archbishops assisting.

Father Eteuati continued: "There were five Deputy Archbishops from Apia and one from here in Savai'i, who came to help the Archbishop in celebrating these important event for the kids. 

"The Archbishop can delegate his authority to them, he still leads but the Deputy Archbishop can carry out the service.

"This sacrament can only be given to someone who has accepted his or her Catholic beliefs wholeheartedly.

Few of the Catholic community in Upolu also received the sacrament of confirmation though there are others who are yet to receive it.