Sunday worship in Samoa was a much quieter affair with churches across the nation mandated to keep attendance to thirty people or under.

For church members who were allowed to attend, they had to wear face masks and were required to social distance under new rules introduced as part of Samoa's COVID-19 Alert Level 2 response.

The Samoa Observer had visited Peace Chapel at Vaimea, the Vaivase tai Catholic Parish, and the Vaimoso Catholic Parish, all of which had followed S.O.E requirements.  All churches made it mandatory for face masks to be worn before entering.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer on Sunday afternoon, the Chancellor of the Catholic Church in Samoa Eteuati Vui Lapa encouraged everyone to follow the rules to protect themselves and others.

"A lot of people of the parish and the church are not here because we are following the rules of the Government right now until there is no disease here," Fr. Eteuati said.

"I have seen inside the church that everyone had face masks, which shows the support of people, prevention, and cautiousness right now due to the diseases that is affecting the nation."

He said that the advice from those with callings in the church is to follow the orders that have been placed by the Government due to COVID-19.

With mass taking place once on Sundays and sometimes twice, Fr. Eteuati said that those who are unable to go to church can worship from home, using their TV station.

"It is the love for the people that they have told them to consider the [situation], whoever has the chance to attend mass, if you come and it is already a [lot of people] then you can go home. Mass is being televised, where they can join," he said.

Church members, he said, need to learn to adapt. It is all about the heart and people can worship from home.

"Families are having prayers at home. You can do a prayer in your home," he said.

Fr. Eteuati had then referred to what was being done by the Vaimoso Catholic parish which is whoever comes first will attend the Sunday service, which he says is also being done by other parishes across the country.

"A lot of people want to come, some want to rest because they might be affected by the disease," he said.

With Samoa currently on Alert Level 2, Fr. Eteuati said that a lot of people are scared to attend services as the end of the pandemic is still uncertain.

But he encourages people to have faith and continue to pray for Samoa.

Most churches opted to use Facebook live and other means available to stream their services.