The Immaculate Cathedral, Mulivai is the first Catholic Church in Samoa to have a Door of Mercy.

According to the “Our Sunday Visitor” website the ritual opening of the Holy Door of Mercy in the Basilica of St. Peter, December 8, 2015, marks the official start of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. 

Pope Francis is asking that in every district and in churches and shrines designated by the diocesan bishop, there will also be a celebration of the rite of opening of the Holy Door in unity with the Universal Church so all can participate and obtain the indulgences promised in this Jubilee Year.

Vice Chairman of Cathedral Committee, Mulipola Tiufea said that this year the Immaculate Cathedral decided to have one as a commemoration of this year’s celebration of the Jubilee of Mercy.

“There is only one place in the world that has this kind of door and that is the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome,” he said.

“This year we are celebrating the Jubilee of Mercy and so Pope Francis decided to open the opportunity to every where around the world to be able to have the “Door of Mercy.

“The significance of this door is that it demonstrates the love of God to all the sinners.

“So once they enter through this door they will be able to feel the mercy of God upon us all and therefore we should share that mercy to all our brothers and sisters and forgive them as our Lord forgives us all.”

Mulipola also said that the door will be open 24/7 for everyone to enter the Cathedral to pray.

“All the other doors for the cathedral will be closed except for this door,” he said.

“The celebration of the Jubilee of Mercy started on the 8th of December and it will end next year on the 26th November and that’s how long this door will be open.

“So there will be a mass ceremony for the closing of the Jubilee of Mercy and so this door will be closed as well for 25 years until another Jubilee of Mercy is celebrated.”