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Tears, prayer and song helped Samoans living in Auckland yesterday to cope with grief for family members lost in their home country's earthquake and tsunami.
About 800 people filled the Malaeola Community Centre in Mangere at 11am for a two-hour service, including an address by the leader of the Catholic Church in Samoa, Archbishop Alapati Mataeliga.
In transit from Europe to Samoa, he asked to speak to the congregation and give his blessing to any who came forward.
He held a candle from which mourners lit dozens of smaller candles, which were placed before the altar to burn during prayers.
"The candles are a symbol for all our people who have lost children and fathers and mothers," said the president of the Samoan Catholic Community in Auckland, Tefaeono Tanuvasa, who lost five members of his extended family.
"We pray for their lives and for their families ... and we will make sure we will get them help as much as we can."
Mr Tanuvasa said he would go to Samoa this week, with a special interest in seeing what help schools needed.
One of the congregation, Mapu Filipo Timo, said he was comforted by the service: "It's very hard when you think of people in Samoa and what has happened to our families.
"I'd like to be there but members of the family in Australia have already gone, so we just stay here and send back food and money to help out."
The service ended with a hymn sung to upbeat music which brought many people to their feet, dancing and clapping and smiling.
It was a call to keep their faith alive.
Mr Timo said: "Coming here comforts us and helps us forget what has happened to our families."
How you can help
Pacific Cooperation Foundation
Deposits can be made at at any Westpac branch. All the money raised will go to the Samoan Government
Red Cross
- Make a secure online donation at redcross.org.nz
- Send cheques to the Samoan Red Cross Fund, PO Box 12140, Thorndon, Wellington 6144
- Call 0900 31 100 to make an automatic $20 donation
- Make a donation at any NZ Red Cross office
ANZ bank
Make a donation at any ANZ bank branch, or donate directly to the ANZ appeal account: 01 1839 0143546 00
Oxfam
- Make a secure online donation at
Oxfam.org.nz
- Phone 0800 400 666 or make an automatic $20 donation by calling 0900 600 20
