Bishop Quinn’s Funeral Mass next week in Chicago

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Requiem Mass and celebration of life for the late Bishop Emeritus John Quinn Weitzel — the first Bishop of the Diocese of Samoa Pago Pago — is scheduled for early next week in Chicago, Illinois, according to a Diocese statement.

The funeral mass to be presided over by the Bishop Peter Brown, current leader of the Catholic Church in the territory will be held next Tuesday at St Luke’s Parish, River Forest, Illinois. The service will include some Samoan customs — such as a fine mat will be presented during the offertory, and some hymns and parts of the Mass will be in Samoan.

Bishop Quinn who was given the title Vaopunimatagi when he served in the parish of Falealupo Savaii, died Dec 30, in New York, at the age of 94.

Bishop Brown departed Thursday night for Illinois and will be joined by former members of the local Diocese, some of whom served under Bishop Quinn. Other Samoans residing in the east coast of the U.S mainland and former members of the local Diocese will also attend the service. Congresswoman Uifaatali Amata is also scheduled to attend. 

Locally, a Memorial Mass for Bishop Quinn will be held at the Holy Family Cathedral, Fatuoaiga next Monday. A family service is scheduled from 8 a.m to 9:30 a.m and the memorial mass will follow at 10 a.m.