Nestled in a serene tropical garden just 15 minutes from the heart of Apia, this Home offers a haven of peace and dignity for the elderly. Surrounded by lush greenery, vibrant island flora, and towering trees, the Home faces the vast Pacific Ocean, where powerful waves break on a coral reef a mile offshore — a sight both majestic and calming.
This is a mission Home of the Province, dedicated to welcoming elderly persons with low or no income, regardless of race or religion. The general age for admission is 65 and over, though special cases are considered with compassion and flexibility.
The Home has the capacity to accommodate 44 residents, each in their own private room.
Each room includes:
Each section features a spacious communal lounge, encouraging socialization and shared living.
In Samoa, elderly residents typically receive a pension of $160 per week. The weekly fee for residency is $120.
The relationship between Samoa and the Little Sisters of the Poor began in March 1970, when Fr. Peter Schwehr, S.M., a missionary who had devoted forty years of service to the Samoan people, was admitted to our Home in Auckland for a brief period before his passing. His admission had been arranged by Bishop Pio Tafaifa Tofinu’u (later Cardinal), whose deep concern for this aging priest led to a broader vision — the realization that the apostolate of the Little Sisters could provide a much-needed ministry in his diocese.
A Cultural Heritage of Reverence
Samoan culture holds a profound respect for the elderly. They are the wisdom-bearers of the extended family, entrusted with passing down knowledge, values, and tradition. But as younger generations began seeking work abroad, particularly in New Zealand, families were left facing new realities: how to care for the elderly left behind.
Cardinal Tafaifa Tofinu’u, attentive to this societal shift, was particularly concerned for the elderly catechists who had served faithfully in local parishes and villages. He reached out to the Little Sisters, inviting them to consider a foundation in Samoa.
A Call to Serve
After visiting Apia to assess the needs, Mother Marie de la Passion, Provincial Superior, wrote:
“There is no pension, no medical benefits. The hospital cannot take many elderly people. Even if the doctor writes a prescription, they cannot get the medicine if they are unable to pay… We are quite convinced of the need for a Home.”
Her observations were clear — the need was urgent and real. The invitation to establish a Home was presented to the General Chapter in September 1970 and received with unanimous support. Preparation began immediately.
Four Little Sisters, hailing from New Zealand, Spain, India, and Australia, gathered in Randwick (Sydney) to learn the Samoan language and customs in anticipation of their mission.
A Joyful Arrival
On June 27, 1971, the four Sisters arrived in Apia, Western Samoa. At that time, the airport was little more than a grass field, yet the welcome they received was overwhelming. That afternoon, a Solemn High Mass was celebrated in the Cathedral, presided over by Cardinal Tofinu’u, with what felt like all of Catholic Samoa in attendance. That evening, villagers honored the new arrivals with a joyful and colorful performance of traditional singing and dancing. The Sisters were immediately charmed by the warmth, gentleness, and joy of the Samoan people.
A Home Takes Root
In their early years, the Little Sisters began caring for elderly Samoans in their own homes — modest structures with thatched roofs and blinds woven from coconut fronds. But the need for a proper facility soon became undeniable.
Building such a structure on a remote Pacific island posed serious logistical challenges. It was Providence, however, that sent Mr. Andrew Richardson, a generous builder and benefactor from Melbourne who had previously supported the Sisters in Australia. Upon hearing of their difficulty, he immediately traveled to Samoa, surveyed the site, and took the project into his own hands — assembling materials, local workers, and even contributing significantly to the financing of the Home.
Meanwhile, teams of Samoans worked tirelessly to shovel sand from the sea, wash it to remove salt, and mold bricks by hand. Many found employment through the project, forming a beautiful partnership between community and mission.
A Lasting Contribution
Many Samoan families live in remote villages, with adults working far away in plantations, cultivating taro, bananas, coconuts, and pineapples. The elderly were often left with young children — a vulnerable situation.
Over the four years it took to complete the building, the presence of the Little Sisters became a beacon of support and trust. Villagers saw firsthand the love and dedication of the Sisters, and the foundational belief that every human being deserves dignity, care, and joy in old age.
Today, more than 40 years later, the Little Sisters continue to serve the kind, generous, and loving people of Samoa — a mission born from compassion, sustained by faith, and nurtured by the profound respect Samoan culture holds for its elderly.
