Bishop Amando Samo
Micronesia’s first native bishop, retired Bishop Amando Samo of the Diocese of the Caroline Islands in the Federated States of Micronesia, died Aug. 7 on Chuuk Island, at age 72.
He was a bishop for 34 years.
Bishop Samo’s legacy is a “truly Micronesian Church,” said Jesuit missionary to Micronesia Father Francis X. Hezel, a friend of the late bishop, in his blog, Aug. 16.
Father Hezel said the Micronesian bishop introduced elements of his native culture into the liturgy, enriching it.
All previous bishops had been foreign missionaries.
Bishop Samo was born on Moch Island in the state of Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia in 1948. He did some of his studies for the priesthood at Chaminade College of Honolulu, residing with Hawaii seminarians. He was ordained a priest in 1977.
“Father Amando wasted no time in putting his personal stamp on the islands he served,” wrote Father Hezel. “His enthusiastic promotion of the Marriage Encounter program was one of the first achievements in Chuuk.”
He was ordained a bishop in 1987, auxiliary to Bishop Martin Neylon of the Diocese of Caroline Islands, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral on Moen Island.
Father Samo was appointed coadjutor bishop of the diocese from 1994-1995 and named diocesan bishop in 1995. He retired on Feb. 2, 2020, after suffering a stroke.
