Tuesday, August 30, 2011

FRIAR AND MONKS


Father Gordon Combs, OFM Cap, met up with some Buddhists monks from Thailand. 

Monday, August 29, 2011

FATHER FELIX CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF PRIESTHOOD


Father Felixberto Leon Guerrero, OFM Cap
Ordained a priest 25 years ago
Congratulations!

To celebrate the jubilee, Mass was celebrated on August 28, 2011 at Santa Teresita Church, Mangilao, where Father Felix is pastor. 


Father Felix's family was in attendance


....so were many friars and clergy


...Secular Franciscans



PADRE PIO SECULAR FRANCISCAN FRATERNITY

On August 28, the Padre Pio Fraternity of Secular Franciscans was invested in the habit of the SFO.  Father Patrick Castro, OFM Cap, is Spiritual Assistant.  The ceremony was held in the chapel of Saint Fidelis Friary.



Sunday, August 28, 2011

BROTHERS BRYAN AND RYAN INVESTED

On July 24, two novices from Guam, Bryan Quinata and Ryan Charfauros, were invested with the Capuchin habit.  They joined 20 other novices from all over the U.S., Canada, Australia and England at the novitiate in San Lorenzo Friary, Santa Ynez, California.

Santa Ynez is near Solvang, CA and about a half hour from Santa Barbara. 


Bryan is invested by Father Joseph English, Vice Provincial of Guam and Hawaii


Father Joseph also assists Ryan receive the Capuchin habit


The entire class of novices for the year 2011-2012


Ryan and Bryan
Our two novices from the
Vice Province of Star of the Sea
Guam - Hawaii

POSTULANTS HOST FR JOSE AND BR JOE


Our four postulants Junee, Gavin, Joe and Emil live with their director, Father Andre, in the parish of Saint Francis in Yona.  In their first weeks at the new house, the postulants hosted lunch for the pastor of the parish, fellow Capuchin Father Jose Villagomez, and Brother Joe Meno who lives in the parish rectory.


Junee, Joe and Gavin in the kitchen.  Emil also helped prepare lunch.

FATHER DANIEL'S ROSARY


Father Daniel Cristobal was the first Chamorro Capuchin priest, ordained in 1959.  He passed away on August 15, 2010 and many people joined the friars this year to commemorate the first anniversary of his death.  Rosary was prayed nightly at the friary followed by refreshments.

MONTHLY PADRE PIO MASS


Every first Wednesday of the month, some 150 people attend the Mass in honor of Saint Padre Pio at the Saint Fidelis Friary.  After Mass, devotions are prayed and his relic is venerated.  The Guam Friary is fortunate to have a large handkerchief of Padre Pio, stained with his blood, which was obtained from the friary in San Giovanni Rotondo where his body lies.

HAWAII SFO


Father Gordon presides at a profession of three members of
the Secular Franciscan Order

FATHER ANDRE BIDS FAREWELL TO MERCY HEIGHTS


Father Andre has been teaching at Mercy Heights Nursery and Kindergarten in Oka, Guam for several years but had to leave his position there in order to become full-time Postulant Director of the four postulants entering this year.

The faculty and staff of Mercy Heights hosted a farewell party for him after Mass on July 29.  He will be missed by the Mercy Sisters and lay staff/faculty.

FATHER GORDON AND THE HAWAII SECULAR FRANCISCANS


Father Gordon Combs is Spiritual Assistant for the Secular Franciscan Order (SFO) in Hawaii.  Recently, the SFO received seven Korean Catholic women as members during an April 16 ceremony in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace.  These women had been meeting every month for over a year studying the SFO Rule with books from Korea.  One member assisted in translating the instructions of Father Gordon and the SFO formation director, Liz Ishimitsu.

In the picture above, Father Gordon, Liz Ishimitsu and other Hawaii SFO members join the Korean women at the reception ceremony.

BROTHERS JOE AND NATE RENEW VOWS


Brother Nate Santos renewed his temporary vows for one more year on July 28.  He will be attending Holy Names University in Oakland, California this year.


Brother Joe Meno also made his renewal the same day.  He is on Guam working in the ministry.

FRIARY FACADE


Friary Chapel Entrance

Saint Fidelis Friary was re-built in 2007 after Super Typhoon Pongsona in 2002 destroyed the prior one built in 1955.  The architectural style of the new friary is Spanish Mission, as a tribute to the Spanish missionaries who preceded us.

The white exterior with mustard trim is very prominent in southern Spain, and the tower-like structures on the roof, called espadanas, are also typical in much of Spain.

Friary Main Entrance

Many visitors remark how warm, cheerful and welcoming the friary exterior makes them feel.  The friary was built through the generous contributions of thousands of benefactors from Guam, the Northern Marianas, Hawaii, the U.S. mainland and elsewhere.