ON GUAM : ANOTHER MEMORIAL MASS

Prior to serving in Hawaii, Father Bob Maher had also ministered on Guam.  He was Pastor at San Miguel Church, Talofofo. 

On Friday, August 30, Father Felixberto Leon Guerrero, present pastor of Talofofo, and Father Patrick Castro, 1st Councilor of the Vice Province, offered a memorial Mass for Father Bob at San Miguel Church.

Father Bob's memorial cards were passed out to all the faithful who attended Mass to remember Father Bob.

MEMORIAL MASS FOR FATHER BOB MAHER

Father Bob Maher served in Hawaii for twelve years, as associate for many years in the parish of Saint Elizabeth in Aiea and later as administrator of Saint George parish in Waimanalo.  He returned to New York last year and died unexpectedly on August 21.

To pay tribute to his many years of service in the Diocese of Honolulu, a memorial Mass for his soul was celebrated on August 29 at Saint Elizabeth Church in Aiea presided by Bishop Larry Silva, Bishop of Honolulu.

 

Father Michel Dalton and Father Gordon Combs

The three friars in Hawaii, Fathers Michel Dalton, Gordon Combs and Paulo Kosaka concelebrated.  Father Michel also preached the homily.  At the end of Mass, the three friars sang the "Ultima," traditionally sung in our Capuchin community for the remembrance of the deceased friars.

The church was full of former parishioners, friends, clergy and religious.

Father Paulo Kosaka with some religious and a priest who gathered for the dinner after the memorial Mass.

1ST ANNUAL CAPUCHIN FOUNDERS DAY DINNER

Almost 400 guests made our 1st Annual Capuchin Founders Day a huge success.  The monies raised at the dinner will go to help meet our obligations to the bank for the construction of the new friary, built in 2007.

The annual event is called "Capuchin Founders Day" because the first Capuchins who arrived on Guam came in August of 1901.  Every August, a benefit dinner will be held with a different theme each year.  As this was the first, the theme was the very first two friars to arrive on Guam.  A DVD presentation was viewed by all, explaining the reasons why two Spanish Capuchins came to Guam in 1901 to help the lone Chamorro diocesan priest who had to care for the entire island by himself.

Father Patrick Castro helped greet the guests as they arrived at Saint Francis School in Yona, where the dinner was held.

There was a wide variety of musical and dance entertainment, including Chamorro folk songs sung by Father Jose and Father Eric....

...Father Bert San Diego from the Philippines and postulant Lawrence Borja at the keyboards...

 

....postulants Sean Rodriguez on guitar and Cody Lizama singing.

Besides the great food and entertainment, there were prizes, quizzes and many items up for silent auction.

A great time was had by all.  Thanks to all our sponsors and many, many volunteers!

170TH ANNIVERSARY

Last Friday Father Gordon Combs joined the Youth and Young Adults group of the Honolulu Cathedral parish at a cookout at the Franciscan Sisters' "Blessings House" in Ewa Beach to celebrate the 170th anniversary of the dedication of the cathedral. Later they prayed the scriptural rosary together in the Cathedral.

BROTHER GAVIN MAKES FIRST PROFESSION

After completing one year of novitiate in California, Brother Gavin Diego returned to Guam to make his first profession last night at his parish church of Saint Joseph in Inarajan.

He vowed to live poverty, chastity and obedience for one year.  His profession was received by Father Joseph English, Vice Provincial.

Profession is first made in stages, for a temporary period until the friar and the fraternity are more sure of his vocation.  Then he makes profession for the rest of his life.

Religious profession is not connected with priesthood.  Although Brother Gavin plans to study in the future for the priesthood, religious profession is a commitment to a religious way of life, in his case, to the Franciscan lifestyle in the footsteps of Saint Francis of Assisi.

The church was filled to capacity!

Hundreds of well-wishers enjoyed the sumptuous feast after Mass.

The Mass was truly a family affair.  His mother Lynn (to his right) was lead singer in the choir.  His brother Terence (far right) read one of the readings in Mass.  Another brother, Bo, was also a reader.  His father Frank read the Universal Prayer.  And the youngest brother Cody was the book bearer for the presider at Mass.

CONGRATULATIONS BROTHER GAVIN!

 

THANKS TO HIS FAMILY, THE PARISH OF SAINT JOSEPH, ALL OUR CAPUCHIN FRIENDS AND BENEFACTORS FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT!

 

Pray for Vocations!

FOUR POSTULANTS WELCOMED INTO PROGRAM

 

Sean Rodriguez, Cody Lizama, Fr Andre, Nicholas Martinez, Lawrence Borja

Yesterday, four young men started their program as postulants of the Vice Province.  Postulancy is the first formal introduction of the Capuchin way of life to those seriously discerning a vocation.

As postulants, these young men are not friars yet.  But they live in the fraternity, take classes, pray with the friars and participate in most of the activities of the friars so that they can truly get to know our way of life through experience, and the friars can also get to know them.  This way they can better discern God's will.

Their director is Father Andre Eduvala, OFM Cap.

The postulants were given the Tau cross, a symbol of conversion adopted by Saint Francis.

 

The friars welcome the postulants with an embrace.

 

 

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR POSTULANTS

 

and

 

PRAY FOR VOCATIONS!