FATHER PAULO LAYS HIS MOTHER TO REST

Father Paulo Kosaka, ministering at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Waikane, Hawaii, returned to Guam to preside at the funeral liturgy of his beloved mother, Cecilia Hara Kosaka.

Manuel Kosaka and his wife Cecilia

Cecilia lived a long and fulfilling life, raising many children with her late husband, Manuel Borja Kosaka, who died many years earlier.  Besides seeing their son Paulo became a Capuchin priest, Manuel was cook at the friary for many years and was a treasured member of our extended Capuchin family.  Both Manuel and Cecilia was models of humility and hard work.

Fr Paulo and Fr Felixberto Leon Guerrero, pastor of San Miguel Church

Fr Paulo preaching at his mother's funeral Mass

Capuchin Archbishop Anthony Apuron presided at liturgy and said the prayer after communion

SANTA TERESITA FIESTA

This past Saturday was the patronal feast of Santa Teresita parish in Mangilao.  Father Joseph English, Capuchin Vice Provincial and pastor, welcomed Capuchin Archbishop Anthony Apuron to preside at the festal liturgy, along with other friars and clergy.

 

The Archbishop incensing the statue of St Therese of Lisieux, parish patroness.

Santa Teresita parish is a large one and the church was full of parishioners and visitors.

PASTORAL MINISTRIES OF OUR SIMPLY PROFESSED

The Vice Province is blessed to have two brothers who are still in temporary vows, studying at the University of Guam.  Besides this, they also serve the local church in a variety of ways.

Brother Ryan Charfauros serves at Saint Jude parish in Sinajana, assisting the Confirmation class.  He is also present on weekends at parish Masses.  Since last year, he also helps serve meals at Kusinan Kamalen Karidat, a center for people needing meals.

Brother Gavin Diego is assigned to Santa Teresita Church in Mangilao, helping as an advisor to their very active and large Youth Ministry program.  He, too, is present on weekends to be with the parishioners at liturgy.  He also leads a monthly faith sharing group at the Friary.

OUR POSTULANTS MINISTER

Our postulants on Guam take classes and follow the friary prayer and work schedule, but they also minister once a week for several hours.  Their ministry focuses on the elderly.  One week they visit the elderly Sisters of Mercy at their convent in Oka.  On this particular occasion, they were present for the 96th birthday of Sister Thecla.

They alternate the following week with a visit to Saint Dominic's Senior Care Home where they visit clients individually or in group activities.  Here, postulant Nicholas Martinez dances with one of the clients during a group dance session.

BROTHER GAVIN'S FAITH SHARING GROUP

Brother Gavin Diego has started a monthly faith sharing group, made up of young adults.  They will be meeting at the Friary.

PADRE PIO FIESTA 2013

The afternoon of the Feast began with a little miracle unto itself.  After almost a week of monsoon rains and winds which flooded low-lying areas and swelled rivers, a few hours before the feast was to begin, the skies became blue and the bright sun light beamed on the friary.  Perfect weather for a procession.

Father Eric presided and preached.

 

The procession

The image borne in procession

Veneration of the Relic

Dinner

Capuchin Punch

 

Father Patrick, Brother Ryan and Violet Manibusan

FR ANDRE AT MERCY FEAST DAY

September 24 is the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy and the Sisters of Mercy celebrate this on the Sunday closest to that date if it falls on any other day.  Father Andre Eduvala, OFM Cap is often called on to preside and preach at this Mass.  Msgr David IA Quitugua and Fr Richard Kidd concelebrated.

SAN MIGUEL FIESTA

On September 21, the parish of San Miguel, Talofofo celebrated its patronal feast day.  Father Felixberto Leon Guerrero, OFM Cap, pastor was joined by Father Paulo Kosaka, OFM Cap (far right), a native son of the parish, and by Brother Gavin Diego, OFM Cap.

Also in attendance were our postulants (from left to right) : Lawrence Borja, Nicholas Martinez, Cody Lizama and Sean Rodriguez.

AT THE CATECHETICAL CONFERENCE

At the Catechetical Conference of the Archdiocese on Guam, two friars participated as speakers.  Father Jose Villagomez spoke on Liturgical Ministries : What You Need to Know.

And Father Eric Forbes spoke on Sacraments : Beliefs and Practices Among Guam's Catholics.

GUAM FRIAR ON CHAMORRO LANGUAGE PANEL IN GERMANY

 

The University of Bremen (Germany) has a strong linguistics department and great interest in the former German colonies which include the Northern Marianas.   The University held an international conference on Colonial and Postcolonial Linguistics from September 3-8 and invited Guam friar Fr. Eric Forbes, OFM Cap to be part of the panel on Chamorro, the language of the Mariana Islands.  Joining him were Dr. Robert Underwood, President of the University of Guam, and Dr. Rosa Salas Palomo, a professor at the same university.

FRIARS AND THE CURSILLO

Brother Gavin Diego assisted in this weekend's Cursillo retreat for men on Guam.  He also gave a spiritual talk on Holiness.

Some of our younger friars have backgrounds in the Cursillo movement.