FIRST LADY LEADS PEACE PRAYER AT FRIARY

Mrs. Christine Calvo

First Lady of Guam (2010 to 2018)

In the eight years that she has been Guam's First Lady, Mrs. Christine Calvo, often accompanied by her husband, Governor Eddie Baza Calvo, has made it a priority to visit all the island's churches and public chapels to lead the people in offering a Peace Prayer to end violence in all its forms locally and throughout the world.

The Friary Chapel is always included in this schedule of Peace Prayer visits, which is stretched out over the calendar year.

This past year, the First Lady attended the 1210pm Mass at the Friary Chapel on September 13. After the Final Prayer and before the dismissal, the First Lady lead the congregation in saying the Peace Prayer and then presented a floral bouquet to Our Lady.

THE CAPUCHINS AND THE PAPAL VISIT

Recently canonized St Pope John Paul II has a special connection not only with Guam, but also with the Capuchins Friars on Guam, when he came to visit the island in February of 1981 - the first and only (so far) papal visit of this Pacific island.

First of all, the Overall Chairman of the Papal Visit was a Chamorro Capuchin, Father Daniel Cristobal.  He was responsible for everything on the Guam side.  For months, he ate, slept, drank the papal visit.

FATHER DANIEL CRISTOBAL, OFM Cap

Secondly, all the friars, at the time, had a chance to get very close to the Pope, touching his hand. Some exchanged a few words with him.  He saw some friars and asked, "Cappuccini?  Where are your beards?" Some of the friars wore white habits, so it was harder to tell if they were Capuchin. But others, like Fr George, always wore brown so that's how the Pope recognized the friars.  In Italy and other countries in Europe, all the friars wear beards and it is their trademark.

Thirdly, the rector of the Cathedral, where the Pope's audience with the clergy, religious and leading lay people was held, and who helped coordinate the Papal Mass the next day, was the present-day Archbishop of Agaña, Capuchin Archbishop Anthony Apuron.  During the Papal Mass, he was an assistant MC and held the umbrella for the Pope.  Other friars also had a part in the liturgy, besides concelebrating.

Lastly, the Friary hosted a good number of visiting clergy from all over the world.  Some friars vacated their rooms in order to give their beds to these visitors.

NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL

On August 1, Notre Dame High School teachers and staff met at the Friary for their development day activities.  Fr. Eric gave them a talk on "The Teachings, the Teacher and the Taught in Catholic Education."

RECORDING OUR HYMNS

Recording equipment filled the chapel last night when Cathy Calvo Cruz, a well-known choir director and music teacher, recorded the accompaniment to a long list of Chamorro church hymns, both old and new.  The recordings will be part of a Chamorro music project spearheaded by Pa'a Taotao Tano'.

This is not the first time sacred music was recorded in our chapel.  The Saint Francis School Children's Choir did a recording back in the 90s, and the Island Chorale recorded their album of church hymns in our chapel in the early 2000s.

FRIARY MURAL UNVEILED

The mural beautifying the retaining wall outside the Friary was unveiled today, after more than a month of hard work in the hot sun by Tina Chargualaf, the artist, and her dozen or more volunteers.  The wall is property of the Government of Guam, and paint and supplies were donated by Benson Guam.

Father George Maddock from the Friary gave the blessing.

The artist, Tina Chargualaf, is in the middle, wearing a black blouse; to the right is Mayor Paul McDonald.  Father George is to the right.

The Friary in the mural against the backdrop of the actual Friary.

The mural, perhaps the longest village mural on Guam at the moment, depicts scenes of both traditional and modern life in the village.

FRIARY MURAL

The village mayors all over Guam have been creating murals in the past few years, to highlight their village histories and landmarks.  They take advantage of the largest retaining walls they can find along heavily traveled streets.

The retaining wall just outside the friary makes a great spot for a mural.

They were gracious enough to include the friary as a landmark depicted in the mural.

Here's how the retaining wall looks....

The wall, by the way, is owned by the government, not the friary.

A BLESSED EASTER TO ALL!

Friary Chapel

GOOD FRIDAY AT THE FRIARY

It is the custom for many people to go visiting churches and chapels on Good Friday afternoon and evening, including the Friary Chapel.

FRIARS PRAY STATIONS

For our regular Thursday prayers, we decided to pray the Stations of the Cross, a most Franciscan tradition.

CHRISTMAS TIME AT THE FRIARY

Father Patrick did a wonderful job putting bluish lights in the upper hallway that give a beautiful glow at night.

The night scene of the belen or creche Father Patrick did has a similar beauty.

Father Patrick placed an infant Jesus (Niño) on its own stand for people to venerate at any time.  Many visiting the Christmas Village do so, as this mom and child are doing.

FRIARY BELEN

Belen is the Chamorro word for Nativity Scene.  It actually means "Bethlehem," and is borrowed from the Spanish.

Father Patrick Castro and his many helpers put together the belen in the friary this year.

The men began by putting the frame of the shelter together.

Father Patrick and his helpers padded the belen with lumut (Guam jungle moss).

Lumut (Moss)

The End Result!

The reward of hard work.

FRIARY CHRISTMAS VILLAGE

Since November 27, from 6-9PM every night of the week, the doors of the Guam Friary open to several hundred people, especially the children, who come to view the Christmas Village.  It will continue till January 8.

Postulants helping bag sandwiches for the night's refreshments

Pale' Eric mixing the fruit salad

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.