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.

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.