FRIARY CHRISTMAS VILLAGE 2018

The 2018 Friary Christmas Village is off to a good start at the Agaña Shopping Center, drawing hundreds of visitors every night between 6 and 9PM.

Admission is free and all donations freely given by visitors will be used to help pay the bank loan for the construction of the new friary in 2007.

FATHER ERIC'S CHAMORRO MINISTRY

For the past nine years, Father Eric has spent every October in the West Coast of the US mainland, where thousands of Chamorros live and who look forward to hearing Mass and sermons in their native Chamorro language. In San Diego County alone, an estimated 35,000 Chamorros live.

The Saint Jude fiesta in San Diego is always on Father Eric's schedule. Depending on the year, the Saint Francis of Assisi fiesta is also included. These fiestas are held at the Sons and Daughters of Guam Club House, located in San Diego.

At the people's own request, Father Eric offers another Mass in honor of Padre Pio for the healing of the sick, for whom individual candles are lit. After Mass, the relic of Padre Pio is venerated by all.

Another standing commitment is Mass at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles. This is held in honor of Our Lady of Camarin, patroness of Guam, and is scheduled as close to December 8 as possible. This year, December 8 happened to fall on a Saturday, the usual day this Mass is celebrated.

In Chamorro fashion, all events are followed by a meal of some kind, so that the Chamorro community can bond in fellowship.

Besides the spiritual, Father Eric almost always offers some historical or cultural presentation, for the education of the community. This year, his topic was on two historic Chamorro Catholic priests, Father Jesus Dueñas, who was beheaded by the Japanese in 1944, and Monsignor Oscar Calvo, another priest during the war who lived till the year 2000. Both priests played important roles in the life of the people of Guam during the war. Father Eric's presentations were held in two places this year, San Diego and Los Angeles.

CHAPTER 2018

February of 2018 saw all the friars of the Guam-Hawaii Custody gather in Chapter to elect their new leadership for the next three years and vote on important decisions.

Elected to serve as Custos (superior) for the next three years was Father Patrick Castro. Assisting him are Fathers Eric Forbes and Joseph English, elected First and Second Councillors, respectively.

Father Patrick Castro (center, Custos) and Fathers Eric (left) and Joseph (right)

The friars at prayer in the Chapel

PADRE PIO FIESTA 2018

The Padre Pio Fiesta this year was as big a success as it has been in the past. Easily over 300 devotees filled the Friary chapel as well as the two large canopies set up in the parking lot immediately in front of the chapel to accommodate the large crowds.

Nine nights of novena and Mass were celebrated prior to the feast, all presided by Father Eric Forbes, who was also homilist throughout the entire period. On the final night, Fathers Andre Eduvala and Victor Garcia concelebrated.

After the Mass, the image of Padre Pio was carried in procession, followed by the veneration of his First Class relic. A dinner, provided by the people themselves, was enjoyed by all at the end of the liturgical celebration. Despite it being the rainy season, the good Lord graced us with clear skies that night.

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.

PREPARING FOR LENT IN HAWAII

The fire was blazing at Holy Trinity parish in Hawaii Kai, Honolulu, in preparation for Lent 2018.

Father Michel Dalton, Capuchin pastor, burned last year's blessed palms in order to make the ashes to be used for Ash Wednesday.

This was followed later that evening by a parish Mardi Gras, the last opportunity for parishioners to party before Lent's penances begin!

BROTHER AUSTIN'S FIRST PROFESSION

On July 28, 2017, Brother Austin Usar made his first profession as a Capuchin friar, after successfully completing his novitiate year at San Lorenzo Friary in Santa Ynez, California. Brother Austin is a native of Guam and his home parish is Santa Teresita in Mangilao.

The first profession was made at Saint Fidelis Friary in Guam. Brother Austin is now doing his academic studies in the Philippines. Congratulations, Brother Austin!

FRIARY CHRISTMAS VILLAGE CONTINUES

The long-awaited resumption of the annual Friary Christmas Village was greeted with public delight this past Christmas season.

Started in 2008 at the Friary, this huge display of Christmas ornaments, trains, lights, town scenes and ski lifts, accompanied by all the bells, whistles and music, is the property of members of the Quinata family, collected over more than ten years.

Due to the unfortunate health condition of the family matriarch, Mae Quinata, may she rest in peace, the family understandably could not manage putting on the Christmas Village for two years. This year the family resumed the display, now in honor of our beloved Mae.

This year, however, the location was moved to the Agana Shopping Center, just down the hill from the Friary. Here, the Village found more ample space and a ready crowd among the many Christmas shoppers. Donations from the people viewing the Village will go to the Friary.

Friars and Friary volunteers were on hand every night to greet the people. Different groups also volunteered to host the light refreshments served to the crowds who came to see the display.

FRIAR CONTRIBUTES TO GUAM HISTORY WITH DOCUMENTARY

Historically, the Capuchins all over the world have made contributions to the study of history, culture and language in many locations. Having sent many missionaries all over the globe, the Order has often been the first to document these things in many lands.

On Guam, the Spanish missionaries Fr Roman promoted the Chamorro language and Fr Pastor started collecting historical material. American Fr Julius Sullivan wrote the first published history of the Marianas mission.

Now, local-born Pale' Eric Forbes produced and narrated a documentary about the history of the Chamorro people. One year of fundraising provided money for the project and one year of filming and editing ended with the production of the documentary in dvd format.

The response from the public has been tremendous. The dvd is currently on sale in Guam and online.

With Governor & Mrs Eddie Baza Calvo at Guam's Government House

At the San Diego, California premier

Signing the DVD at Guam's Government House

Newspaper Feedback

http://www.guampdn.com/story/opinion/2015/12/30/am-chamorro-success/78005262/


http://www.guampdn.com/story/life/2016/01/09/am-chamorro-documentary-success/78399438/

PALE' ERIC'S JUBILEE

A second 25th priesthood jubilee was celebrated by the Guam friars last September when Pale' Eric offered a Mass of Thanksgiving for his 25 years of priestly life.

Pale' Eric was ordained on September 8, 1990.

The Mass was celebrated at his home parish church of Saint Jude in Sinajana.

FRIARS MARK THE PASSING OF SAINT FRANCIS

October 4th is the feast of Saint Francis. Our Franciscan custom is to observe his "passing" (in Latin, transitus) from earthly life to heavenly life the night before or, if more convenient, some night before the 4th.

The Guam friars gathered to celebrate this Transitus in the Friary chapel. Besides hearing the story of Saint Francis' death and Scripture readings, the friars light one candle for every deceased friar in the community.

PADRE PIO FIESTA 2015

The island's devotees of Padre Pio crowded the friary once again this past September 23 for the annual Padre Pio fiesta.

Nine nights of novena preceded the feast.

Father Jose Villagomez, OFM Cap was this year's preacher for the festal Mass.

The procession after Mass around the Friary

Venerating the relic of Padre Pio after the procession

NEW CAPUCHIN PASTOR

On September 1, the parish of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in Agana Heights welcomed a new pastor, Father Marvin Bearis, OFM Cap.

Father Marvin hails from Ewa Beach, Hawaii -  a parish formerly under the Capuchins and where he first got to know the friars.

Since he was ordained a priest in 2009, Father Marvin has taught high school in Hawaii and worked in youth ministry in New York. This is now his first ministry as pastor of a parish and his first priestly assignment on Guam.

Welcome, Father Marvin, and God bless all your endeavors!

GUAM'S FAITHFUL COME OUT TO SUPPORT FOUNDERS' DAY DINNER

The auditorium at Saint Francis School in Yona was filled to capacity on August 26, 2015 for the Third Annual Founders' Day Dinner.

The Founders' Day Dinner is held every year to help raise funds to pay for the Friary's construction back in 2007. Donors buy tickets to the dinner as well as bid in a silent auction. Generous sponsors help with the dinner costs and provide silent auction items ranging from a brand new car to religious art.

The event is held every August and is called Founders' Day to commemorate the first three Capuchin friars who arrived on Guam in August of 1901.

The theme for the 2015 Dinner was the parish of Saint Francis in Yona, which dedicated its first known chapel built in 1914-1915, our a hundred years ago.

We thank all our benefactors for their constant support and we pray for God's blessings upon them.

The formation friars entertain the crowd

Father Jose singing his medley of Chamorro songs

THE FRIARS WELCOME TWO POSTULANTS

Austin, Fr Andre and Dereck

Postulancy in the Capuchin Order is the beginning of a young man's experience of Capuchin life. It is a period of discernment, lasting around nine months.

During that time, the postulant lives in community so that he can experience first-hand the life of a Capuchin friar. Both he and the friars look for signs that the Lord is calling them to the Capuchin way of life.

A postulant does not profess vows or wears the habit (the Capuchin brown robe), but otherwise experiences Capuchin life by attending all community prayers, working around the Friary and taking different classes in religious and Capuchin life.

This past August, Austin Usar and Dereck Delgado entered the postulancy program to start discerning their vocation. Father Andre Eduvala, OFM Cap is their director.

God bless them and enlighten them!

THREE FRIARS MAKE FIRST PROFESSION

Bros. Sean, Nicholas and Cody

The Capuchin fraternity in Guam and Hawaii rejoiced when three young friars, their novitiate year concluded, made first profession as Capuchin friars, making temporary vows of poverty, chastity and obedience on August 6, 2015 on the feast of the Transfiuration.

Brothers Sean Rodriguez, Nicholas Martinez and Cody Lizama professed these vows before Father Patrick Castro, Custos of Guam and Hawaii, in the presence of the Guam fraternity at Saint Fidelis Friary.

FATHER JOSEPH ENGLISH CELEBRATES 25 YEARS

Twenty-five years ago, Capuchin friar Joseph English was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Anthony Apuron, OFM Cap at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagatna, Guam.

Since then, Father Joe has been a pastor in many Guam parishes and also served as Vice Provincial (superior) from 2009-2015. He is the son of the late Kenneth and Lourdes Crisostomo English of Saint Jude parish, Sinajana.

Father Joe is very appreciated by parishioners for his homilies. Thousands of people came to celebrate his priestly jubilee at Mass held at the University of Guam Field House, followed by dinner.

Congratulations, Father Joseph and many more years to come!