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June 25, 2022
PRAISE BE TO GOD! ROE vs. WADE overturned
Archdiocese’s message regarding
U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe vs. Wade
The Catholic Church on Guam hails the United States Supreme Court’s historic decision to overturn Roe vs Wade. We can say that this is a triumph of Good against Evil. We praise God the Creator and Source of Life for answering the prayers and sacrifices offered by many of our people here and worldwide, particularly those promoting Pro-life and the protection of unborn children.
We are grateful for the courage of the members of the Supreme Court who made the decision of life over death.
It’s been nearly a half century since we witnessed the infamous decision of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Roe vs Wade in 1973 and the horrific devastation that ensued upon the lives of millions of defenseless and innocent individuals. Besides the innocent unborn children killed through abortion, we have millions of mothers traumatized and in need of guidance, help and healing from the ordeal of their tragic actions.
Though the Supreme Court justices have made their landmark decision overturning Roe vs. Wade, the fight to end abortion is far from completed. The decision by the Supreme Court now places control of whether to restrict or allow abortion of innocent lives upon the shoulders of individual states and jurisdictions. On Guam, we pray that prior legislation restricting abortion on island now regains its legal foothold or that new, proposed legislation such as the Guam Heartbeat Act of 2022 becomes law.
On our island and everywhere in our country, we cannot be indolent in our work to promote the sanctity of life, because satan is always in our midst. He “is like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
As Catholics, we must be firm in following the moral authority of God and the teaching presented by the Church that "life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception" (Second Vatican Council's Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, no. 51).
We call on all Catholics and people of goodwill to persevere in the work to promote life and protect the innocent and defenseless. Though there are multitudes who rejoice today, there is much anger and fear in the hearts of many of our brothers and sisters across the nation. Please promote peace and compassion to one and all.
As well, to our women who are encountering difficulties and hard decisions to make, please know that your Church is here to assist you. We can provide you with spiritual guidance and counseling from trained, volunteer experts of our Catholic Pro-life Committee. We work with and support big-hearted groups such as Safe Haven, which provides women with pregnancy resources; Harvest House which helps children find loving foster families; and Ohalaˈ Adoptions which provides a compassionate choice for birthing mothers by bringing hope, love and a safe and nurturing environment for children through adoption.
For women who made the regrettable decision to have an abortion years ago or more recently – including complicit men or family members – our merciful Lord loves you. He extends to you his open arms and invitation to healing, forgiveness and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Our Father desires to embrace you with the Sacraments and awaits your coming.
We ask the Blessed Mother to intercede for us with her maternal affection, particularly to all our women and all mothers in Guam. Blessings upon you all!
Father Romeo Convocar
Archdiocese of Agaña Vicar General
On behalf of the Most Rev. Michael J. Byrnes
Archbishop of Agaña
Note -- Click here for a signed PDF copy of the message.
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Protocol No: 2022-084
AVISO
His Excellency, The Most Rev. Michael J. Byrnes, S.T.D., Archbishop of Agaña
announces an extension to the following priests’ current assignment to expire
on July 1, 2024
Fr. Joseph B. Anore
Parochial Administrator at St. Joseph Church, Inarajan
Msgr. James L.G. Benavente
Administrator at Our Lady of Purification Church, Maina
Fr. Danilo C. Bien
Pastor at Santa Barbara Church, Dededo
Fr. Joel de los Reyes
Parochial Administrator at San Vicente Ferrer Church, Barrigada
Fr. Richard M. Kidd
Pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Santa Rita
Fr. Jose Alberto Rodriguez
Pastor at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Agat
Fr. Manuel Trenchera, Jr.
Pastor at Nuestra Senora de las Aguas Church, Mongmong
Fr. Carlos S. Vila, JCL
Parochial Administrator at Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, Chalan Pago
Most Rev. Michael J. Byrnes, S.T.D
Archbishop of Agana
Attested this 21st day of June 2022
Fr. Romeo D. Convocar
Vicar General
Note -- Click here for a signed PDF copy.
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ARCHBISHOP'S PASTORAL LETTER
ON ABORTION AND THE DUTY
OF ALL FAITHFUL TO OBSERVE THE SANCTITY OF LIFE
What We Proclaim
In the Gospel reading we have for this Sunday on the Solemnity of the Most Blessed Trinity, Jesus told his disciples, “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.” (Jn. 16:12-13)
Jesus answered our longing for a guide in proclaiming the truth. The Holy Spirit that guided the disciples in their mission is the same Spirit that will guide us to proclaim all truth that we need for our Catholic Church in Guam to become “like a family, welcoming and friendly; that’s what makes our Church a home as best described in the summary of reports of the Synod on Synodality that we recently undertook.
We proclaim the true teachings of our faith in the Catholic Church. In the Catholic Church, we have the rich deposit of truths to be proclaimed, “the apostles entrusted the "Sacred Deposit" of the faith (the depositum fidei), 45 contained in Sacred Scriptures and Tradition, to the whole of the Church. “By adhering to [this heritage] the entire holy people, united to its pastors, remains always faithful to the teaching of the apostles, to the brotherhood, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. So, in maintaining, practicing, and professing the faith that has been handed on, there should be a remarkable harmony between the bishops and the faithful.” (Catechism of Catholic Church #84)
If we consider our unfamiliarity to the truths about our faith and the fabricated lies, we hear about our Church, how much greater should be our concern to form ourselves in knowledge of the true faith we profess that we can defend the Church we love and give our unconditional adherence to her Magisterium. Let us resolve to study the contents of our faith and experience the exquisiteness of our faith that we can embrace it and live by it wholeheartedly.
We proclaim unity in the Catholic Church. “We must pray together as Catholics and with other Christians, pray that the Lord give[s] us the gift of unity, unity among us. But how will we have unity among Christians if we are not capable of it among ourselves, as Catholics? Or in our families? So many families fight and are divided! Seek unity, the unity that builds the Church. Unity comes from Jesus Christ. He sends us the Holy Spirit to create unity” (General Audience, June 19, 2013).
It is imperative that we achieve unity in doctrine, in teachings and beliefs, expressed in action, professed in public; unity in our worship, manifested in the reception of the same sacraments instituted by Christ Himself. The Eucharist expresses concretely the love that unites us to God and the same love we must share to unite ourselves with our fellowmen. It is in the Eucharist that we draw strength and inspiration for us to become one Church as “the Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People of God by which the Church is kept in being. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1325). As a sacrament of unity, the Eucharist “can and must admit any baptized person to holy communion unless prohibited by law (canon 912) or if one “is aware of having committed a mortal sin (one) must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution, unless he has a grave reason for receiving Communion and there is no possibility of going to confession,” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2042, 1385).
I reiterate: Obedience to the commands of God, our Creator and Author of Life, means that all who are baptized Catholics MUST adhere to his teaching that life is sacred from conception to natural death and that abortion is evil. (Catechism of the Catholic Church #2270, #2271). All are welcome to celebrate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Source and Summit of our faith, for all of us are sinners. However, let it be clear, one MUST NOT be in a state of mortal sin to accept the real Body of Christ through Holy Communion.
As it is our shared responsibility as God's children, to help bring about unity in attitude, in understanding, in thought, in action and in fellowship with our brethren even with the greatest sinner amongst us for even the Lord himself became one just like any of us, except in sin.
Let us exercise our individual responsibility to bring about Godly unity, for it is something extremely important as it concerns eternal salvation. We will not attain eternal life unless we develop a Christ-like love for all and imitate his humility. The love we give must reach to all; not only to those we know as part of us, but also to those we know in the “world” – and, yes, even to those who make themselves our enemies in doctrines and beliefs.
We proclaim the truth about life. The proclamation of Life is at the center of the Gospel. “It is to be preached with dauntless fidelity as “good news” to the people of every age and culture. (St. Pope John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae #1) We consider life as our greatest gift from God. As life comes from God, it is sacred and inviolable. The good news is we share eternal life with God despite our sinfulness, for “anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life” (John 3:36) “Christ came that we may have life and have it to the full. By God becoming man and thereby elevating all human dignity; and by the God-Man having redeemed man, man's life on earth bears within itself that seed of immortal life planted by the Creator in the human heart.” (Evangelium Vitae # 31)
We proclaim the truth of the evils of abortion. Abortion is a murder of the most innocent among us considering that the one willfully eliminated is a defenseless human being at the beginning of life. Unborn children have no voice. They have no means to speak or cry out against those who threaten their lives. We must speak for them. As we defend the lives of the unborn in all our words and actions, we must be firm in our convictions that abortion is an absolute evil. Such direct attacks on human life, such as abortion and euthanasia, are always gravely immoral. Still, we see are new and mounting threats to human life that are often justified, protected, and even promoted by laws and culture.
Today, we are at the intersection of major, historical changes in the acceptance and legalization of abortion in Guam and our nation. At this writing, we join multitudes of people in the nation and worldwide who, with tremendous trust and prayers in our Lord, are awaiting an historic ruling by the justices of the United States Supreme Court that will overturn Roe vs Wade, the tragic decision that legalized abortion in 1973. The justices have been deliberating on a specific case for more than half a year and their ruling is expected to be announced this month.
Additionally, on the local front, our Archdiocese has joined thousands in Guam in expressing tremendous joy and support for a bill that has been introduced by members of the 36th Guam Legislature that would place landmark restrictions on the procurement of abortion on our island.
Last April, as the Archbishop of Agaña I declared my support of the “The Guam Heartbeat Act of 2022”. The Church welcomes this powerful pro-life legislation. Hearts are changing, eyes are opening, and hope is rising across our country that the scourge of abortion will be significantly curtailed. With the introduction of the Guam Heartbeat Act in the 36th Guam Legislature and most notably an anticipated favorable decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, there is a tremendous cause for hope. . . and for prayer.
But our life in the Church is not just limited to proclaiming the truth but most importantly living the truth with courage, conviction, and hope. Receive my blessings as I implore the prayers and intercession of Our Lady of Camarin, who was with the Apostles during Pentecost and who continues to be with us today to inspire and always lead us closer to her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
The peace of Jesus Christ be with you,
Most Reverend Michael J. Byrnes, D.D. S.T.D.
Archbishop of Agaña
09 June 2022
NOTE -- CLICK HERE FOR A SIGNED PDF COPY .
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Synod of Archdiocese of Agaña
What We Heard
The church at its best is like a family, welcoming and friendly, most people felt. That’s what makes the church a home, even if we come from different backgrounds and islands. This family spirit may be expressed through the liturgical celebrations, and also through parish fiestas and other social activities but there are serious challenges to this family spirit, many noted, especially when some church members are made to feel like outsiders. These “outsiders” may include members of the gay community, others whose marriage is not blessed in church, and those whose reputation has been sullied by gossip. This can marginalize Catholics and may provoke a strong reaction, sometimes pushing them to leave the church altogether. Then, too, there are others who feel unwanted, and their offer to help out rejected, because they are not members of the ruling clique in their parish.
Attending church services can be a “spiritual hug,” as one person put it. Attending Mass, enhanced by a good homily, and singing that engages the congregation, is a rich source of spiritual nourishment. Traditional religious ceremonies, such as those practiced during Holy Week or to honor Our Lady of Kamalen, are additional ways of finding nourishment. From many there was a call for even more: a welcome before mass, greater participation during the service, and occasional social gatherings afterwards—all in the name of stronger fellowship. Study groups and adult education programs would also be a welcome addition in the eyes of many. On the other hand, locked church doors and priestly indifference to the needs of parishioners represent serious obstacles here.
Opportunities for service are an essential part of church, many recognized, even if this is sometimes ignored by those churchgoers intent solely on personal piety. This church service should be extended to two groups: those who have left the church, often because they found no home there, and the poor who need food and other help. Rather than simply waiting for fallen away Catholics to return, church members should go out and proclaim the Good News. Likewise, gathering food and clothing for the needy should be not just a Christmas or Thanksgiving activity, but an on-going part of church life.
All express their joy in being able to share their faith with their children and grandchildren, but it has become a serious challenge today to keep the young generation in the church. In the past the family hung together more tightly than nowadays, so it was easier then for elders to convince the young to attend church with them. Today, however, many young people tend to go their own way. Without the strong family support young people once enjoyed, catechetical programs are more important than ever if the faith is to be transmitted to the young. Yet, in the eyes of many, such programs are generally weak. There was a strong cry for improvement and expansion of our Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) program. Most felt that religious instruction should be offered every year, not just as students are preparing for the sacraments. Many also called for a youth program aimed at those who are older than the CCD students.
Other problems in the church in Guam were mentioned during the Synod listening sessions. The challenge to church unity has been serious, especially with the divisiveness here over the past decade. That has continued to the present between those mourning the loss of the “traditional” church and others embracing the changes in our post-Vatican church. Somehow the church in Guam will have to find a way to discuss those controversial topics that divide us and impair our ministry. In addition, the church in Guam will have to provide more reliable financial accountability so that people know how their money is being used. Standard regulations and procedures should be established throughout the archdiocese, so that churchgoers don’t wander from place to place to find someone who will provide what they want. Parish councils should be functional and representative of the whole parish. Priests should be available to people, not hidden away in the rectory.
Overall, those involved in the Synod listening sessions said that they deeply appreciated the opportunity to voice their feelings about the church, its strengths, and its weaknesses. Most seemed to believe that their church, which has brought so much to its members throughout the years, can successfully meet the challenges today and make the changes needed to become even more effective in today’s world.
Francis X. Hezel, SJ
May 13, 2022
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Dear brothers and sisters and most especially our youth in Jesus Christ,
I encourage our Catholic school students and parish CCD youths along with families, couples, and individuals to participate on Tuesday, May 3rd at the “Rally for Life” with other pro-life advocates from 4pm-6pm outside the Guam Legislature building in Hagatna.
Additionally, a public hearing on Pro-life Bill 291, The Guam Heartbeat Act of 2022 will be held on May 4th & May 6th. All are encouraged to testify on the Pro-life Bill or show support by your attendance at the public hearings. Our Archdiocese supports this proposed legislation and all efforts that protect unborn children and the gift of life that God, our Almighty Creator has entrusted to us.
May God through the intercession of Saints Gianna and Gerard bless all who work together for this cause. Si Yu’os Ma’ase for your continued support in protecting the unborn.
Yours in Jesus Christ,
The Most Reverend Michael J. Byrnes, S.T.D.
Archbishop of Agaña
Happy birthday Church!
In a few short days, we will be able to say those words to one another. It is my prayer that there will be a great many more people exclaiming those words of joy within the actual walls of our churches.
The Church will celebrate Pentecost Sunday this weekend on May 23. The feast of Pentecost commemorates that great moment when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles in a powerful rush of wind, with tongues of fire that transformed everyone present.
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During Good Shepherd Sunday, Archbishop
discusses grave sin of child abuse committed by clergy in past
Gospel, John 10:11-18
Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep…”
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Archbishop Michael Byrnes spoke frankly about the grave sin of sexual abuse committed in the past by a number of Catholic clergy on Guam including his predecessor, former Archbishop Anthony Apuron during the 9:30 a.m. Mass April 25, 2021 in the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica.
During his homily on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Archbishop Byrnes discussed the Gospel of John and Jesus our Good Shepherd while decrying the so-called shepherds of our diocese who instead acted as hired men and had no regard for the sheep. Instead they harmed the flock.
Archbishop Byrnes also described the responsibility that the Archdiocese of Agana has today. “Since we’re the Church, we have to bear the sins of our predecessors and try to make some recompense to those who have suffered so grievously in the past and (who) continue to suffer in that way,” he said.
“Our aim is to bring some measure of justice, not full justice because there is no capacity for full justice when you’ve been grievously suffered in this way,” the archbishop said. “But we must make some recompense to bring through this proceeding, the greatest measure of justice to the greatest number of victim/survivors.”
“So what I want to say today is that we the Archdiocese of Agaña will give no place to those who serve as hired men, as hired people who let the wolf run free,” he said. “And so, may the Good Shepherd himself strengthen us that we stay true to that conviction and turn that conviction into action.”
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To hear the Gospel and Archbishop Byrnes’ entire homily, view a recording of the April 25, 2021 Fourth Sunday of Easter Mass by visiting the Agana Cathedral’s website at
https://aganacathedral.org/
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The Archdiocese of Agaña encourages anyone who has been a victim of abuse by any clergy, employee or volunteer of the Roman Catholic Church to contact the Guam Police Department and Child Protective Services. In addition, the Archdiocese of Agaña provides support services through its Victim Assistance Coordinator.
Click here for more info on how to report