The following comment was made by Ellen or Eileen, which can be found here. The red belongs to Ellen while mine are in black.
Diana,
According to the archbishop, the archdiocese of Agaña is a "poor mission diocese" and has been so for the past 30 years or it could not qualify for Catholic Extension funds. According to their website: "Catholic Extension uniquely contributes to the growth and vibrancy of the Church in the U.S. by strategically investing in POOR MISSION DIOCESES to unleash the power of faith that transforms hearts, lives and society."
The Archbishop never said that the Archdiocese of Agana is a poor mission diocese. So, do not put words in the Archbishop's mouth. The goal of Catholic Extension is to provide funds and resources to churches or communities that are struggling to keep the Catholic faith alive and growing. That applies to Guam and to many places in the United States. Over the years, Catholicism on Guam have decreased from 98% to 85% as many of our brothers converted to other Christian denominations. The number of church attendance on Guam have also dropped.
The Catholic Church itself is a "mission" church in that we were instructed by Christ to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Before the Way, the Archdiocese of Agana have been borrowing priests mainly from the Philippines because Guam was unable to produce enough priestly vocations to fill all the village churches. In that sense, Guam struggled with inspiring priestly vocations and with evangelization. I had more Pentecostals and Jehovah Witnesses knocking on my door. The Catholics did a poor job in trying to get back our brothers who left the Church and in evangelizing non-Catholics.
Our Catholic traditions have also disappeared over the years. At one time, people in every village would bring the Fatima to people's homes and we would pray together. Now, I do not see that anymore. At one time, families would gather around the Belen every Christmas to pray and sing songs. Now, I do not see that anymore. In fact, I do not even see people taking the time to make the Belen like in the good old days. At one time, baby Jesus would go around during the Christmas season visiting people' homes with carolers singing Christmas songs. Now, I do not see that in my village anymore. These beautiful Catholic traditions in our Chamorro culture have vanished as people became more busy with their jobs and other secular activities. Our life has become more secular.
In addition, Catholic Extension also recognizes outstanding individuals and awards them the Lumen Christi Award with a $50,000 grant to support the person's ministry. Kevin An Delgado of Mangilao was one of the top ten finalists for the 2015 Lumen Christi Award.
As a "poor mission diocese" how are religious expected to afford a $200 ticket to attend the archbishop's birthday gala?
"Ellen B. or Eilleen Benavente- Bles"
This is obviously your REAL gripe.....the Archbishop's birthday gala. The fact that we had to hold a fundraiser for the Archdiocese of Agana plus the two seminaries shows that the Archdiocese and Seminaries are struggling with finances. However, we are still fortunate than some parishes in the United States who had to close down their doors due to a lack of priests.
Holding a gala fundraiser for the poor is not a bad thing. But holding a gala fundraiser to help the Church and seminaries is also NOT a bad thing. A person does not protest things that are good.....only things that are bad. A birthday celebration is not a bad thing. A fundraiser to help our Church and seminaries is also not a bad thing. The fact that many people came out to support the Archbishop shows their love and generosity for the Church and seminaries. Of course, this does not mean that we do not care for the poor.
It simply means that you are in no position to tell the Archbishop how to celebrate his birthday and what to fundraise for. If you wish to fundraise for the poor, then by all means.....organize your own gala dinner. But by what authority do you have telling the Archbishop and others what they should fundraise for and how they should celebrate their birthday. What really irks you is that people spent $200 each to help the Archdiocese and the two seminaries. Why does that bother you so much? Is it because you would like to see the Archdiocese of Agana suffer and the seminaries shut down?
Oh my, really rattled your cage this time! A "poor mission diocese" cannot afford a $200 a plate fundraiser. Is that not a contradiction in terms?
ReplyDeleteDo make your comments public so that all can see how mistaken I am in thinking that the archdiocese of Agaña does NOT qualify as a "poor mission diocese." Shout it to the roof tops of the entire island.
"Ellen B. or Eilleen Benavente- Bles"
Dear Ellen,
DeleteIt is not a contradiction at all. Do you not know that Mother Teresa who owned absolutely nothing was able to build orphanages, soup kitchens, shelters, hospices for AIDS victims, and much more? Do you not know that Mother Teresa who took a vow of poverty was able to fly to many parts of the world establishing these things to help the poor? And you think that a mere $200 is impossible for people to give? Oh ye of little faith.......or should I say "no faith at all."
Dear Eileen,
DeleteThe FACT that the Archdiocese had to do a fundraiser for the Archdiocese and seminaries shows that ithese two were struggling. You are only looking at the success of the fundraiser rather than the reason for it to begin with. The success of the fundraiser is what irks you and many jungle folks. If the fundraiser was unsuccessful, we would not even be having this discussion about Catholic Extension.
I believe that the goal of the fund raiser was $300,000. I understand only about half was raised.
DeleteDiana,
DeleteThe archbishop has a $60,000 luxury vehicle. Is that not unbecoming and excessive for a "poor mission diocese"?
Yes, he has declared for the past 30 years that the archdiocese is a "poor mission diocese." How do I know this? Because he gets monies from Catholic a Extension, an organization that only gives funds to "poor mission dioceses." Spin that any way you can. The archbishop is a LIAR and a THIEF.
Fundraisers are de riguer for any archdiocese. There is always a cause that needs funds. No diocese can exist without fundraisers.
"Ellen B. or Eilleen Benavente- Bles"
Dear Ellen,
DeleteDid it ever occur to you that the car was donated by a sponsor. Just because the sponsor is wealthy does not make the Archdiocese wealthy. If the Archdiocese was actually wealthy, a Gala fundraiser would not be needed.
It becomes an asset of the archdiocese and must be accounted for in their financial statement.
DeleteI know this because I was in a finance council in Alaska and cars were donated.
Dear Anonymous at 8:40 pm,
DeleteThe donated car was used in the silent auction. There is nothing illegal about holding a silent auction and placing the car in a silent auction. The car went to the highest bidder.
I was referring to the car used by the archbishop. If this car was donated to the archdiocese it is an asset of the archdiocese. It is my understanding that a $60,000 car was donated for the use of the archbishop. If so, it's an asset. The archbishop is fortunate that such a wealthy benefactor exists. Why are you talking about illegalities?
DeleteDear Anonymous at 5:18 am,
DeleteI thought you were referring to the car that was used in the silent auction.
You are correct. I have no faith in the archbishop of Agaña, servientes ipsum.
ReplyDelete"Ellen B. or Eilleen Benavente- Bles"
Dear Ellen,
DeletePlease learn to read. I never said that you have no faith in the Archbishop. I said you you have no faith at all.
Is there a connection beyond eilleen benavente and Msgr. James benavente ???
ReplyDeleteI have never met Msgr. James Benavente. All Benaventes on Guam originate from a common ancestor Juan Benavente born in 1817.
Delete"Ellen B. or Eilleen Benavente- Bles"
Should that even matter at all??
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous at 10:14 am,
DeleteEph 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Diana, how does the relationship of Beneventes matter?
DeleteDear Anonymous at 9:07,
DeleteIt does not matter to me. I was not the one who asked if there was a relationship between Eileen and Monsignor James. I was responding about faith.
This is problematic when NCW quotes scriptures. Using scriptures like a constitution, i.e. legalistic. I thought long year with the Word have allowed you to move past legalism.
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous at 12:48 pm,
DeleteAre you saying that "faith" is irrelevant in the Catholic Church? The Catholic Church does not operate like a government nor was it ever a government.