Journalist Turned Missionary

The Neocatechumenal Way is well-known for its missionary life-style.  It has mission families and itinerants.  The members of the Way encourage their youth to different vocations.  Some are called to be married while others are called into the religious life.  It is also well-known that in the NCW, many members were called to be missionaries regardless of whether they are married or single.  Below is a story of a woman who left a successful career to become a missionary in Ethiopia.  She is a member of the Neocatechumenal Way.  You can find the story here. 

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Aug 21, 2018 / 08:33 pm (ACI Prensa).- Belén Manrique had a promising career in journalism, surrounded by good friends and family. But at age 30, she left her life in Spain behind to become a missionary in Ethiopia.

“I always say that the mission is never boring. It's a thousand times better than what we could imagine. It's a life full of surprises if you put yourself in the Lord's hands,” she told ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language sister agency, during a recent visit to Rome.

“I live in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, and my mission is to be a witness to the love of God there where he puts me, to build up the Church because it's very poor there. The Christian community is very weak, and so it is very important to help the people know Jesus Christ,” she explained.

Despite worldly success, “the life I led did not fulfill me,” she said. “The plan God had for me was different, and when I discovered that what he wanted was for me to bring the love of God to people who don't know him, I did not doubt God's call – it wasn't hard for me to leave my job as a journalist or leave Madrid.”

Manrique belongs to the Neocatechumenal Way, an ecclesial movement that focuses on post-baptismal adult formation. She said the movement helped her grow in faith.

“I was able to encounter Jesus Christ and realize that he's the only one who gives happiness to man. I went there where I found the mission the Lord had planned for me.”

Her first destination in Ethiopia was the eastern desert, “where most people are Muslims.”

“I realized it was necessary for the Church to come there to bring the Gospel to those people who don't know [Christ],” she said. “Ethiopia is 50 percent Muslim and 50 percent Christian, but most of them are Orthodox Christians. The Catholic Church is less than 1 percent of the population.”

“We're building a 'missio ad gentes' on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, in a neighborhood where the Catholic Church has no presence. Besides the Orthodox, there are a lot of Protestants,” she said.

Manrique’s work consists of helping out in the parishes, and talking to people. She stressed that success in her mission is “not about gaining followers but of being witnesses and making Jesus Christ known.”

“Not long ago a boy asked me: 'Can you be a Catholic without being a nun or a priest'? Most of the Catholics that have come to Ethiopia are nuns and priests, and so they have that thought.”

She added that she often encounters Ethiopians who want to leave their country, either to flee violence or because they have seen an idealized version of Europe on television, and believe life there to be luxurious and worry-free.

“Every day, there's someone who asks me to bring him to my country, and I tell them that the one who's not going back to her country is me,” she said. “I tell them that I lived in this idyllic world that they want to go to, and I have renounced it.”

“I explain that riches don't give happiness, that I had all that which they long for and it wasn't making me happy.  I'm much happier because God gives happiness and love for one's neighbor.”

This article was originally published by our sister agency, ACI Prensa. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

The Christmas Story "Birth of Jesus Christ"

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Merry Christmas From RMS Galilee

The following was sent to me for publication.  It is from RMS in Galilee.  The letter was emailed to me as it is, which included the question marks in diamonds. 
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Archbishop Pizzaballa: ���The Diaconate is a service 

to the heart of Christ, which is the Church���

11 December 

December 7, 2018 ��� In the Church of the Domus Galilaeae, in Korazim, Israel, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa ordained Javier Mart��nez Alcal��, a Spanish seminarian of the Redemptoris Mater Seminary.

At the Vigil of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, in the Church of the Twelve Apostles of the Domus Galilaeae in Korazim, the Spanish seminarian, Javier Mart��nez Alcal��, of the Redemptoris Mater Seminary of Galilee, was ordained deacon for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Present at the event were the team responsible for the Neo-catechumenal Way in the Holy Land and the Gulf Region, the leaders of the communities of Galilee and Jaffa in Tel Aviv, the communities of Tarshiha and Kafar Yasif, where the new deacon completes his formation journey to the faith.

The Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, presided at the celebration, accompanied by Father Rafiq Nahra, Patriarchal Vicar of the Vicariate of St. James and the Diocesan Chancellor, Father Ibrahim Shomali. Also present were the vice-chancellor of the Beit Jala seminary with some professors and many other presbyters of the Latin Patriarchate, of the Greek-Catholic Diocese of Akko and Nazareth and the Greek-Orthodox parish priest of Kafar Yasif. Also, some consecrated religious of the monastery of the Beatitudes and of Shefa���amr participated in the event, the latter also accompanying some parishioners of the Latin parish of St. Joseph, where Javier carries out his diaconal service.

The event was also enriched by the occurrence of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, of particular importance for the Neo-catechumenal Way, since that very day its initiator, the Spanish painter Kiko Arguello, received fifty years ago the inspiration to begin a journey of Christian initiation to be accomplished in community ���which, like the Holy Family of Nazareth, live in humility, simplicity and praise, and where the other person is Christ.���

The readings of the liturgy of the Marian solemnity, entirely in keeping with the event, were the object of the homily of Archbishop Pierbattista, focused on the theme of election and discipleship. In the beginning, he proposed a reflection on the importance of the Word of God, in the dialogue between the faithful and the Lord, which is the basis of Christian life, focused on the initiative of God. This initiative finds its peak in the announcement of the Angel to Mary, ���who does not close the dialogue with God, but remains open to grace.��� Mary���s dialogue with the angel is, in fact, an image of God���s dialogue with man, who never stops despite sin, since God loves man deeply and never leaves him alone. He then His Excellency noted that ���all biblical history, but also our entire history, revolves around the question of God to man: ���Where are you?���, that is the heart of the encounter with God, of which Scripture offers a marvelous synthesis in the story of the fall of Adam and Eve.

Then the Apostolic Administrator continued with a reflection addressed to the newly ordained: ���On the day of your diaconal ordination, the liturgy tells you that you are here by the grace of God, through your intervention, because you have also been asked the question: ������Where are you?��� Through the Word of God, through a Church made up of real people,��� he added, ���surely, today in your heart you will have fears and tremors about your future, but this Word invites you to trust because whoever has brought you here will not abandon you.���

At the end of his homily, the Archbishop then spoke to Javier: ���May you be a servant of the Church, may your whole life be a trusting service to the Word of God, which touched you and that you can witness who you are and to whom you belong.��� At the end of the celebration, Archbishop Pizzaballa greeted the rector of the seminary, Father Francesco Voltaggio, together with his collaborators, thanking them for their training work, and he thanked Father Rino Rossi, director of the Domus Galilaeae, for his evangelization activity and his openness to welcome.

Fr. Paolo Alfieri

More On Father Guy's Ordination

More information on Father Guy Zidago and his ordination is found on the Internet.  Some of the community members in Guam attended Father Guy's ordination.  According to the article below: The cathedral was packed with supporters from local parishes as well as from as far as the Yukon, Guam, and Ivory Coast. 

The following article can be found here. 
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First double ordination in decades fills cathedral 

A priest and a deacon have been ordained in a unique ceremony the likes of which the local Church hasn’t seen for at least 30 years.

Father Guy Zidago and Deacon Felix Min embraced holy orders on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception Dec. 8 – the first time since the 1980s that a local priest and transitional deacon have done so on the same day.

“It was not by chance that God called Mary to do his will. Nor does he call us by chance,” said Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, during the Mass at Holy Rosary Cathedral.

“At work in every vocation is an inner awareness that the call is not of human origin or merely a human choice. Rather, it is a response to the Lord who has first chosen us.”

The cathedral was packed with supporters from local parishes as well as from as far as the Yukon, Guam, and Ivory Coast. The solemn ceremony was held in English, French, and Korean and lasted nearly three hours.

“I thank the Lord for this moment I’m living in,” Father Zidago said. “I am very much overwhelmed with joy and gladness, because I see the promise he made me at baptism being fulfilled.”

Raised in Ivory Coast, Father Zidago grew up with no Christian upbringing and serious feelings of loneliness after his parents split and left him to be raised by his grandparents. He sought the meaning of life in success, money, and relationships, and only realized what he was missing after hearing the Gospel preached at an event by the Neocatechumenal Way.

The community supported him in his search for meaning and encouraged him to make amends with his father. Thanks to their guidance, Guy was baptized a Catholic in 1998. He entered the seminary in 2007, studying in Guam and then Vancouver, where he will now serve as a priest.

Friend Robert Sorogany credits Father Zidago for bringing him to the Catholic faith.

“He never tried to change me. He has a gift of talking to people and used that to change the path I was on,” said Sorogany, who travelled from California for the ordination.

Sorogany said he was a “party man” in his teens when he met Zidago. “I used to party, I used to have fun, and he never told me: ‘Don’t party anymore. Don’t go to clubs.’ He brought me to the Word, to the Bible, to Jesus, to faith. He didn’t try to change my past.”

Now wearing a golden crucifix around his neck and waiting at the back of the cathedral for his turn to congratulate his longtime friend, Sorogany said Zidago’s approach helped him realize the importance of faith.

“If he wants to tell me something is wrong, he doesn’t lecture. He just says: ‘I don’t think it’s good. It’s up to you to make a choice.’”

Sorogany also emphasized the importance of praying for priests. “He needs it. Some people might persecute him. Sometimes, with temptation, evil tries to destroy the faith that brought him to this path. We have to pray for him, so he can continue to pray for us, so we can go to heaven together.”

Father Zidago’s father, brother, and members of the Neocatechumenal Way travelled from Ivory Coast for the occasion.

“Guy is a direct person. He does what God tells him to do. He is very open-minded and truthful in his words,” father Jonas Zidago said in French. “I am happy. Guy has been patient with me.”

Eugene Brou was thrilled the Neocatechumenal Way gained a new priest.

“He is like a son to me,” he said. “This situation that God has blessed us with, I could not miss it. I promised Guy that I would come to his ordination, and God put everything together. Now I am here. Blessed be God.”

Father Guy Zidago will begin his service as a priest at St. Patrick’s Parish in Vancouver.

Meanwhile, Deacon Min is looking forward to his turn to become a priest. His ordination as a transitional deacon Dec. 8 brought him one big step closer to making that a reality.

“During the ordination, as I was standing on the carpet, I thought to myself: ‘This is what it must feel like getting married,’” he joked. “I felt very nervous, and at the same time such joy that God has called me.”

Deacon Min is continuing his seminary studies and could be ordained by the end of 2019. The B.C. Catholic will have more coverage of Deacon Min in an upcoming issue.

Congratulations To Guy Zidago

Guy Zidago was once a seminarian in Guam RMS.  He was also in a catechist team in Merizo.  I have recently learned that he was ordained a priest on December 8, 2018 in Vancouver.  Congratulations!  Fr. Guy Zidago is the person in the orange vestment.  

The Law Is An Unjust Law

The law lifting the statutes of limitations is an unjust law.  There were more people (over 5000) who signed the petition requesting that Governor Calvo not sign the bill into law as opposed to those who signed a petition in favor of the law (approximately 3000 signatures). This is probably the reason its author Senator Frank Blas Jr. was not re-elected.  

While it is true that Guam has twice the rape rate as the rest of the nation, the vast majority of rape occurred outside the Church.  Furthermore, a large majority of the rape and sexual assaults have been reported in a timely manner, allowing the perpetrators to be brought to justice.  This is not the case with the Catholic Church where sexual allegations are coming out 30, 40, and 50 years later.  Passing a bill to lift the statutes of limitations is not going to bring dead priests to justice.  Rather, it allows innocent people to suffer (see the story here).  

I have stated before that as long as that law is in existence, more allegations will be coming out accusing mainly dead priests.  Father George Maddock is proof of that.  When he passed away on September 30, 2018, a lawsuit was filed against him only twenty-three days later.  Being deceased, Father George cannot defend himself.  

Some people are currently expressing some doubts over these allegations.  Even newstalk Patty Arroyo havve expressed some of her doubts in K57.  You can listen to her in the weblink below dated November 9, 2018.  She expressed some of her doubts over a sexual abuse allegation involving a recently deceased priest who was praised by many students from Father Duenas Memorial School.  

Patty Arroyo with David Sablan on K57

In the interview, it was brought out that any investigative process to determine the merit of the allegation was put on hold or placed aside.  Thus, the Archdiocese is taking the stand that all allegations are true.  The problem with this stand is that it goes against the democratic principle and rights of the accused.  Also, by putting aside all investigative process, one then cannot determine whether the allegations are true or not.    

After the Church had publicly announced that they are claiming bankruptcy, the allegations are coming in faster. The two new priests who were recently accused of sex abuse were Father George Maddock and Father Michael Lee Friel (See the story here).  Both of them are deceased.  Some people are now starting to express some doubts over these allegations; therefore, Patty Arroyo is not alone.  These were some of the comments that were published in the Pacific Daily News:

Ordelia Pritchard

FATHER LEE TOO!!!! This is whole 'sexual abuse' situation is really getting out of hand, and at this point and time, is completely ABSURD; my God, mercy. The names of deceased priests who cannot defend themselves are being tarnished. Father George, the Carmelite Nuns and now, Father Lee?!! Whose next? Pale' Ramon???

Thomas J Hertslet

This is utterly insane. After the priests have died those two come out with accusations, for which the past away priests cannot defend themselves or even if it has happened to ask for forgiveness.
This "$ 5,000,000. bounty" is creating a terrible damage to a peaceful island. Very sad!!!

The law lifting the statutes of limitations is an unjust law.  It is a mistake for several reason.  There is no due process for dead priests. Every accused has a right to due process.  Because the alleged crime took place 30, 40, or 50 years ago, it is difficult to substantiate the allegations with hard evidence.  Because there are no investigations, one would not know whether the allegations are true or false. The entire Church of Guam will also be the one to bear the cost.  In seeking justice for these alleged victims, innocent people (who have nothing to do with the sexual abuse) will bear the punishment and the cost of suffering as they lose their parishes.  

Is it possible that some priests are being falsely accused (including dead priests)?  Yes.  After all, we recently learned that after an investigation from the FBI, even Judge Brett Kavanaugh was falsely accused of sexual abuse.  In fact, the second accuser even came out and finally admitted that she lied in order to derail the judge's confirmation to the Supreme Court (See the story here).  

Below are also a list of falsely accused priests.  

1.  Father Joseph Jiang (See his story here). 

2.  Father Kevin Reynolds (See his story here).

3.  Father Roger Jacques (See his story here).

4.  Monsignor William McCarthy (See story here).

5.  Father Charles Murphy (See story here). 

These are only a few examples.  There are many more.  Moreover, these priests were alive at the time of the accusation and therefore able to fight back. Priests such as Cardinal McCarrick chose not to fight back because he knew he was guilty of sleeping with seminarians and priests.  Priests such as Father Joseph Jiang and Father Kevin Reynolds fought their accusers through the justice system and won while others went to the Vatican and were cleared AFTER an investigation was conducted.  

There are people who say that children don't lie.  The problem, however, is that these are NOT children coming out with these accusations.  These are adults coming out with accusations.  The law lifting the statutes of limitations is an unjust law.  

    

The Future Priesthood of Guam

Despite its closure, Guam RMS continue to produce more fruits.  According to Jokers Wild:

AnonymousDecember 9, 2018 at 7:49 AMDiana I believe there was also an Ordination to the Priesthood for Eneliko and by Guam time today, Antonio will also be ordained. These two are part of the group of seminarians from Samoa.I dont understand these past few years and I probably never will but seeing and hearing of all these fruits and despite all the negative comments and unjust actions, I believe it in my heart that our prayers and support of the former Guam RMS was not in vain. I will forever hold all of the memories and ponder them in my heart.I also support the seminarians who are in the mainland for formation. I know most of them and also did some ministry work with Junee in the past. I hope that they see it through and remain steadfast in their answer to the will of God, no matter what it may be.Pas!-Jokers Wild

Congratulations to Eneliko and Antonio from Samoa. 

With the bankruptcy cloud hanging over the Archdiocese, the future of Guam's priesthood appears very bleak.  Guam currently have four priests in a California seminary. Coadjuator Archbishop Byrnes has learned that it cost an arm and a leg to send even one seminarian off-island.  Coadjuator Archbishop Byrnes is trying very hard to help the formation of our Guam seminarians through a golf tourney fundraiser.  August 2018 was the second golf tourney fundraiser he held to support our Guam seminarians, and this golf tourney was sponsored by the Archdiocese, not by CCOG.  He was able to raise $33,000 (See the story here).  However, the cost of one seminarian in California is approximately $40,000 per year. RMS was able to produce 17 priests for Guam at very little cost. Today, we are struggling to help pay for the formation of 4 Guam seminarians. The money raised in the Second Golf Tourney was not enough to pay for even one seminarian.    

Yes, we are already struggling in assisting our four Guam seminarians in their education, and I do not see CCOG anywhere in this picture. Will the Archdiocese be able to afford to send other men off-island to train for the priesthood?  Probably not......but then again......the Archdiocese can resort to borrowing priests from the Philippines.  Borrowing priests from the Philippines is now the cheapest way to go.  
  

Upcoming Ordinations

I just received some good news today.  Our Asan 1 brother seminarian Jose Santos Hernandez is being ordained a priest on February 8, 2019 in Mexico.  He was one of the seminarians who was rejected by the Archdiocese.  I just wanted to share this good news that was brought to me.  Hopefully, by February, I will be able to get some photos after his ordination.

As for the four seminarians who were accepted by Archbishop Byrnes, they are currently in the St. Patrick's seminary in California.  These four are Junee, William, Ronald, and Derek.  According to Guamboy, out of the four, only two of them are on track to being ordain a deacon next year.  Those two are Junee and Ronald. Both Junee and Ronald are the product of the Blessed Diego Theological Institue on Guam, which is the same schooling as the RMS seminarians.  

As for the other two, Derek was accepted this past summer into the seminary for the Archdiocese.  And William, who earned a Masters Degree in Theology from the Philippines was told that his credits were not recognized.  Therefore, he was pushed back several years before being ordain a deacon.

At any rate, we also look forward to the two Guam seminarians (Ronald and Junee) who will be ordained a deacon next year.  Both of them received the same training as the RMS seminarians and both of them remained on track.  We also look forward to the ordination of Jose Santos Hernandez into the priesthood.  There are also four other RMS seminarians who will be ordain as deacons or priests in May, 2019.  We also look forward to those ordinations.  Despite that the Yona seminary has been closed down, kudos goes to the Yona seminary and the Blessed Diego Institute for producing all these fruits.