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Wednesday, May 23, 2018

More Ordinations From NCW Communities

As I mentioned before, the NCW has been known to inspire priestly ordinations.  It has also inspired young women to enter the convent as well.  We have always encouraged the NCW members and youths to go on pilgrimages and World Youth Day.  Before the NCW came to Guam, how many pilgrimages were offered to the parishioners of Guam?  How many youths were inspired to go on World Youth Days before the NCW came to Guam?  After arriving on Guam, the NCW has done much good on this island.  Those who have eyes can see.  

A pilgrimage is a journey of spiritual significance.  It is not a vacation, and we do not act as tourists in a pilgrimage.  We pray, reflect, have Mass, meet the Pope, and evangelize.  To evangelize means to spread the word that God loves you.  You do not need to have a theology degree to tell people that God loves you, died for the forgiveness of sins, and rose from the dead.

The following article is on Deacon Eric Velazquez.  Congratulations on his ordination to the priesthood.  Once again, the NCW communities have inspired a young man into the priesthood.  You can read the following article here.
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[This is the fifth in a series of articles profiling each of the seven men who will be ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Mission Church) on May 19.]

"When I look back at my life, the times that I was happiest was when my family was in the missions," mused Deacon Eric Velazquez.

The second of five siblings, Deacon Velazquez traveled through much of his native Honduras during his childhood because his parents were missionaries, often spending several months ministering to people in different parts of the country.

As a missionary family, "priests were always a big part of my life," he said, adding that as a little boy he would often pray "to be a shepherd with real sheep, a priest and Superman" -- all at the same time.

All that changed as Deacon Velazquez got older. 

"At a certain time in my life, I actively decided, 'No -- I will not be a priest,'" he recalled.

Instead, Deacon Velazquez turned his attention to his future. He had a girlfriend, moved out of his parent's home and began to study electrical engineering in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

"I had many friends, both in church and in school, but I was sad," he recounted. "There was nothing out of place in my life, but I was just sad."

Unable to lift himself out of this sadness, Deacon Velazquez turned to his father.


"My father is a typical father," Deacon Velazquez said, "but I learned what faith was by what he did, not necessarily by what he said. So, when I needed someone to help me, I knew to turn to him."

His father suggested that he attend a vocational center in Honduras for one year, asking God for discernment.

"I didn't want to do it," Deacon Velazquez admitted, "But for a whole year I prayed. I kept saying, 'Either give me a vocation to the priesthood or a vocation to marriage.' And then God answered."

After attending a vocational retreat in Italy, Deacon Velazquez was assigned to the Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary in Boston.

"To be honest, I didn't think I would last," he said sheepishly. "But because of the witness of my father and his life, I was open to come to the seminary and see if this was where I belonged."

"I am not away from my family because I want (to be), but because God called me," he added.

Thinking back on his years in the seminary, the 31-year-old noted that his years there have been invaluable.

The seminary "has helped me to mature, to be less judgmental of others and to want to give to others the faith that I have received in the Church," he said.

Deacon Velazquez then added with a chuckle, "I also wanted brothers my whole life -- I only had four sisters, so you can imagine -- and then I went to the seminary and I got so many brothers! See how God always gives me exactly what my heart desires!"

Thinking ahead to his ordination, Deacon Velazquez knows he will miss his time at the Redemptoris Mater seminary.

"I will miss the rhythm and the protection," he said pensively. "And I will also miss the communion with my brother seminarians, but I am really looking forward to bringing the presence of God to others."


"I really want to work with people. I really want to walk with people," he said, stressing that in order to be a good priest, he first must continue to develop and maintain his relationship with God.

"We are living in a society that has no faith," he said. "Faith is not an indoctrination, it's a way of living with Jesus Christ. And I have to have faith in order to give faith -- this is what I want to give to the people I serve," he said.

15 comments:

  1. Thanks for finally talking about >"More Ordinations From NCW Communities" <Loved it!

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  2. Very true. Before the Way came to Guam, we were borrowing priests from the Philippines. After the Way, 17 priests were ordained for Guam. And now, many of Guam's youth are participating in pilgrimages and WYD. Some of Guam girls are in the monastery in NJ. Some of Guam's young men like Adam and Preston are on their way to the priesthood.

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    1. Exactly. Bob Klitzkie and Janet B were unaware that there are other sons of Guam. These sons of Guam were inspired and are still continuing their studies in the seminary. What inspiration has the jungle done to inspire the youth of Guam?

      The important thing is that we have 17 priests to show for. These priests are for the local archdiocese but also for the universal Church. Before the Way, Guam had to ASK other countries to borrow their priests. After the NCW, Guam was in a position to HELP islands like Saipan who are lacking priests. With the seminary closed, we are back to where we started. We put ourselves in the same position as other Pacific islands who had to ASK to borrow priests. As I said, what inspiration did the jungle do to inspire the youth into the priesthood?

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    2. What's so silly about Klitzkie is that Fr. Richard Kidd and Fr. Paul were both ordained by AB Apuron! Yeah, that's right! It was Apuron who ordained them.

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  3. The key word in Diana’s post is inspiration. Klitzkie said that the Archdiocese had 2 priests while the NCW had only 1. So, only 2 individuals were INSPIRED into the priesthood by the Archdiocese before the Way? Didn’t someone pointed out that there were 4 local seminarians rejected by Byrnes? Seems to me that the NCW communities INSPIRED more than 1 individual into the priesthood. Good work NCW!

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  4. It's that time of year - graduations, confirmations. After these momentous occasions, many of young people find a lot of time on their hands. Many have not planned for life on becoming young adults responsible for their future.

    Many pastors bemoan the fact that they will no longer see these young people after they receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. They are concerned for these young adults' spiritual well-being.

    If they are part of a community in the Way, they have some stability, some sense of direction. They continue to grow and mature with the brothers of their community and their catechists. Their community is there for them for life - until they choose to freely leave or when the Lord calls them for their reward in Heaven. This is the value and beauty of charisms such as the Neocatechumenal Way. This is why we strongly insist on being able to offer the Initial Catechesis. Those called to come and listen will begin to discover a little more about their Catholic faith. Then be offered the opportunity to continue their faith journey as part of a community.

    Hopefully soon, the Way's Initial Catechesis will start up again.

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    1. Dear Chelu Peskadot, I hope to initiate useful conversation about real concerns people have about any "new charism". While not questioning your intention, joining the NCW for the young might not be such a bright idea. What is your evidence that in your "communities" you do good to them rather than harm? There is a reason the bishop pulled the break on new recruiting. Kids are complaining in private about high demands NCW is placing on them. Your way of "evangelizing" might not be appropriate for their age. Summer is vacation time for kids to enjoy. Why to force them into your strict regimen?

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    2. Dear Anonymous at 2:59 pm,

      Please do not spread any propaganda.

      According to Archbishop Byrnes, he stated that he wanted to review the Catechetical Directory. He never said there was something wrong with it's teaching. So do not spread propaganda and go by the facts.

      The NCW kids who are minors and follow their parents. When they become adults, they are free to continue with their communities or leave. Many of the youth in my community who are over 18 chose to stay. Only one left, but she is always welcome to return if that is what she wants.

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    3. Diana, maybe you are not aware, but the bishop is advised that the documents you give him might not reflect practices. Even if documents are in line, practices might not follow suit. This is a concern for the bishop, because kids are not educated by books but by practices.

      The financial situation was published in the Umatuna. Please, read it. It is exemplary of producing transparency. This is what is required from every units of the diocese. Sponsoring missionary efforts for kids or adults should be approved by parish assemblies and should be accounted for in the parish bulletin.

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    4. Dear Anonymous at 4:59 pm,

      Really??? And how is the Archbishop supposed to know if the NCW is following the Catechetical Directory in practice when he has not even attended one catechesis???? 🙄

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    5. Dear Diana, the bishop has reliable sources. He does not need to be there in person.

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    6. Dear Anonymous at 5:12 pm,

      On the contrary, he needs to be there and see and hear with his own eyes and ears. After all, he is the Bishop.

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  5. I feel the bishop ahould not be present as was the case with AAA. He listened and was asked are you going to walk with this community at the end of the convivence. With a lot of pressure he had to respond. And it was slowly the demise of the archdiocese.

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    1. Dear Anonymous at 8:12 pm,

      I believe the Archbishop should be able to make his own choice.

      This conflict started with the removal of Father Paul and Monsignor James. And for some reason, Rohr felt that these two men needed his help. Why? I do not know. Father Paul and Monsignor James should be man enough to take care of their own problems with the Archbishop.

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  6. ICYMI: The NCW doesn’t have a monopoly in ordinations. On Saturday 05/26 the FSSP (a traditional order of priests who only offer the Latin Mass), ordain ten to the priesthood in Nebraska. Ordination was conferred by H.E. Archbishop Alexander Sample of Portland, Oregon.
    https://fssp.com/mark-calendars-fssp-ordinations-may-26th/

    As the Holy Father speaks of the Church hemorrhaging priestly vocations in Europe, the FSSP (a traditional order of priests who only offer the Latin Mass), ordain ten to the priesthood today in Nebraska. Ordination was conferred by H.E. Archbishop Alexander Sample of Portland, Oregon. Deo gratias!

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