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Friday, September 14, 2018

Remembering RMS Guam

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Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Guam



September 12th is the anniversary of the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Guam.  Nineteen years ago on September 12, 1999 at Porto San Siorgio, Italy Archbishop Apuron opened the first and only Redemptoris Mater Seinary in Guam, and Guam was given 12 seminarians to start the seminary.  

What a miracle that was!  Those of us there remember that the people of Guam did not spend a single penny to obtain this seminary.  Truly that was a miracle.

And from the 18 years of its existance (up to December 15, 2017 when it was officially closed) we saw 17 priests ordained and 42 seminarians remained until they were all distributed to the other RMS: Newark, Philadelphia, Denver, Miami, Texas, 1 to Peru, 1 to Mexico, and 1 to Ireland.

What marvels the Lord has done!  Even though Guam did not receive them, the universal Church received them!  And already some of them have been ordained into the priesthood.  So, remember the good times and what a blessing it was to have the seminary.  But never worry.  God have something better in store.  

31 comments:

  1. They say that “Your talent is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God." God gave us a seminary. That was the talent. The Church authorities despised it. All Guam suffered. What a pity,,,,,

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  2. It's good that there is no more RMS seminary in guam. It was such a burden to the entire island.

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    1. Dear Anonymous at 8:30 pm,

      On the contrary, the seminary was much more fruitful in producing priests for the entire island and the universal Church. Without a seminary, that only puts us back to borrowing priests.

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    2. You missed the FACT that the RMS was a financial burden to the people of guam. So technically it wasn't for guam

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    3. Dear Anonymous at 10:12 am,

      Actually, it was cheaper to have the seminary. Just look at what is happening now. Now, the Archdiocese has to fundraise to pay for the tuition of Guam's four seminarians. When RMS was open, the Archdiocese never fundraise for the seminary. It was RMS who holds an annual Gala dinner as a fundraiser, and look who attends the Gala dinner....mainly the NCW members. So, the seminary was being supported by the NCW. Likewise, the Asan Center is also being supported and maintained by the NCW.

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    4. Yep. Byrnes recently held a golf fundraiser to help pay for the Guam's 4 seminarians in California. Archdiocese never had to do any fundraising when RMS was open.

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    5. You ever hear of that saying "you get what you paid for"? Well the RMS here was like a fast food drive and only concerned about how many priests it could ordain rather then properly vetting each candidate and making sure the church had quality priests.

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    6. Dear Anonymous at 3:41 pm,

      For your information, Father Miguel Angel got SUMMA CUM LAUDE.

      Two other priests who did post-graduate studies were Father Julio Caesar Malagon Sanchez and Father Fabio Faiola.

      Another student formed in our Redemptoris Mater Seminary, Father Edivaldo Da Silva completed his Licentiate studies on matrimony, in Rome with the highest distinction. He also had a book published signed by Pope Francis.

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  3. AnonymousSeptember 15, 2018 at 8:30 PM

    It's good that there is no more RMS seminary in guam. It was such a burden to the entire island.

    I pray for the grace that will allow you to see Gods gifts regardless of the burden they come with. The seminary was not a burden to the entire island.

    It was a burden to people who wanted to profit from it. It was a burden to very comfortable Catholics who have $21 dollars in their pockets but only put $1.00 in the collection basket.

    It was not a burden to those who in spirit put the whole $21.00.

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    1. You can't judge people on what they freely give whether it be $21 or a $1. We all have different reasons for giving and it doesn't necessarily have to be monetary. A person who donates his/her time to the church is the same as a person who gives his only $1. But we shouldn't hold anything or judge what people choose to give to our Lord.

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    2. try giving your life like the seminarians and you may have a point.

      Anonymous September 15, 2018 at 8:30 PM stated that the seminary was a burden.....is that not passing judgement?

      You either missed the point or probably feeling guilty for giving up your $21.00.

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    3. Nawh I have no guilt on what I give to my Lord just like I have no reason to share my guilt with the public like the neos have done openly during mass. Our sins are between our Lord and us. So what we give is also between our Lord and ourselves. We don't have to give what we can't give because we are giving already what we are able to while still managing to survive.

      Although you may believe that seminarians have given their life, it is not for everyone and there are different ways to give one's self to our Lord besides becoming a seminarian.

      The seminary here on guam had asked for YEARS from each village parish to give money to support them. So how was that not a burden? So it's you who's missed the point and left out that FACT.

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    4. Dear Anonymous at 3:38 pm,

      I am a Catholic and this is a Catholic blog. Confessing your sins only to God is a Protestant doctrine. Catholics go to a priest to confess their sins.

      James 5:16  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. How God act in your life is to be shared rather than kept to yourself.

      The testimonies we gave in the parishes are not confessions. They are the testimonies of how God has acted in our lives for they were witnesses of Christ.

      We are also free to give what we can give and do not publish it to the world. Also, none of the RMS seminarians have ever asked the parish money to support RMS.

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    5. Dear Anon at 3:38 seems you are speaking from hearsay not from actual facts.
      It also seems you are not very educated in Catholic teachings since the Bible does indeed ask for us to confess our sins publicly as part of our faith. Early Christians had to profess their faith which included speaking of their past sins publicly. This was necessary before baptism. There is reference to confessing your faults throughout the Psalms and letters.
      Also if you remember the gospel of the widow who gave everything she had to live and Christ praises her in front of his disciples and encourages that behavior. If you feel too afraid to give money from what you need for yourself or children out of fear that God might not provide (or not exist) it is alright God loves us all. However do not condemn Christian behavior that Christ himself has exulted in the gospel.

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    6. I must ask for forgiveness as my comments were in response perhaps mistakenly to the Catholic commenters.

      We should be cognizant that people of the Protestants and other denominations may be voicing their opinions.

      How can we address comments from anonymous people? Not saying that they are afraid to state their names. Not saying that their opinions do not have merit. If we comment of Catholic issues; it would make sense that the person is first a Catholic.

      Anonymous September 16, 2018 at 10:12 AM....are you a practicing Catholic?

      Anonymous September 16, 2018 at 10:16 AM.....are you a practicing Catholic?

      Anonymous September 16, 2018 at 3:38 PM...are you a practicing Catholic?

      If we don't have the courage to state your name....please truthfully answer the question so as Catholic's we as brothers in Jesus Christ can healing....start living in the SPIRIT Jesus Christ.

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  4. @ anon 3:38pm... speak for yourself..
    Its a burden to you but not for me...
    What gives you the right to speak on if its a burden on my behalf??
    I give what i can and don"t give when i can't. Only God knows whats in my heart... please speak for yourself....

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  5. AnonymousSeptember 16, 2018 at 10:12 AM

    You missed the FACT that the RMS was a financial burden to the people of guam. So technically it wasn't for guam

    AnonymousSeptember 16, 2018 at 3:41 PM

    You ever hear of that saying "you get what you paid for"? Well the RMS here was like a fast food drive and only concerned about how many priests it could ordain rather then properly vetting each candidate and making sure the church had quality priests.



    If we look at us being a part of the body that makes up the church and Christ is the head of the church, I cannot help but to think that you, anon 10:12am and 3:41pm, could be a hemroid that the body has to accept is there and makes the body uncomforatable. I guess I would accept its there. Thank you Preparation H......

    Forgive the anology...its what I tought of your remarks...

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  6. Dear Junglewatch folks,

    As I said before, my blog will not be usef to promote your jungle propaganda; therefore, comments such as "Neo doctrines" are not published. There is no such thing as "Neo doctrines."

    Furthermore, RMS has always been sustainable. In fact, the Vatican is looking at RMS as a model for all Catholic seminaries. Also, Pope Francis saw fit to establish an RMS without even consulting the bishops of Japan only goes to show its true value.

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  7. This is important news about the start of mediation between the church and the accusers of pedophilia or (alleged) abuse victims. Archbishop Byrnes' way of handling the crisis in the church is reaching its point of climax. Settlements will have tremendous impact on parish life on Guam.

    https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2018/09/17/mediation-clergy-sex-abuse-cases-begins/1331312002/

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    1. Dear Faithfully yours, 

      After the Archdiocese makes that first payment, other alleged victims will come forward. And the Archdiocese will continue to settle out of court.

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    2. Hope the lawyers have prepared their clients for the reality that they will not see a $5 million check. My guess after attorney's fees, each client may see a check of less than $10,000. Think about it. The Archdiocese does not the resources to pay big settlement checks.

      From the PDN July 12, 2017:
      'On the topic of the church's current financial state, Duenas reported the archdiocese still owes more than $8 million for debt service and other payables. He said the church still owes $3.8 million for a bank loan taken out to pay for the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica, more than $2 million for the now-defunct St. Thomas Aquinas School and about $230,000 for the Epicure building in Hagåtña'

      The Archdiocese of Agana operating budget estimated revenue for FY 2018 is $2,561,377. Source http://umatuna.org/news/featured/what-is-the-current-financial-condition-of-the-archdiocese-of-agana/

      About 200 claims each seeking $5 million. 200 x $5 million is $1 billion. As of June 30, 2017, total amount of Archdiocese of Agana assets is $154,023,961. Go ahead and liquidate all assets. $154,023,961 for 200 claims. What do we have? About $770,120 per claim. And the loss of all Catholic Church properties. I guess we will have to celebrate Mass in homes as the early Christians did. Oh but, we can only celebrate the Mass on a consecrated altar!

      Alleged victims will be unhappy seeing just a fraction of the $5 million they each are seeking. Catholic faithful will be at a loss as to where has their Catholic Church gone. The only ones happy are all the lawyers involved who will reap hefty fees from settlements. Who will be the happiest for all this mess? Satan will smile and laugh at the destruction of the Catholic Church on Guam.

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    3. Dear Diana, I share your worry of the future of our parishes. Out-of-court settlements might bring temporary relief only, if new victims keep bringing truthful or untrue new charges over and over again. But is there any other way out? What else can the church do to unhook itself from this juridical limbo?

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  8. Looking at the seminary picture with nostalgia... one glaring fact about the sign of the times remains...
    Look at the aftermath of what a pedophile and wife-abuser (Tim Rohr) can do in an age where the devil wins by smearing, demonizing and lying. I hope and pray that Tim converts, repents publicly from all the evil he did, stops sinning privately in the dark and that his family may once more be united in 'genuine' Christian love. Only then can I forgive him, and all his accomplices, for destroying the the Catholic Church in Guam and the future of the evangelization in Asia.

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    1. Dear Anonymous, your emotion is understandable, even justified. However, our catechists always tell us not to judge others. One is considered innocent until one is sentenced guilty at the court of law. You call someone a pedophile while the person has not been sentenced guilty of this charge at the court of law. We have heard: if I want to be a Christian I have love and sacrifice my life for my enemy. Without escapism. Period.

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  9. Where is the badge of honor those jungle folks. For destroying the church should be badges of Shame

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    1. where are all those protesters how come you're not protesting to get their churches back

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  10. No problem. There is the money that the Archdiocese will get from insurance companies....

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    1. Dear Anonymous at 5:39 pm,

      The insurance money is not enough.

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  11. Over a year ago Archbishop Byrnes restricted the Neocatechumenal Way in Guam from celebrating own Mass, etc. Have these restrictions been removed?

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    1. Dear Anonymous at 1:37 pm,

      Archbishop Byrnes' instructions on the Mass has not been removed. The NCW STILL continues to follow those instructions. The NCW STILL celebrates the Eucharist inside the Church in front of a consecrated altar. The NCW also consumes the Body of Christ standing up as per Archbishop Byrnes' instruction. 

      The liturgy was never a problem for the NCW. It was only a problem for the junglefolks. Archbishop Byrne's instruction was done only to appease the junglefolks. However, appeasing the jungle was never good enough for them because they continue to hate the NCW.

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    2. Parishioners still dislike 'you Neos' without explaining why. The brothers are active in the parish serving as CCD teachers, choir members, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, parish office volunteers, parish council members. When our pastor informs the complaining parishioners about how the brothers help out in the parish, the more these parishioners get angry.

      How can they believe the lies of the jungle, CCOG and LFM? How can they make such judgments without even experiencing at least a Celebration of the Eucharist with us? How have the brothers of the Way harmed the parish or the parishioners to justify such anger and resentment? We greet them warmly with a smile and the more upset they get.

      One day, people will accept the charism of the Neocatechumenal Way as a gift of the Holy Spirit. I remember one of our catechists saying it took a long time for people to accept the Franciscans and the Jesuits. The Neocatechumenal Way is relatively young at 50 years old. So the brothers continue in our way of conversion, sharing our experiences with God, and proclaiming the Good News that God loves you.

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