New Nuncio

 The Holy Father has appointed His Excellency, Archbishop Gábor PINTÉR as the Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand, CEPAC, and Apostolic Delegate to the Pacific Islands. Welcome Archbishop Gabor Pinter.

In Response to an Anonymous Poster

 This post is in response to an anonymous poster who wrote in my blog. According to his/her comment, which can be found here:

AnonymousJuly 14, 2024 at 12:56 PM

Everything you mentioned are things anyone can do even if they’re not walking in the Way. So, what makes you unique?

That is true. Anyone can bring flowers to the altar. Anyone can set up to make the place of the celebration beautiful. But how many of us can stop making judgments or take criticisms? The Neocatechumenal Way is an itinerary of Catholic formation at the service of the bishop as one of the diocesan ways of implementing Christian initiation and ongoing education in the faith. It is one of the many organizations in the Catholic Church that brings our conversion. 

Conversion takes place in a community. In the Way, it is no secret that we decorate the altar with flowers, but one would be surprised to find that the brothers can judge others over flowers. We cannot please everyone. Some people will say that the flowers on the altar is very little and more flowers are needed. Others will say that we put too many flowers on the altar that it looks like a jungle.  We can never please anyone. Nevertheless, comments like these can hurt the person who spent much time and effort arranging the flowers. One person I know took the judgment personally that she retaliated. This is a human reaction. Later, she returned to apologize for the outburst. Another person I know took the criticism with humility. She thanked the person for the judgement. Most people do not react that way. We can only say that she found the Holy Spirit to take the judgment with humility. As for the person making the judgment, I am certain that the humble gratitude shown may have made her think twice about her judging attitude the next time around. 

The Neocatechumenal Way is one of the many organizations in the Catholic Church to help people have a closer relationship with Christ and to convert. God said, "Be holy for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16). Holiness is possible only with God. The holy saints in Heaven were once sinners like us. Therefore, it is possible that sinners like us can one day become holy saints like them. The Way is not for everyone. But God has created many organizations within His Church to help His people convert and be closer to Christ. 

Furthermore, our duty as baptized Catholics is to share the gospels to everyone so they can also come to know Jesus Christ. We have seen the miracles in our history, and we share our testimonies during evangelization. 

50th Anniversary of NCW in USA

The 50th Anniversary of the NCW was posted on the Internet. Guam is in the front, wearing our white and green Hawaiian shirts. 

https://youtube.com/watch?v=p0MwofbYxMU&si=B1jzpFwFGepyOlzH

50th Anniversary of the NCW of the U.S.

The NCW of Guam joined many others who participated in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the NCW of the United States. We also evangelized in the U.S. The photo below was taken in Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, New York where the Eucharist was held. Thousands of the brothers and sisters worldwide came to celebrate together. Like the Charismatic Catholics, the NCW could fill up a whole stadium.

The New Archbishop of Agana, Guam.

 Pope Francis has finally appointed an Archbishop for Guam. Bishop Ryan Jimenez from the Diocese of Chalan Kansa as the new Archbishop of the Metropolitan of Agana, Guam. Welcome Archbishop Ryan Jimenez. 

 

Being in Community

The brothers in the community are not perfect. We are sinners like everyone else. But we help each other grow in faith. There is indeed a lot of work we do. We prepare for the Celebration of the Word and the Eucharist. We prepare the Eucharist to make it into a beautiful and memorable event. We help each other out. Someone would prepare the flowers, and we help each other by communicating who would bring what. Others would bring the icon and other signs. We work together so that we celebrate a beautiful Eucharist. And if a brother needs help, someone would step up and respond out of love. 

Jungle Fabrication

 It was brought to my attention that Rohr was attacking Father Romy, our Apostolic Administrator. According to JungleWatch:

In the above press release, Fr. Convocar states the following:

According to archdiocesan records, Father Luis was arrested on March 17, 2015 on Guam for custodial interference. He resigned as Pastor of San Dimas, Malesso and San Dionisio, Umatac. He was prohibited from hearing confession and restricted from celebrating Mass publicly. He may celebrate Mass only privately. Those restrictions of his faculties have not been lifted. Former Archbishop Anthony Apuron sent the priest off-island to a priestly renewal program after the incident in 2015.

Other than the fact that Camacho was arrested on March 17, 2015, none of the rest is true. 

1. There was no restriction of Camacho’s faculties....

 The truth is Father Luis was placed on restriction back in 2015. According to the Guam Daily Post dated March 19, 2015 (the bold is mine):

The archdiocese issued a short statement Wednesday evening regarding Camacho’s arrest.

“The Archdiocese of Agana was made aware that Father Luis was booked and released yesterday, March 17, 2015. The alleged offense is custodial interference, according to information provided by the Guam Police Department. The archdiocese has initiated a canonical investigation and is cooperating fully with civil authorities. In the meantime, Father Luis’ faculties have been restricted,” said the statement by Vice Chancellor Rev. Jose Alberto Rodriguez.

If Rohr can get this simple fact wrong, one then has to wonder what else are in error as a result of hatred for the Way. 

 

Rome has spoken!

 According to the Guam Daily Post, Father Luis Camacho has returned to Guam. A statement was released from Father Romy, the Apostolic Administrator. You can also find that statement in the Guam Daily Post. Nevertheless, the most important thing to remember in regards to Father Luis Camacho is that Rome has already spoken. 

Rome opened a canonical investigation on Father Luis following the incident in 2015. Though the Vatican has not been able to make a canonical ruling due to insufficient evidence, the case is not closed. The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith informed then Archbishop Byrnes on November 18, 2022 that the case is filed in the archives at this time as it is not possible to proceed with any canonical action.

 Rome has spoken! 

Love One Another

 In today’s reading, St. John instructs us to love one another not in words or speech, but in deed and truth. However, human beings are incapable of true love especially towards their enemies and persecutors. Which one of us can forgive the thief who broke into our homes and stole from us? Which one of us can turn the other cheek without retaliating as they are being taunted and bullied?  Rather, it is easier to love family and friends. Nevertheless, it is possible to love and pray for our persecutors. But it is not us who do this but God Himself acting through us. We have seen God acting in our lives, so we go out to share our testimonies. We evangelize other Pacific Islands and participate in the Great Mission every Sunday. The Church often speak of the New Evangelization, and the NCW does this very well. It is by their fruit that one can know the true disciples of Christ. 

Matthew 7:16-18 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 

Christ also warned His Church that they will be persecuted just as He was persecuted. So, let us not forget that we are Christians, the followers of Christ. Let us not forget what happened at the Antonio B. Wonpat International Airpot in April 2016 when Professor Giuseppe Gennarini arrived in Guam. It is by their fruits that you will know who the true disciples of Christ. What happened in 2016 is also a great testimony of God acting in our lives. As you see in the video below, the leader of the NCW quietly goes to a car and loads his luggage and without retaliation while being harassed, bullied, and taunted by the Concerned Catholics” (CCOG). Mr. Gennarini forgave these people. This is the kind of leader who leads the NCW. 

The Truth Behind Hamas

Pope Francis told Christians in the Middle East not to take sides between the Jews and the Palestinians in the ongoing conflict. Rather, we are to seek to establish peace between the two instead of picking sides. However, there comes a time when one must choose a side. I once said that a person must choose to either stand with the persecutor or the persecuted. Below is an interesting video regarding the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.