Celebrating 340 Years
The History of Saint Joseph Parish of Inalahan
By Dr. Judith S. Flores
Research Associate, RFT-MARC
Abstract: This narrative is inspired by oral histories that have been passed from generation to generation since 1680, held by the people of Inalahan and recorded by William (Bill) Meno Paulino. Among the youngest of 19 children, Bill lived with his aging parents well into adulthood, absorbing the stories they told - and writing them in his journal. His writing reflects idioms and philosophies as expressed by elders of the early 1900s. By the 1970s this combination of deep CHamoru linguistic knowledge together with oral histories was rare; and the stories were quickly slipping away with the passing of Inalahan elders. The presentation will show the collaborative efforts of the Researcher and the Oral Historian to place events into historical context, examining particular oral histories including that of the people of Fu’una who were relocated to Inalahan; and of the arrival of the statue of Saint Joseph by Spanish military boat. Their collaboration will provide the historical content of a commemorative book that celebrates 2020 as the 340th Jubilee Year of Saint Joseph’s Church in Inalahan.
Introduction
In 2018, our pastor, Father Joseph Anore, introduced the idea of celebrating 340 years since the founding of St. Joseph’s Church in Inalahan; to take place in 2020 with many special events planned throughout the year. What a challenging year 2020 turned out to be, with repeated lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic! But under his perseverance, the various committees made necessary adjustments and carried out several events that continued into 2021. The most enduring project has been the publication of a commemorative book that will tell the amazing history of Saint Joseph’s Church. Our purpose for writing this book includes the following goals:
• To rekindle the spirit of faith, faithfulness and festivity in our parish
• To revive traditional practices that inform our Catholic culture
• To tell our story from the perspectives of our own parishioners
The committee felt strongly that our parishioners must be the primary voice in telling our stories. This emphasis was stressed by one of St. Joseph’s Parish Council members in the early 1990s when they began planning for the annual Fiesta of Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary. Edward M. Crisostomo proposed the idea of telling the story of the arrival of the statue of Saint Joseph to Inalahan to establish the first church. That story had been passed down
