U Matuna Si Yu'os: Vol. 66 No. 19, May 6, 2012 by U Matuna Si Yu'os

SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

VOL. 66, NO. 19

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FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Shomalis share Holy Land awareness on Guam Visit part of formation for the Order of Holy Sepulchre members The Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem Magistral Delegation of Guam welcomes Knight Commander Joseph and his wife Lady Amal Shomali to Guam this week. Joseph and Amal, members of the Montreal Lieutenancy in Canada, are on island to visit with twenty-five Guam candidates who continue their formation in hopes of being inducted to the Order of the Holy Sepulchre later this year. The Shomalis have a connection to Guam that started over a decade ago, according to Msgr. James L.G. Benavente, a Priest-Knight of the Order. Msgr. Benavente recounts his attendance at a conference in Canada and was scheduled to concelebrate at a Mass, but had forgotten his roman collar. In his search for a roman collar, he stumbled upon a religious store that carried the Shomali products. One thing lead to another and the Shomalis became one of the first vendors at the Cathedral-Basilica Gift Shop. For the past 10 years the gift shop has carried the Shomali Product line featuring religious and gift items made of the olive wood from Bethlehem. Every purchase of a Shomali product from the gift shop supports Christians ministering and living in the Holy Land. In 1995 Joseph and Amal started Shomali Inc., a wholesale religious business, which specializes in olive wood creations. This venture really began as a ministry that was driven out of passion and heart for the people of their beloved homeland, Palestine. They have strong roots in the town of Beit-Sahour, also called Shepherd's Field. The Shepherd’s Field is special

Photo by Peter "Sonny" Perez Ada.

Pedro and Fe Ada selected as seminary honorees By Jennifer Louise Dulla For the U Matuna Si Yu’os

IN BRIEF

See SHOMALIS, Page 2

TO K EN

FA IT H

“The greatest barrier to evangelization today is bad example.... Our strategy of evangelization must be based upon sanctity, upon our enthusiastic response to Christ’s universal call to holiness.” Archbishop John Foley

PLIGHT OF CHRISTIANS IN THE HOLY LAND. Knight Commander Joseph Shomali, and his wife, Lady Amali Shamli, members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem are on Guam for the formation of candidates to the Order. The Shomalis also own and operate Shomali, Inc., a religious product line featured at the Cathedral-Basilica Gift Shop.

Catholic Schools set commencement schedules for 2012 After countless hours of studying, numerous after-school group meetings, and final exams, hundreds of students are now able to breathe a sigh of relief now that school is over. This month, Guam’s Catholic schools will graduate hundreds of students from both middle and high schools beginning May 9. Baccalaureate Mass & Graduation Schedule 2012. Page 5

FMDS Photo

Mr. Pedro Palomo Ada and Mrs. Fe Perez Ada will be honored at the 10th Annual Seminary Gala Dinner on Sunday, May 20, 2012 for their Christian witnessing, exemplary service and generosity and island community. Pedro and Fe Ada reside in Tamuning and have been parishioners at the St. Anthony-St. Victor Catholic Church. They have been married for 53 years and have six children and their spouses, namely, Maria A. Bonnie, Peter “Sonny” and Jennifer Ada, Dr. Frances A. and Jaime Purviance, Patricia P. Ada, Therese and David John, and Carla P. Ada, along with eleven (11) grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Ada’s Catholic marriage, along with prayer and perseverance, has kept them together through hardships, family losses, and health issues, because of their faith and trust in God. Pedro Ada is the Chairman of Ada’s Trust & Investment, Inc., a real estate and investment holdings company. Since his early days as a businessman, Mr. Ada has worked hard to develop a reputation of honest hard work and commitment to his family and island. In the mix of his professional career and community involvement, one thing was evident – his passion and love for his Catholic faith. Mr. Ada and his family have always been exceptionally charitable to his church and island community, especially in support of causes for the less fortunate and sick among us. Even during natural disasters on Guam or throughout the region, Pedro and Fe never passed an opportunity to share their blessings with others. The case is no different in planting seeds of support and stewardship for the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in the Archdiocese of Agaña.

The Adas are the distinguished honorees of the 2012 Seminary Gala Dinner. Mr. Ada is a 1949 graduate from St. Thomas Military Academy who furthered his education at the St. Thomas College in 1953 with a degree of Business Administration in St. Paul, Minnesota. Mrs. Ada was among the first graduating class at the Academy of Our Lady of Guam in 1953, and after obtaining a degree in Business and minor in Education at St. Teresa’s College in Winona, Minnesota, she helped her husband with the family business and dedicated her life to raising her children and taking care of the family. See HONOREES, Page 2

IN BRIEF Why do I have to Confession? Bible instructs us to confess our sins, not to God, but “to one another”. PAGE 6

Priests must live holy lives to be effective ministers. Being effective ministers important fore new evanglization. PAGE 8

Vatican condemns China power grab Ordained bishops condemed for participation in recent episcopal ordinations. PAGE 9

Pope donates quarter million dollars

Commitment to Christian unity. PAGE 10

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Honorees CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Filled with gratitude for this recognition, Mr. Ada stated, “We are deeply humbled and grateful to be selected as the honorees of this event and thank the Redemptoris Mater Seminary for this honor. We have supported and encourage others to support this Seminary because the help they provide through their seminarians and priests saves souls.” “Faith” being the theme of this year’s dinner, the word itself gives them hope for eternal life and balance in their earthly lives. According to the Adas, faith plays an integral role in nurturing their family. “The Christian way of life provides direction to conduct one’s life. Mutual respect comes from God’s greatest commandment, to love one another,” Mr. Ada said. “Respect and love start at the home. The faith has passed from generation to generation. It was passed onto us by our parents through practice and through school. We have passed on the Catholic faith to our children in a similar way and they to theirs.”

Shomalis

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

because it is where the angel appeared to the shepherd's at the birth of Christ, located one mile from the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The work of the Shomalis enabled the Christian families of Beit-Sahour and Bethlehem to remain employed. They believe that if you cannot visit the Holy Land, Amal and Joseph can bring a piece of Bethlehem into your home. Today, Shomali Inc. carries a wide inventory of nearly 1,500 devotional items which come from Bethlehem, Europe and Canada. The company's product line ranges from rosaries, crosses and crucifixes to prayer cards, bookmarks, key chains, pewter pieces, pendants, a full Christmas line and more. The Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem has a special devotion to aid the Christian Community in the Holy Land. Over the last decade the Order has contributed over $51M; $10.7M alone in 2010 projects. Contributions by members of the Order are used in Israel, the West Bank and Jordan to support: parish churches, rectories, and community centers; convents, seminaries and seminarians; clinics and hospitals; orphanages and day-cares parish grade schools, high schools, and Bethlehem University (the only Christian University in Israel). Additionally they provide tuition scholarships and humanitarian as-

FAMILY AND FAITH. Mr. Pedro Ada shares a moment surrounded by several of his grandchildren. Mr. Ada and his wife, Fe, have been selected as the honorees of the 2012 Seminary Gala Dinner. Photo by Peter “Sonny” Perez Ada. The Ada’s strongly believe in sharing their blessing with the less fortunate and supporting our Church and its endeavors continue its mission of sharing the Word of God. “The Church needs funding to do its mission. However, since it is not a business, it needs supporters and donors to help fund its mission. As members of the Church, we

feel a duty to support it, for love of God,” said Mr. Ada. He added, “It is also true that in giving, we receive. There is a satisfaction, a peace, when you know that what you give makes a difference in peoples lives.” The Adas, along with their children, understand that the Church must be strong to teach the flock to take to heart the teachings of Jesus Christ. They believe that the Church

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needs to get people, young and old, interested in growing their faith further. They recognize that the Seminary plays a vital role in helping with this issue. Mr. Ada shared, “The priests that come from the seminary do and will serve our Church, but also our community. They serve by giving those lost, reason for hope.” The Seminary is paid for and operates only through the charitable work and donations of corporations and people. Mr. and Mrs. Ada extend a message to the people, “We would encourage everyone to assist in whatever way they can and to continue praying for the seminarians. The Seminary on Guam is truly a blessing the island should embrace,” they continued, “Their effect on people’s lives, Catholic and non-Catholics is helpful to our society as a whole. The Seminary on Guam is a miracle and we all need to do our part to keep embracing and supporting this miracle.” The 10th Annual Seminary Gala Dinner will be held on Sunday, May 20, 2012, 6:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Tickets are $160 per person and $1,500 per table. For more information, please contact Fr. Julio Cesar Sanchez or Ms. Sue at the Seminary 789-2400.

Santa Rita children receive First Holy Communion

is an entity of the Archdiocesan Development Group 207 Archbishop Felixberto C. Flores Street Hagåtña, Guam 96910 PUBLISHER

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Deadline for reserving advertising space is 3 pm Tuesday prior to the date of publication. Camera-ready copy is due at the U Matuna Si Yu’os office no later than noon Wednesday prior to the date of publication. The office of the U Matuna Si Yu’os is now located on the second floor of the Dulce Nombre Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagåtña.

MISSION The U Matuna Si Yu’os is published every week by the Archdiocese of Agaña, Guam. Our mission is to print and distribute a true report of the Roman Catholic Church’s ministry of changing lives though the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. By offering news and commentary about issues impacting the Catholic Church, it aims to serve as a focal point for the expression and discussion of the Catholic faith on Guam.

ONLINE Holy Communion. Young Catholics gather for souvenir photos after receiving Jesus for the first time during the 10AM Sunday morning Mass, April 29 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Santa Rita. The Sacrament of First Holy Communion was administered by their Parish Pastor Rev. Fr. Fabio Faiola. The village namesake will be honored in the annual Santa Rita fiesta celebration scheduled for May 26. UMSY Photo sistance for food and medical supplies. Msgr. Benavente says, “It is extremely important that we not forget the plight of the Christians in the Holy Land.” He reminds us that these people are our brothers and sisters in faith. In many ways Christians in the Holy Land remain there, even to the extent of persecution, because they

believe it to be their duty to represent all of us – for what would the Holy Land be without Christians. According to literature from the order, “For 2000 years, Christian communities have thrived there (the Holy Land). Yet, over the last 60 years, their population has gone from their historical level of around 18% to less than 2% today. Never have the Christian communities in

the Middle East been as close to extinction as they are now.” Msgr. Benavente hopes the Shomali’s visit to Guam will bring an increased education and awareness to the important work of aiding Christians in the Holy Land, particularly as the Order of the Holy Sepulchre continues its formation of candidates in the coming months.

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SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

Sunday Gospel & Reflection gi manmafa’tinas kosas: I hayu debi di umana’finu, i oru umana’masongge, i di’amonte umachachak yan mana’lamlam. Lao, didide’ parehu gi kausan “naturat” na fina’tinas tat komu i muna’la’la’ kosas yan ga’ga’. I Machalek na frutas hassan dumangkulo’ yan masisu taiguihi i frutas ni bumenifisiha ginen i mapatche’ pat mafettalisa, taimanu ha’ i machalek na ga’ga’ ti manachayomok yan masisu taiguihi ayu i manmagefadahi ni manmeying na taotao. Gi magahet, este na lai kulan sen machalapon. Yanggen i hinalom i sanhiyon sina mandestrosa, pues i hinalom san hiyong sina lokkue’ gumaibenefisihu. Gi Ibangheliun pa’go, si Jesu Kristo ha sangani hit, ni gi fine’na’na na inatan kulan na’ma’anao. Ilek-na na ARCHBISHOP si Tata-na ha u’utot i ramas ni ti manonokcha’ gi tronko ni kumukunanaf, era, i ti manguaiya na kilisyanu. Pues ha’ umenta si Jesu Kristo yan i na’ma’anao na rebilasion na i Tata “ha “lalabon gasgas” i manmanfruru-ta na ramas kosaki sina “ma’umenta i tinekcha’-niha.” isters and Brothers: Few things in our world reach Este i “na’gasgas na linabbon” i Tata gi mana’gofklaru perfection on their own, without any outside help. gi magahet. Pues ma sotta para ta suponi hafa ayu. This is obvious in the case of artifacts: wood needs Guaha uma’alok na si Jesu Kristo ha rifiefieri i ti sina to be sandpapered, gold has to be refined, diamonds ma’eskapayi na chinagi yan minappot i lina’la’, espesimust be cut and polished. But, to a certain point, the atmente i lina’la’ ni ha kumiti gue’ para ma tattiyen Jesu same holds true also in the case of “natural” products Kristo. such as growing things and animals. Wild fruits are Este na intetpritasion sina pusipble lao buente ahi rarely as big and healthy as fruits which have benefited put dos na rason. Fine’nana, sa si Jesu Kristo ha umenta from grafts and fertilizers, just as wild animals are not insigidas: “Hamyu mangasgas esta.” Impusibple este as fat and healthy as those which have received expert yanggen si Jesu Kristo ha rifiefieri i inanako’-lina’la’ care from humans. Apparently, taimanu I “mana’gasgas” I kilisyanu ginen i chinagen this rule is pretty universal. yan minappot lina’la’ di’arihu. Sigundo, ha’ eksplika TODAY’S GOSPEL If outside interference can be si Jesu Kristo na i mandisipulu siha esta mangasgas. detrimental, it can also be most Ilek-na si “si Yu’os ma’ase’ para i palabra ni esta hu sanJohn 15:1-8 beneficial. gani hamyu.” Gi otro palabras, i hinengge ni mana’i In today’s gospel, Jesus tells i fina’na’guen Jesu Kristo muna’gasgas siha. Este na us something which, at first blush, is somewhat alarm- mismo ideha mas mana’klaru as San Pedro ni kumuening. He says that his Father prunes away every barren tusi i ti Manhudios: “Si Yu’os muna’gasgas i kurasonniha ni hinengge.” Si Yu’os ti branch of his vine, that is, the munana’lamen ni “muna’hahanao” non-loving Christian. Then JeHe makes us better para hita chinagi yan minappot. sus adds the alarming revelation Gaigi este gi sanhalom-ta gi lina’la’(clean) by a deeper that the Father “trims clean” the gi este na bandan i langet. Mafatfruitful branches in order to “infaith in him, a closer intima- ta to yan i lugat. Hafa “hana’hahanao” crease their yield.” This “trimcy with Jesus, not by some ayu i minetgot, minatatnga, yan ming clean” by the Father is not tinemtom ni nesisariu para ta aprufurther clarified, unfortunately. sadistic torture. becha ginen este siha na chinagi. So we are left to guess what it is. Hana’mamas manmaolek (gasgas) Some authors believe that Jesus is here referring to the inevitable trials and difficulties hit ginen i taddong na hinengge giya guiya, un lahihot of life, especially of a life committed to the following of na inatungo’ yan si Jesu Kristo, ahi ti ginen hafa na senJesus. Such an interpretation is possible but not likely baba na kinastigu. Este na pinagat machuchule’ ginen I Lepblon 366 for two reasons. First, because Jesus acts immediately: “You are clean already.” Now this would be impossible if Dihas yan I Saina. Ohalara ya u bula guinaiya i ha’anenJesus were referring to a life-long process such as one’s miyu ya i todu hana’sina na Yu’os infambinendisi, gi “purification” by means of everyday trials and difficul- na’an i Tata yan i Lahi-na yan i Espiritu Santo. Amen. ties. Secondly, Jesus explains how it is that the disciples chong.

Anthony Sablan Apuron, O.F.M. Cap., D.D.

are already clean. He says that it is “thanks to the word I have spoken to you.” In other words, the faith they accorded to Jesus’ teaching made them clean. This same idea is expressed even more clearly by Peter speaking of converted Gentiles: “God cleansed their hearts by faith.” God is not a tormentor “sending” us trials and difficulties. These are inherent to life on this side of heaven. They come with the territory. What he “sends” is the strength, courage, and wisdom necessary to profit from those trials. He makes us better (clean) by a deeper faith in him, a closer intimacy with Jesus, not by some sadistic torture. This gospel reflection is taken from St. Paul’s 366 Days with the Lord. May your day be filled with love and may Almighty God bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Pinagat Atsubispo Anthony Sablan Apuron, Kapuchinu

ane’lu-hu, didide’ kosas gi tano’ta mafatto gi kinabales-na guiguiya ha’ na maisa, sin hafa na ayudu ginen i sanhiyong. Klaru este

Ibangeliu (Juan 15:1-8)

lek-na si Jesus nu i mandisipulu-na: “Guahu i magahet na tronko ni kumukunaf, ya si Tata-hu guiya i hatdineru. Ha’ utot ayu siha na ramas giya guahu ni ti manonokcha’, ya ha lalabon ayu siha na ramas i manmeppa’, kosaki sina gasgas yan u mas meppa’. Esta mana’fangasgas hamyu ginen i nutisiha ni hu sangani hamyu. Na’fanunu hamyu giya guahu, ya guahu bai na’unu yu’ yan hamyu. Solu managa hamyu giya guahu, nai sina hamyu mangaitinekcha’, parehu ha’ na ti sina manokcha’ i ramas solu chechetton gi tronko. Guahu i tinanom ni kumukunanaf, ya hamyu i ramas. Maseha hayi ni sumaga giya guahu, ya guahu giya guiya, siempre meppa’ tinekcha’-na, sa’ taya’ nina’sinanmiyu sin guahu. Maseha hayi ni sumasaga giya guahu u mayute’ huyong, kalan i ramas ni anglo’; enao siha na ramas u fanmarikohi ya u fanmadaggao guatu gi guafi, ya u fankimason. Yanggen managa hamyu giya guahu, ya i fino’-hu sumasaga giya hamyo, enao nai sina siempre manmangagao hamyu maseha hafa i malago’-miyu, ya siempre manmana’i hamyu. Estague’ nai uma’anok i matunan i Tata-hu; yanggen manmeppa’ hamyu; ya ginen este nai siempre mandisipulu-hu hamyu.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS \\ SCHOOLS ACADEMY OF OUR LADY OF GUAM

May 10: Baccalaureate Mass; Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica, 6 pm May 11: Commencement Ceremony; FD Phoenix Center, 6 pm May 15-18: Second Semester Exam Week May 18: Mass of Thanksgiving/ Junior Ring Ceremony/Awards CeremoNY Last Day of Classes May 21: Teacher Record Day, NO CLASSES Join the AOLG Advancing Women Educationally (A.W.E.) Program to help prepare for the G.E.D. test. A.W.E. is open to women 18 years or older who do not have a high school diploma and must meet certain criteria. Classes are on Saturdays at AOLG campus. An appraisal test must be taken to determine math and language skills level prior to attending classes. For more information, contact Marilyn Megofna at 734-7407 or tonlyn123@guam.net . Apply online at www.aolg.edu. NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL

May 8: May Crowning May 9: Notre Dame Day - No Classes May 11: Baccalaureate Mass @ Cathedral 9:30 am May 12: 43rd Commencement Exercises at the Phoenix Center at 11:30 am May 23&24: Semester Exams ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL

3rd Annual 5K Run/Walk. Saturday, May 19, 2012. Show time 5:30 am, Go time 6am. For more information, contact the St. Francis School Development Office at 789-1270/5052

presents ‘The Festival of Lions!’. Saturday, May 12 fom 3 pm to 8 pm at the school’s campus in Ordot, adjacent to the San Juan Bautista Catholic Church. Admission is free.

\\ PARISHES OUR LADY OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH IN AGANA HEIGHTS Beginning Tuesday, May 1st, the weekday Mass time will be changed from 6:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. New Mass Schedule as of May 1st Sunday – 7 am and 9 am Monday – 6 pm Tuesday – 6 pm Wednesday – 6 pm Thursday – NO MASS – CAPUCHIN FRATERNITY DAY Friday – 6 pm Saturday – 6 am and 6 pm

\\ OTHER MASS FOR AN INCREASE OF VOCATIONS All those interested in the vocation to the priesthood or religious life are invited to attend a weekly Mass for Vocations offered every Wednesday, at 7 pm at Santa Barbara Catholic Church. For more info, please contact Fr. Paul Gofigan at 4880613. Those interested in the permanent diaconate ministry are also invited to attend. REDEMPTORIS MATER SEMINARY OF GUAM 10th Annual Seminary Gala Dinner will be held on Sunday, May 20, 6 pm at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Please contact Fr. Julio Cesar Sanchez or Ms. Sue at the Seminary 789-2400.

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC SCHOOL

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CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

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SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

Academy of Our Lady of Guam celebrates May Crowning On May 1st, 2012, the Academy of Our Lady of Guam celebrated its May Crowning liturgy and ceremony at the Dulce Nombre de Maria CathedralBasilica. The custom and tradition of the May Crowning traces its origins to the Jesuits who celebrated this devotion since the 16th century. It has become a practice close to the hearts of many devout Catholics, honoring and celebrating Mary as Queen of all creatures. Since May is the month when Spring is at full bloom, the Church considers this a fitting time to be reminded of how we, too, can share the fullness and newness of life by following the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary in her “Fiat” (her “yes”), allowing God’s will to unfold in her life. The May Crowning highlights the two important roles Mary holds, which are Mother of God and Queen of Heaven and Earth. Crowning the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary we place ourselves under her protection and ask for her to intercede for us in asking for the grace to be able to follow in her loving example. Blessed Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth. (L-R) Vanessa Ochavillo, May Queen, Carly Rosete, Crown Bearer, Colleen Bamba and Carmen Terlaje, Attendants. AOLG Photo

‘The Crusade to Educate’ St. Francis School to host annual 5K By Kevin AN Delgado For the U Matuna Si Yu’os

FDMS Photo

FDMS Phoenix Company NJROTC changes command By Cadet Petty Officer Joseph Vi On April 24, 2012, the Father Dueñas Memorial High School Phoenix Company celebrated the time-honored tradition known as the Change of Command Ceremony. The Change of Command is a highly anticipated event each year for the Phoenix Company, especially for those vying for the position of Commanding Officer. The Change of Command is a time honored tradition in the US Navy. It represents the formal change in authority within a unit. This is done by the passing of the flag from the outgoing officer to the incoming officer. With this action, the outgoing officer gives all responsibility to the incoming officer. It ensures that the unit and its cadets are never without a leader to guide them. It is also a symbol of trust as the outgoing officer entrusts his unit to the incoming officer. This year Cadet Commander Cody Lizama was celebrated for bringing the Company to new heights, but

the time came for him to step down as he pursues future endeavors. His successor as Cadet Commander was given to Cadet Ensign Yongcheol “Brian” Min, Commander for the Phoenix Company’s Unarmed Drill Team and graduate with honors at the Hawaiian Leadership Academy. Ensign Min is expected to raise the Company to even higher levels in terms of military proficiency and leadership. After a heartfelt speech, Cadet Commander Lizama officially stood relieved of his position as the newly Cadet Commander Min took charge. Although he has big shoes to fill, the Company is confident in Commander Min’s words of bringing great honor to the unit. The ceremony was also an opportunity to bid farewell to the six members of the Senior Class. They were Cadet Ensign Adrian Araullo, Cadet Ensign Jayvee Andrada, Cadet Ensign Troy Dumlao-Varela, Cadet LT Matthew Taisipic, Cadet LCDR Justin Brown, and Cadet CDR Cody Lizama. Master Chief Separa wished all the seniors the best and bid them the traditional, “Fairwinds and following seas.”

For over 60 years, St. Francis School in Yona has been engrained into the hearts and spirits of the people of Guam. Countless have taught and volunteered there. Hundreds are alumni. Thousands were students. And the entire island was shaken in the wake of the school being victimized on 42 different occasions last year. Despite the growth and its ability to adapt to the changing times, some things at St. Francis School never change… the love of its school community, the support of its parents, the hard work of its employees, and the down-to-earth spirit of its students. Sixty years is a lot of time for change. But St. Francis School continues to be resilient in its efforts to ‘fight for what’s right.’ In its efforts to continue in the school’s mission, then annual St. Francis School 5K Run/Walk, “Crusade to Educate”, will take place on Saturday, May 19, 2012. This run/walk will mark its third year, and will be held on a different route. In its first year, the ‘Crusade to Educate’ took place at the Joseph Flores (Ypao) Beach Park. Last year, hundreds gathered at the Guam Premier Outlets (GPO) for the event. This year’s run, however, will take place on the school grounds and in the village of Yona, mainly occurring on the Route 4 strip commonly known as “Chalan Canton Tasi.” The organizing committee is hopeful that the run will have all participants see the school they are supporting. School teams, individuals, southern residents, and school families, friends, and supporters are welcomed to register at St. Francis School in Yona, or at Hornet Sporting Goods in Tamuning.

SAVE THE DATE CRUSADE TO EDUCATE

3rd Annual St. Francis School 5K Run/Walk DATE

Saturday, May 19, 2012 SHOW TIME

GO TIME

5:30 AM

6 AM

PLACE

St. Francis School, Yona For more information, contact the St. Francis School Development Office at 789-1270/5052

Registration and selling of numbers will formally open during the first week of May. Proceeds from this year’s event will go towards various educational materials. In addition, the School’s Leadership Team unveiled plans for the repair of the St. Francis School MultiPurpose Facility, which will – in time – include a sports court for eventual home games, and an upgraded stage for the school’s fine arts program. Granted the location has changed, the mission and the crusade continue. All are welcomed to contribute to the crusade, as runners, as prize or monetary sponsors, or as prayers for our continued growth. For more information, please contact the St. Francis School Development Office at 789-1270/5052. Join the Crusaders of St. Francis School. And let us continue to fight for what is right. Kevin AN Delgado is the Administrator of Student Affairs at St. Francis Catholic School

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

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CATHOLIC MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS

Baccalaureate Mass & Graduation Schedule 2012 Academy of Our Lady of Guam

Baccalaureate Mass Thursday, May 10, 6PM Agana Cathedral-Basilica

Graduation Fri., May 11, 6PM Father Duenas Phoenix Center, Mangilao

Father Duenas Memorial High School

Baccalaureate Mass Tues., May 8, 6PM Santa Teresita Catholic Church, Mangilao

Graduation Weds., May 9, 6PM Father Duenas Phoenix Center, Mangilao

Notre Dame High School

Baccalaureate Mass Friday, May 11, 9:30 a.m. Agana Cathedral Basilica

Graduation Sat., May 12, 11:30AM Father Duenas Phoenix Center, Mangilao

Saint Thomas Aquinas High School

Baccalaureate Mass Friday, May 25, 6:00PM Agana Cathedral Basilica.

Graduation Sat., May 26, 10AM Guam Plaza Hotel, Tumon

Bishop Baumgartner Memorial Catholic School

Baccalaureate Mass Sun., May 13, 9AM immediately followed by Graduation BBMCS Gymnasium, Sinajana

Dominican Catholic School

Baccalaureate Mass Monday, May 21, 8:30AM Our Lourdes of Lourdes Catholic Church, Yigo

Graduation Weds., May 23, 4PM Dominican Catholic School Multi-Purpose Room, Yigo

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School Baccalaureate Mass Mon., May 18, 9AM Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, Agat

Graduation Thurs., May 21, 5PM Phoenix Hall, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School, Agat

COMMUNITY SERVICE. Notre Dame High School’s National Honor Society and representatives from Inarajan Elementary School receive a service recognition plaque from Inarajan Elementary School officials. Courtesy of NDHS, Inc. Jessica Perez-Jackson, NDHS ’96

NDHS honor society receives service recognition By Jessica Perez-Jackson NDHS ’96 For the U Matuna Si Yu’os

Notre Dame High School’s National Honor Society (NHS) received a plaque on March 30 for its service during Inarajan Elementary School’s (IES) Beautification Project on February 4 and 11 earlier this year. Representatives from IES, John Diaz, PTO President; Gloria Molano, Staff Member; and Jackysha Green, Teacher and a 2002 graduate of Notre

Dame High School, thanked the NHS students and Advisor, Nekola Fitzgerald, for their service to IES and the Inarajan community. According to Fitzgerald, members of NHS took time out of their busy weekends to participate in IES’ BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT BY PAINTING, CLEANING, REMOVING TRASH AND DEBRIS, AND TRANSFORMING THE SCHOOL’S FRONT YARD AND GROUNDS. NHS members demonstrate excellence in areas of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character.

Saint Anthony Catholic School

Baccalaureate Mass Saturday, May 19, 10AM Immediately followed by Graduation Saint Anthony Catholic School Gymnasium, Tamuning

Saint Francis Catholic School

Saturday, May 19, 5PM Mass at St. Francis Catholic Church Follow by Promotional Ceremony at Multi-Purpose Building, SFCS, Yona

San Vicente Catholic School

Baccalaureate Mass Friday, May 11, 2:30PM immediately followed by Graduation San Vicente Catholic Church, Barrigada

Santa Barbara Catholic School

Baccalaureate Mass Tuesday, May 15, 2012, 9:00 AM, Santa Barbara Catholic Church

Graduation Ceremony immediately follows Santa Barbara Catholic School's Petrie Gymnasium

Get your music on at St. Thomas Festival of Lions Calling all youth bands and music groups! St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School is searching for youth bands, music ensembles, dance groups, and songfest winners from different schools to participate in the school’s inaugural event dubbed The Festival of Lions! The festival will feature a night of carnival games, music, dancing, and prizes benefitting the Reverend Dr. Jeff D.T. Barcinas Scholarship Fund, according to a Facebook post. The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 12 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the school’s campus in Ordot,

adjacent to the San Juan Bautista Catholic Church. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information or to register your performance group, please contact Mr. Norman Babia at nbabia@staguam.com. Groups interested in registering for the festival should include their group’s official name, school or organization, contact numbers and email addresses. If you can, include a link to YouTube showcasing a sample of your group’s performance. All applications will be considered and approved by the school. Join the fun and participate in an event that will provide educational opportunities at Guam’s newest Catholic high school, St. Thomas Aquinas.

GALA NIGHT. Members of the Class of 1979 join other alumni is giving back to their alma mater at a March 31 gala fundraiser to benefit the Notre Dame campus. Jessica Perez-Jackson, NDHS ’96

NDHS celebrates 3rd Gala event By Jessica Perez-Jackson NDHS ’96 For the U Matuna Si Yu’os

Notre Dame High School alumni celebrated their annual Royal Gala on March 31, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Guam. Now in its third year, hundreds of Notre Dame Alumni, family, and friends enjoyed an evening of entertainment and delicious food, as they celebrated lasting friendships and happy

memories in the true Royal spirit. Proceeds from the annual fundraising event benefits the Talafofo campus. This year, the ParentAlumni Advisory Board took the reins in organizing the event. Notre Dame High School appreciates the efforts and goodwill of alumni, family, friends, and the business community. Their continued support helps to improve the educational opportunities for our island’s young men and women. If you would like to join the Parent-Alumni Advisory Board, or contribute to Notre Dame’s future success, please contact HYPERLINK "mailto:alumni@ndhsguam.com" alumni@ndhsguam.com or call the school at 789-1676 for more information.

CHURCH & SOCIETY

umatuna.org

SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

Why do I have to go to confession? ITE MISSA EST From the Mass to the Market: Engaging the World Beyond the Church Doors

By Tim Rohr hat question is usually followed by the words “I go directly to God”. While you are welcome to think you can go “directly to God”, the problem is, Jesus nowhere says to do that. In fact, the Bible instructs us to confess our sins, not to God, but “to one another”: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” (James 5:16) But who is the “one another” to whom we are to confess? Shall we just pull someone off the street and confess our sins? Of course not. The directive to “confess your sins to one another” occurs within the context of an instruction on the Sacrament of the Sick in which James instructs the Christian community to call the “presbyter”, who is to anoint the sick person and hear his confession: “Is anyone among you sick?” He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” (James 5:14-16) It is clear, in this passage, that the main agent of anointing and forgiveness is the

“presbyter”. In the early Christian communities, a presbyter (“overseer”) could have been a bishop or another man authorized to act in his place, much as the parish priest does today. In any event, the presbyter is distinguished from the rest of the community because he is to be summoned by the others, and he appears to have certain powers that the other Christians do not. “But”, you may say, “only God can forgive sins”. This is true. It is also true that God can do anything, including authorize others to forgive sins. And this he does in John 20:1923: “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. [Jesus] said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.’” (John 20:19-23) Given that the Resurrection is the central act of all history, it is quite profound, when you think about it, that Christ’s first order of business upon rising from the dead is to give the apostles the power to forgive sins. This should strike us with a rather terrible significance. He has just risen from the dead. He has just walked through a wall (the doors were locked). The apostles are probably beside themselves. And the very first thing he does is to make them new men (he “breathed on them”) and give them the power to forgive sins! In fact, the forgiveness of sins is their primary mission. This is what they are sent to

CONFESSION. A priest hears the confession of a young man at the hippodrome in Zagreb, Croatia, where during Pope Benedict XVI celebrated an outdoor Mass June 5. CNS photo/Alessia Giuliani, Catholic Press Photo

do (“so I send you”). And the very fact that Christ empowers these men to forgive sins and sends them forth to do so automatically makes it incumbent upon the rest of us to seek this forgiveness of sins from those men who are authorized to grant it: our priests and bishops. Given that this is Christ’s desire, it is the height of disobedience and sinful obstinacy to not seek forgiveness in the Sacrament of Confession. Some think that Christ simply intended a general spirit of Christian forgiveness and not the on-your-knees-in-front-of-the-priest type of confession. However, the fact that the apostles were granted the power to both forgive and “retain” sins tells us that the power is juridical, that the apostles (and those authoritatively descended from them) are to sit in judgement on the penitent’s sins. And in order for there to be a judgement there must first be a hearing - thus, the confessional and the oral accounting of our transgressions (and preferably on our knees). We also know that the power to forgive sins was not meant just for the Apostles but was intended to be passed on to those whom they would ordain. We know this because the presbyters mentioned in James are not Apostles, but specially authorized (ordained) members of the Christian community who are obviously authorized to hear and forgive sins as the apostles were. Today, that power has descended through the Sacrament of Ordination to the bishops and priests who walk among us today. Given the timing of the institution of the Sacrament and the centrality of the forgiveness of sins in the apostolic mission, there can be no doubt about the critical importance of the the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the necessity of our availing ourselves of it. And we must no longer fool ourselves about “confessing directly to God”. It is simply not his

will that we do so. Now just a couple of practical matters. The Sacrament of Confession demands that there be a place for it, a confessional. Church Law (Canon 964) requires that confessionals be in a church or oratory, 2) that there be “a fixed grate between the penitent and the confessor...”, 3) that the confessionals be “in an open place so that the faithful who wish to can use them freely”, and 4) “Confessions are not to be heard outside a confessional without a just cause.” In other words, we shouldn’t have to hunt for the confessional, we must have the option of an anonymous confession (a fixed grate), and sitting out in the open hearing confessions - a practice that has been in vogue for several years - is not the norm. Also Canon 986 requires that confession be scheduled so that penitents “have the opportunity to approach individual confession on days and at times established for their convenience.” Regularly scheduled times for confession are critical to the right to an anonymous confession since having to seek out a priest to hear one’s confession precludes anonymity. And speaking of anonymity, I personally always go to confession behind the grate, even if the priest knows me. I do it out of consideration for the priest. The priest is bound not only to never reveal the sin of a penitent, but to try to forget the sin once the confessional encounter is over. How much harder is it for him to do - as a man - when he has a face to go with the sin. Tim Rohr leads leads a Catholic Adult Study Group which meets every Monday evening, 6pm, at the Basilica Cafe. He can be contacted at timrohr.guam@gmail.com or “friended” at facebook.com/timrohr.guam His columns can be found online at www.themassneverends. com

REGIONAL

SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

NORTH KOREA

Asian press ‘among world’s most fettered’

(UCA NEWS) North Korea is the world’s worst country for press freedom, according to an annual survey released to coincide with today’s World Press Freedom Day. China (PRC), Myanmar and Vietnam are also in the world’s worst twelve nations, the survey of 197 countries from the US-based activist Freedom House revealed. The Global Press Freedom Rankings rated countries as ‘free’, ‘partly free’ or ‘not free’. Other Asian nations in the latter category included Laos, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia and

Cambodia. Thailand escaped by one place and was classed as ‘partly free’, together with Nepal, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, South Korea and Mongolia. While the PRC was in joint 187th place, Hong Kong (partly free) was 70th and Taiwan (free) was 47th. All of the ten most free countries were in Europe. The proportion of the global population that enjoys a free press has fallen to its lowest level in over a decade, the report concluded. “Only 14.5 percent of the world’s people—or roughly one in six—live in

countries where coverage of political news is robust, the safety of journalists is guaranteed, state intrusion in media affairs is minimal, and the press is not subject to onerous legal or economic pressures.” The report noted that despite its lowly position of 187th, Myanmar was one of three countries that showed “major gains” in press freedom after having “for many years endured media environments that were among the world’s most oppressive.”

CHINA

Vatican condemns China power grab (ASIA NEWS) The Vatican Commission on the Church in China has condemned the participation of illicitly ordained bishops in recent episcopal ordinations as a “usurpation” of power and has expressed concerns over a decline in priestly vocations in the country. In a statement released yesterday, the Vatican said that “illegitimate bishops” who “have carried out acts of jurisdiction,” or have administered sacraments, “usurp a power which the Church has not conferred upon them.” The statement follows recent

ordinations last week in Hunan and Nanchang, in both of which illicitly ordained bishops participated. “In recent days some of them have participated in episcopal ordinations which were authorized by the Church. The behavior of these bishops, in addition to aggravating their canonical status, has disturbed the faithful and often has violated the consciences of the priests and lay faithful who were involved,” the statement said. The commission further called on legitimate bishops who have taken part in illicit ordinations to

ask forgiveness of the pope “as soon as possible” and stressed that those who have asked pardon in the past have received it. “The Church needs good bishops,” the statement said. The statement said the Vatican has followed these “painful events” in the China Church vigorously but charitably. The commission was created in 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI and comprises cardinals of the Roman Curia together with Chinese bishops and heads of religious orders. It convened for its annual ses-

umatuna.org

Catholic Charities Appeal PLACE

Archdiocese of Agana, Guam 2012

DONORS

AMOUNT REPORTED

AMOUNT TURNED IN

Agana

$4,733.00

Agana Heights

$335.00

Agat

$1,810.00

Asan

$1,156.00

Barrigada

$5,083.00

Dededo

$10,169.81

Inarajan

$200.00

Maina

$595.00

Mangilao

$2,220.88

Merizo

$698.00

Piti

$340.00

Santa Rita

$2,345.00

Toto

$1,468.25

Tumon

$885.00

Umatac

$225.00

Yona

$3,264.00

St. Andrew Kim Catholic Church

$2,411.00

404

$37,939.32

TOTAL

sion this week in Rome, specifically to address the issue of improving lay Catholic formation in China. In their final statement following the meeting, the cardinals sounded a conciliatory note by rec-

ognizing that “Catholics are called to take part in civic life,” which includes “promoting values which are also proper to traditional Chinese culture.”

NATIONAL

umatuna.org

SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

Priests must live holy lives to be effective ministers, Vatican says By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Ten years after a historic papal response to clerical sex abuse, the Vatican urged priests to strive for greater holiness in their own lives so that they might effectively minister to others and reverse the tide of atheism. In its annual letter to priests for 2012, the Vatican's Congregation for Clergy focused on Blessed John Paul II's 2002 Holy Thursday letter to clergy, in which the late pope responded to the growing revelations and scandal of sexual abuse of minors by priests. The congregation's letter also gave priests a guideline for examining their consciences concerning everything from how they celebrate Mass to how well they are living a pure, humble and generous life detached from consumerism. Signed by the congregation's prefect, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, and secretary, Archbishop Celso Morga Iruzubieta, the letter was dated March 26 and recently published on the congregation's website. The letter marks the annual World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests, celebrated in many dioceses June 15 — the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Priests are entrusted with the task of challenging and helping people become more holy and obey God's will more fully, it said. "We cannot be sanctified without working on the holiness of our brothers, and we cannot work on the holiness of our brothers unless we

have first worked on and continue to work on our own holiness," it said. Urging others to strive for the "ideal of perfection," it said, "does not mean that we are not aware of our personal shortcomings, or of the faults committed by some who have brought shame upon the priesthood before the world."

‘Priests are entrusted with the task of challenging and helping people become more holy and obey God’s will more fully.’ Congregation Letter by the Vatican While not specifically mentioning clerical sex abuse, the letter said that given the worsening situation reported in the news, priests must take to heart "with greater strength and urgency" Blessed John Paul's Holy Thursday letter from a decade ago. It said the letter condemned the perpetrators of such scandals as betraying the priesthood and casting a "shadow of suspicion" over the many good priests in the world. Blessed John Paul called on priests "to commit ourselves more fully to the search for holiness," it said. The letter from the Congregation for Clergy said one of the most serious problems unfolding today is

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people losing all sense of God's love and hope. Traditionally, Christian nations "are no longer tempted to surrender to a general sort of atheism as they were in the past," but they risk falling victim to that brand of atheism that has "forgotten the beauty and warmth" of the Trinity of God, the Son and the Holy Spirit. By fully embracing, adoring and living in communion with God, priests can point the way to the true face of Christ and why he is important for men and women today, it said. "No new evangelization will really be possible unless we Christians are able to surprise and move the world again by proclaiming the nature of our God, who is love," and living as closely as possible to Christ. In addition to the letter, the Congregation for Clergy also published Scripture passages and reflections from popes, saints and theologians, and St. Faustina Kowalska's "Prayer for the Holy Church and for Priests," which asks God to protect clergy "from the devil's traps and snares." There was also a 20-part "Examination of Conscience for Priests" that asked priests to reflect on: how well they prepare for and lead Mass in a dignified manner; how free their lives are from vain and superficial pursuits; how central their love for Christ is in guiding them away from unchaste thoughts and acts; how charitable they are in dealing with others, especially those who sin; and how faithful their lives and teaching are to the church's Magisterium.

HOLY LIVES. Priests lie prostrate during their ordination by Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 29. The pope ordained eight for the Diocese of Rome. CNS Photo

NATIONAL

SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

umatuna.org

Number of Catholics in Congress edging up; more are Democrats By Nancy Frazier O’Brien Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The number of Catholic members of Congress is slowing creeping higher, but the Catholic contingent, like the full Congress itself, has taken a decided turn toward the Democratic Party. When the 111th Congress is sworn in Jan. 6, more than a quarter of its members will be Catholics, roughly matching the percentage of Catholics in the U.S. population and consistent with the statistical trends of the past decade. Four years ago when the 109th Congress convened, it included 153 Catholics. Two years later there were 155 Catholics in the 110th Congress. But the new group of senators and representatives has 162 members who identify themselves as Catholics. With nearly all the 2008 electoral battles settled by early December, and the Senate seat of Presidentelect Barack Obama still not filled, the Catholic delegation included 17 Democrats and nine Republicans in the Senate and 98 Democrats and 38 Republicans in the House. At the start of the 110th Congress in January 2007, there were 25 Catholic senators (16 Democrats and nine Republicans) and 130 Catholic representatives (88 Democrats and 42 Republicans). Two years earlier, the 109th Congress counted 24 Catholic

senators (13 Democrats and 11 Republicans) and 129 Catholic House members (72 Democrats and 57 Republicans). That's a far cry from the start of the 80th Congress in January 1947, when 11 senators and 67 House members were Catholic, according to an article by Jesuit Father Edward S. Dunn in the December 1948 issue of the American Catholic Sociological Review. Only 26 of the 78 Catholic members of the 80th Congress were Republicans; one belonged to the American Labor Party of New York and the rest were Democrats. "Catholics, then, make up 11.5 percent of the members of the Senate and 15.4 percent of the members of the House of Representatives," Father Dunn wrote. "This is not up to the ratio of Catholics in the total population, which is estimated at about 18 percent." Today the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, based at Georgetown University in Washington, estimates that Catholics make up 22 percent of the U.S. population. But they are at least 26 percent of the Senate membership, depending on who fills Obama's seat, and more then 30 percent of the House membership. The numbers are fluid, however, as members of Congress resign to take different posts and their seats are filled by others. Vice President-elect Joseph

Biden, for example, still officially represents Delaware in the Senate, although he plans to step down sometime before the Jan. 20 inauguration. A Catholic, Biden is to be succeeded by one of his top political aides, Ted Kaufman, who was appointed to the post by Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner and is also a Catholic. Among the Catholics who will have to resign from the incoming Congress if confirmed for Cabinet positions are Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado, whom Obama has said he will nominate as interior secretary, and Rep. Hilda Solis of California, the president-elect's choice as labor secretary. Other Catholic Cabinet nominees not serving in the 111th Congress include New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, expected to serve as commerce secretary; former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, Obama's pick as secretary of health and human services; former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, to be nominated as agriculture secretary; and Rep. Ray LaHood, a Republican who has represented Illinois in Congress since 1994 but who did not run for re-election in 2008. Depending on who gets appointed to fill the vacated seats of those in Congress, the number of Catholics could remain the same or even increase. For example, the person most widely discussed to succeed New

GREETINGS. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson greets Pope Benedict XVI during the pope's weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 15. CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano via Reuters York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a Methodist who is to be nominated as secretary of state in the Obama administration, is Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the nation's first Catholic president. Another congressional seat needing to be filled will be that of Rep. Rahm Emanuel, Obama's White House chief of staff, who is Jewish. Overall, the religious breakdown in Congress has remained relatively stable in recent years. After the 162 Catholics, the religious denominations with the most members in the 111th Congress are Baptists, with 64; Methodists, with 55; and Jews, with 45.

Forty-two members of the 111th Congress identify themselves as either Protestant or Christian, with no denomination named, while seven said they had no religious affiliation. Other religious groupings with more than a dozen members in the incoming Congress include Presbyterians (43); Episcopalians (39); Lutherans (24); and Mormons (13). Eight members identify themselves as belonging to an Orthodox church. Two members of the incoming Congress are Muslim and two are Buddhist. The remainder are divided among more than a dozen other Christian denominations.

umatuna.org

INTERNATIONAL

CHINA

Fears for fate of Chen Guangcheng, the blind activist against forced abortions Hong Kong (AsiaNews) — Unconfirmed voices in Shandong say that the blind activist Chen Guangcheng might be dead. The fears are compounded by the fact that some days ago, some activists who wanted to meet their friend, were arrested and isolated. According to some reports from Canyu, the authorities fired at the activists. Chen Guangcheng has been campaigning for years against forced abortions and sterilizations in Shandong. After the complaint of 130 thousand cases of operations forced by the family planning authorities in the province, he was sentenced to four years and three months. Released in September of last year, since then the authorities have forced him into total isolation with his wife and his six year old daughter, unable to go to school. His other son, aged eight, lives with his grandparents. In February, Chen managed to send a video abroad in which he denounces his detention despite having served his sentence of four years. Neither he nor his wife can leave the house, their phone is cut off, their friends kept away. For this reason, the police proceeded to beat him and threaten his wife. Just as with the activists a few days ago, foreign journalists who tried to approach his house, were also beaten and their equipment seized. Some activist friends told the South China Morning Post that the Shandong authorities have completed a house in July in the village of Dongshigu (Linyi), where they think they have shut Chen and his wife up. The house is secluded and surrounded by a high wall and will be monitored day and night by security. Even relatives are banned from visiting Chen. Worried about his health and his life, the NGO Womens' Rights Without Frontiers has launched a campaign for news on the fate of Chen, with a petition. "We are alarmed at the news reported by villagers, according to whom Chen was already dead," said the president of Wrwf, Reggie Littlejohn. "If Chen is dead - he adds - then the Chinese Communist Party is fully responsible for killing him un-

WIFE OF THE BLIND ACTIVIST. Yuan Weijung, the wife of Chen Guangcheng, who is serving a four-year prison term after exposing forced abortions and sterilization in northern China in 2005, leaves her home followed by uniformed and plainclothes police in Beijin g Aug. 24. China prevented her from going to the Philippines to collect a human rights award on behalf of her husband. (CNS photo/Reinhard Krause, Reuters) der torture, denying him medical care, starving him to death. If Chen is alive, we strongly urge that he and his family are released immediately and unconditionally to see a doctor for treatment. "

Pope donates quarter million dollars to ordinariate in England, Wales By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI donated $250,000 to the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham to help support its clergy and work. The gift "is a clear sign of (the pope's) personal commitment to the work of Christian unity and the special place the ordinariate holds in his heart," said Archbishop Antonio Mennini, the Vatican nuncio to Great Britain. The ordinariate made the announcement in a press statement May 1. "The gift will help establish the ordinariate as a vibrant part of the Catholic Church in England and Wales," the statement said. The ordinary, Msgr. Keith Newton, said, "This gift is a great help and encouragement as we continue to grow and develop our distinctive ecclesial life, whilst seeking to contribute to the wider work of evangelization." Pope Benedict established the ordinariate to welcome former Anglicans into the Catholic Church. The structure provided a way for

entire Anglican parishes or groups to become Catholic while retaining some of their Anglican heritage and liturgical practice. Our Lady of Walsingham was the first ordinariate to be created after the pope issued his apostolic constitution "Anglicanorum coetibus" in 2009. The ordinariate in England and Wales faces some logistical and financial challenges such as finding church buildings to use and supporting the former Anglican clergy — many of whom are married with families to support. Local Catholic parishes have been encouraged to share their churches with members of the ordinariate, and the Catholic bishops of England and Wales contributed 250,000 pounds to a fund that was set up to help to establish the ordinariate and to help pay for the salaries of its pastors. An additional 100,000 pounds had been donated by the St. Barnabas Society, a Catholic charity established to support clergy entering the Catholic Church from non-Catholic Christian denominations.

SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

INTERNATIONAL

SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

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Vatican strengthens oversight of Caritas Internationalis By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A Vatican decree established new statutes and norms for Caritas Internationalis, giving Vatican offices, including the Secretariat of State, greater authority over the work of the Vaticanbased umbrella group of Catholic aid agencies. The decree strengthens the roles Vatican offices and the pope play in working with the charity confederation, including naming and approving new board members and approving its texts, contracts with foreign governments and financial transactions. It also creates a special "support commission" of legal, technical and organizational experts named by the pope to help the organization follow the new norms as well as canon law and the laws of Vatican City State concerning the procurement and distribution of aid, and employment of workers. At least three members of Caritas' executive board will be papal appointees, and Pope Benedict XVI named U.S. Bishop Bernard A. Hebda of Gaylord, Mich., as one of them. The general decree — signed by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State, and approved by Pope Benedict XVI — was published by the Vatican May 2 and went into effect the same day. At the same time, the new statutes and internal

rules of the federation were published on the Caritas website. Prepared by the Secretary of State in conjunction with the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts and legal experts, the decree said it was meant to "complete and interpret" Caritas Internationalis' juridical status and give the organization a legal foundation and reference point for the application of the new statutes. Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa, Caritas Internationalis president, said, "This is a day of joy and hope" for the organization. Secretary General Michel Roy said the new statutes and rules clarify that Caritas is "both at the service of the confederation members and of the Holy See." The revision process began in 2007 as a follow-up to Blessed John Paul II having raised the technical status of the federation to a "public juridical entity" of the church in 2004. The new status formally recognized that Caritas carries out its charitable activities in the name of the Catholic Church and it meant the organization would function under the administration of the Vatican. Caritas Internationalis, whose original statutes were approved by the Vatican in 1951, is made up of 164 Catholic relief, development and social service agencies working in almost 200 countries. Most

of the member agencies are Caritas or relief and development agencies sponsored by national bishops' conferences, such as the U.S.-based Catholic Relief Services or the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace. Cor Unum is the Vatican office responsible for coordinating and promoting charitable giving. Msgr. Osvaldo Neves de Almeida, an official in the Vatican's secretariat of state, said in an explanatory statement accompanying the decree that the updated status was meant to better support the federation's activity. Given Caritas' worldwide presence, international profile and that it acts in the name of the church, the Vatican "has the task of following its activity and exercising vigilance in order that both its humanitarian and charitable action and the content of the documents that it disseminates may be in harmony with the Apostolic See and with the church's magisterium, and in order that it may be administered with competence and transparency," the monsignor wrote. According to the new norms, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith will continue to give doctrinal oversight to texts that are of a moral or doctrinal nature and the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See will continue to monitor the administration of temporal

goods. The Secretariat of State will have to approve official grants coming from governments and international organizations and non-emergency aid and development projects that have been started or are being run by Caritas Internationalis. Cor Unum and the secretariat of state will have to be notified of any agreements made with government authorities or nongovernmental organizations when Caritas Internationalis responds to emergency humanitarian situations. The new norms are part of Pope Benedict XVI's concern over the authentic Catholic identity of churchrun or sponsored aid and development programs, and his teaching that Catholic charitable activity should not be simple philanthropy, but a reflection of Christian faith and the obligation to love others as Christ loved. In fact, Pope Benedict "set out the fundamental principles to be developed in the new norms" in a speech to the Caritas general assembly last year and he "gave precise instructions" to the secretary of state on the contents of the new statutes, Msgr. Neves wrote. The pope told the assembly that the Vatican is responsible for following the activities of Caritas and "exercising oversight to ensure that its humanitarian and charitable activity, and the content of its documents,

are completely in accord with the Apostolic See and the church's magisterium." Some new elements laid out in the statutes include: — Cor Unum will name an ecclesiastical assistant whose role will be to foster "a spirit of communion" between the Vatican and members of the organization, foster reflection on theological questions and promote Caritas' Catholic identity. — The list of candidates for president, secretary general and now treasurer will require approval from Cor Unum, the Secretariat of State and the pope. — The new papal appointees to the executive board are Bishop Hebda, Archbishop Paul Yembuado Ouedraogo of Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso, and Maronite Archbishop Youssef Soueif of Cyprus. — Caritas Internationalis and all of its employees, including those working on contract, will have to abide by the new norms, the norms of canon law and the laws of Vatican City. Cardinal Robert Sarah, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, said in a statement that the new legal framework does not apply to national Caritas organizations, which will maintain their autonomy; however, the new norms "could inspire the bishops and bishops' conferences to eventually review their diocesan or national Caritas statutes."

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12 MOVIE REVIEW

PG-13

SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

Marvel’s The Avengers

By Adam Shaw

LOCAL SHOWINGS

Catholic News Service

NEW YORK (CNS) — Seemingly destined to haul in wads of cash at the box office, the ensemble adventure “Marvel’s The Avengers” (Disney) will not disappoint fans of the comic books on which it’s based. But it may prove problematic for the parents of some excited youngsters anxious to ride the juggernaut. The film has a long pedigree that can ultimately be traced back to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s original comics series from 1963 (Lee serves the screen version as an executive producer). More recently, it has been foreshadowed with subtle references and clues scattered among the four previously separate superhero franchises that are united here. 2011’s “Captain America; The First Avenger,” for instance, hinted at a future Avengers movie not only in its title but in a post-credits add-on scene as well. Writer-director Joss Whedon’s script juggles no fewer than six superheroes: Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Captain America (Chris Evans), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson). Led by the eye-patched and grizzled Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), this dream team confronts the mischievous exiled Norse god Loki (Tom Hiddleston). Loki believes freedom is overrated, and has hatched a scheme involving some glowing square that triggers ... Well, who really cares what it triggers? Just sit there and eat your popcorn! Not to be flippant, but the plot is unashamedly perfunctory, and serves only to place our oddly dressed friends in a situation where they can flex their magic muscles. And flex they do: “The Avengers” shuns attempts at allegory or subtlety, replacing them with special effects, loud noises and a surprisingly witty sense of humor. Which is not to say Whedon’s plot is entirely shallow. Christian themes concerning the dignity of the person and the value of freedom

Micronesia Mall - Tango Theaters 10:30AM 10:30AM 10:30AM 11:30AM 1:30 1:30 1:30 2:45 5:55 8:00 9:05 (in 3D) 10:30AM 4:50 5:30 8:35 GPO - Hollywood Theaters 11:45AM 12:45 3:00 4:00 6:15 7:15 9:30 (in 3D) 10:30AM 12:15 1:45 3:30 5:00 6:45 8:15 Agana - Tango Theaters 10:00AM 10:00AM 10:00AM 10:00AM 1:00 1:30 4:00 5:00 7:00 8:30 10:00 Movie schedules may be subject to change. Please contact theater to confirm showing schedule.

underlie the hectic proceedings. Captain America, moreover, is given a bit of dialogue showing him to be a firm believer, not only in Christ but in Jesus’ incarnate nature as both God and man. A firm defense of the uniqueness of Christ’s nature and role is a welcome surprise in a contemporary Hollywood movie, and, however brief, should be enthusiastically applauded. But there are also more questionable elements on display amid all the mindless action. Though relatively mild, these troublesome ingredients — listed below — will nonetheless raise concerns for some parents, putting them in the uncomfortable position of having to tell the young ‘uns under their care that this otherwise thoroughly enjoyable romp is offlimits.

SCENE FROM MOVIE ‘MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS’. Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans star in a scene from the movie "Marvel's The Avengers." The Catholic News Service classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material ma y be inappropriate for children under 13. (CNS photo/Disney) The film contains intense but largely bloodless violence, a few mature references, including to suicide and drug use, and a handful of crass terms. The Catholic News Service

classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Puzzles & Games WORD SEARCH THEME Baptism BAPTISM CHARACTER FATHER FIRST SACRAMENT GODPARENTS HOLY SPIRIT INITIATION ORIGINAL SIN PRIEST SAINT NAME SEAL SON WATER SECOND BIRTH REGENERATION

Find all the words hiding within the puzzle. Words are placed diagonal, forward, backward, up and down.

E S Q E V P M J E N R C A P B C H E N K R M O T T C W I P N N Z Z A E S I Z B C P S A B K I A L S R R B N V Y I R R W G T Y K K E I U P N R F A U O R I G I N O I T A I P N E N N O

T C I T Y D A T E P J T N T V

A M Z T D J S W H N M E N O S E Z I L I B M T T C S O A F X E A R R Z U B E R C E S N I E A Y K S Y R S H D U K P T Y C P O Y S H O H E R R V V A L S I N P I N I F G W I W M L A W

G N O D D W P A A T R E E R N M T P S J F O N V N H Z G T E

SUDOKU

Fill the empty cells so that each column, each row, and each of the 3x3 regions contains all of the digits from 1 to 9.

TIPS

No region can contain any duplicate digits.

There is only one solution to a Sudoku puzzle. Use a pencil.

5 8 4

4 1

7 8 6 9 3 5

6 7

9 4 8 2

3 9

8 6 5 1

2 4 9 6

3 7 8

8 6

2 4 9

3 8 9

7 2 4

1 6 7

8 7 2 1 3 4 5 9 6 4 9 5 6 7 2 8 1 3

9 7

1 4

Solution for April 29, 2012 9

1 6

7 9

1 4

9 6

8 3 4

SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

FAMAGU’ON YAN MANHOBEN

umatuna.org

Part 2: Imagination, myth, and the pursuit of joy Did one's "person-ness," one's life simply van- cannot be too careful in his reading." As Lewis' ish so utterly? Was death just a black hole? It power to reason developed to the point where was the feeling of something greater in light he was forced to see the naivete of his atheism After this, Lewis' imaginative life never of this feeling of something missing that led and accept the existence of an Absolute, he faltered, but he kept it sharply divided from Lewis away from realism also found that the framehis reason, which he staunchly believed to and into idealism. work of idealism did not be his avenue to truth and Joy in a mateAs an idealist, Lewis provide enough room for rial universe totally void of the supernatural. moved closer to the bereason. "If you seriously With his abandonment of Christianity, Lewis lief in an Absolute. In the believed in even a 'God' became a staunch atheist and his personal abundance of his reador 'Spirit' as I admitted, quest for Joy under the shadow of his atheism ing, he was surprised to a wholly new situation took him deep into the raging waters of real- discover that the only developed...I was able to ism and then idealism. Being an atheist and writers who communiplay at philosophy no lona cherisher of reason, Lewis became devoted cated the reality of there ger." At this point, Lewis to the philosophy of realism, seeing in it "the being "something greatbelieved in pantheism, freedom to reason for himself; to determine er" to our existence were yet his reading of Cheswhat he felt was good or bad, what he thought usually "dangerously terton and his conversawas just or unjust, and the freedom to attain tinged with something tions with people who joy." However, with the death of his boyhood like religion, even at were devotedly Christian tutor, Kirkpatrick, an atheist who had influ- times with Christianity." and appreciated reason enced Lewis greatly and who Lewis loved, Of Chesterton's Everlastas much as he did himself G.K. Chesterton Google images the framework of Lewis' philosophy as a re- ing Man, Lewis wrote, "... were spurring him closer alist trembled under a feeling of uncertainty. for the first time [I] saw to the God of Christianity. How could something turn into nothing? The the whole Christian outline of history set out The pivotal event of Lewis' conversion to mind, character, and personality of Kirkpat- in a form that seemed to me to make sense." the belief in a personal God came on a sumrick was definitely this something to Lewis. "A man who wishes to remain a sound Atheist mer day in 1929 when "he suddenly felt that he By Michelle Rohr

For the U Matuna Si Yu’os

There was only one way of escape...’I gave in and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed.’” C.S. Lewis

was putting off the inevitable, or as if he were locked in a room. There was only one way of escape...'I gave in and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed.'" Lewis, in his need and love for reason and joy had literally stumbled into an encounter with God. In each step of Lewis' journey back to the faith, there echoes these ageless words of St. Augustine: "What crooked paths I trod. What dangers threatened my soul when it rashly hoped that by abandoning you it would find something better." Lewis' desire for Joy had taken a decisive turn toward its Object. The secret of Joy, he discovered, lay not in himself as some mental content, but outside of himself, in a God meant to be worshipped and adored for Who He Is.

umatuna.org

SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

AROUND THE WORLD

PRAISE THE LORD. Iraqi refugees attend an Easter Mass at a Chaldean Catholic church in Amman, Jordan, April 15. Thousands of Iraqi Christians fled to neighboring Jordan following a spate of bombings that targeted churches in Iraqi cities in the past few years. CNS photo /Ali Jarekji, Reuters

DEVOTION & SPIRITUALITY

umatuna.org

Healthy heart Fr. Joel de Los Reyes

Divine Mercy Moments

id it ever dawn in your mind that “Healthy Heart” should also mean “Heal-Thy-Heart” ? In a sense there’s a lot of truism in this for just like a garbage bin dumped with all kinds of stinking filth hazardous to health, don’t we too fill our heart with rubbish of hate, anger, pride, envy, selfishness, egotism and many other loads of negative feelings and emotions toward our neighbor, the world and even our own selves? Furthermore, our sorrow, grief, fear, anxiety, insecurity and dosage of stress and worry add more weight to our already overworked heart. If your heart is laden with deep emotional and moal infection, eradicate it by taking strong dosage of faith, prayer, humility, repentance, trust and implore God to heal your heart from past wounds of frustrations, un-met goals, insults, pains, grudges and many other spiritual and moral afflictions and maladies. We have a God of mercy who can’t wait to assist us and available 24/7, day and night, everywhere and anywhere starting from where you are to all corners of the world. We are however, not only to heal our moral and spiritual inflictions but also our neighbor’s with our forgiveness, love and mercy. What a feeling of peace and joy when we are forgiven of our own offenses and shortcomings and treated with kindness despite our errors and failures. And if you have such nice experience in yourself, I believe others would want to experience the same by treating them likewise. If you believe that charity begins at home would you believe too that charity begins in our neighbor’s home? The finest moments in our life is when we have done good things to nameless people without expecting them to return favor. They say that the mathematics of life is not the multiplication of wealth and assets but the division of tasks and profits, subtraction of greed and grudge and addition of humility and patience. One of the best formula for a happy heart is not to let little things get you down but always find a reason to look up to God with gratitude for each passing day and have a positive attitude that tomorrow will going to be a great day. If we are too busy we hardly find a space and time to pray and that’s bad to our spiritual health and counter productive for a happy living and a happy heart. Is has been said that busy life makes prayer harder but prayer makes life easier. In times of

confusion, in times when you are running out of choices, be reminded that “ prayer changes things” .everyday is a miracle, every moment is a grace, every heartbeat is life and every breath is a blessing. Heal-Thy-Heart because you’ll always be part of some people’s life. You may never find out where you fit, but others will fill up the empty spaces in their lives with pieces of you. So when you wonder why God put you on this earth, remember that other’s life may never be complete without you and so Have A Healthy Heart always . Amen on that folks!!! In her Diary entry no. 320, St. Faustina wrote Jesus’ words; “ The prayer of a humble and loving soul disarms the anger of My Father and draws down an ocean of blessings.” Tune in to KOLG 90.9 FM for the Divine Mercy prayer at 3 p.m. daily. Recite the Chaplet of Mercy for peace in the world and conversion of sinners. Thanks to Lorna for the Divine Mercy presentation, prayer and veneration of the sacred relic of St. Faustina her home in Yigo. Likewise to the Divine Mercy prayer team for your faithfulness in our Sunday afternoon Divine Mercy home apostolate. May the good Lord continue to bless you with the abundance of His grace and mercy. Special thanks to all of you for your prayers and presence during my 37th Priestly Ordination Anniversary and the launching of my “ DIVINE MERCY MOMENTS” book last April 21, 2012 at Sta. Barbara Catholic Church, Dededo. May God keep you always in His mercy and love. Now you can re-capture my past articles in the Pacific Voice and now Umatuna Si Yu’os for the past eight years with this book. If you want to get a copy, please call me at 4839464, or at Sta. Barbara Church office, 632-9534, 632-5659. Your donation of $20.00 will partly be used for the spreading of the Divine Mercy devotion, other Divine Mercy apostolate and other good purposes. To arrange for Divine Mercy home presentation, prayer and veneration of the sacred relic of St. Faustina, please contact Amy Borja at 472-7778. Thank you.

Divine Mercy Pilgrimage Join me in pilgrimage to Lourdes, Miraculous Medal Shrine in Paris, St. Therese of Lissieux, see the incorrupt body St.Bernadette in Nevers, Infant of Prague in Czecholovakia, Geneva, Switzerland, Divine Mercy Shrine, Cracow, visit Pope John Paul 11’s house in Wadovice, Vienna, Austria and many places in Europe. For more information, please contact Ann Marie of Pactours at 649-3221, Lou Salas 477-8079 or Fr. Joel 4839464. Thank you

ARCHDIOCESAN

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Lupus Awareness Group of Guam: Lupus patients and supporters gathered for a proclamation signing by Lieutenant Governor Ray Tenorio at the Governor’s Conference Room on May 1 designating the month of May as Lupus Awareness Month. Photo Courtesy of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Guam

Patients and supporters form Lupus Awareness Group of Guam (UMSY) What started as a simple invitation for Congresswoman Bordallo to join the Congressional Lupus Caucus in the U.S House of Representatives has turned into a full-scale awareness campaign of the disease on Guam. In a press release, Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo recently joined the Congressional Lupus Caucus chaired by Representative Thomas J. Rooney of Florida, Rep. Bill Keating of Massachusetts, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, and Rep. Jim Moran of Virginia. Lupus is a chronic disease that

affects approximately 1.5 million Americans and more than 5 million people worldwide. Although there are no estimates of residents who may be afflicted by the disease, Lupus patients and their advocates are wasting no time in reaching out to families and friends in the community. At a recent meeting, Congresswoman Bordallo also met with Joann L.G. Santos, a Lupus patient and member of the Lupus Foundation of America, and other Lupus patients, in her Guam district office in Hagåtña. During the meeting, they

discussed improving the quality of life for patients and families affected by this disease. According to Santos, the meeting with the Congresswoman was the first step in getting the group started. Santos and others then pulled together to form the Lupus Awareness Group of Guam. Though in its early stages as an organization, the group has made significant strides in connecting Lupus patients and planning activities to create Lupus awareness. On May 1, Lieutenant Governor Raymond S. Tenorio countersigned

a proclamation designating the month of May as Lupus Awareness Month at the Governor’s Complex in Adelup. “The Congressional Lupus Caucus helps to educate Members of Congress and their staff and raise awareness about this disease,” said Congresswoman Bordallo. “The Caucus also works with the public and healthcare professionals to support the advancement of research in this field. Lupus can affect any part of the body and often takes months to accurately diagnose. I continue to support efforts of Congress, and our

community, in raising awareness of this autoimmune disease.” The Congresswoman encourages Lupus patients to organize and advance their outreach efforts in preparation for Lupus Awareness Day on May 10, 2012. If you know anyone who might be interested in learning more about the Lupus Awareness Group of Guam, please contact Joann Santos 689-2399 or Amy Anderson at 671-688-6552. You can also “Like” their Facebook page by searching, Lupus Awareness Group of Guam.

Parishioners honor Patron Saint, San Vicente Ferrer

Photos courtesy of Arleen Quinata Roberto