It has been an eventful 2016 for the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa and before North Star ventures into the New Year, it is necessary that we look at some of the events of the past year that will make us grateful to God and hopeful in 2017.
1. We have a Shepherd!
Without doubt the biggest story of the year for the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa and indeed the whole of CNMI is the Episcopal ordination of His Excellency Ryan P. Jimenez, DD as the second bishop of the diocese. Not even the threat of rain and strong wind can contain the excitement and the joy of the faithful who filled Mt. Carmel Cathedral to its capacity to witness the historic event. For more than six years, Saipan was bereft of a pastor since Bishop Emeritus Tomas Camacho’s resignation was accepted by the Holy Father in 2010. For more than six years, the faithful has been praying at the beginning of every mass for a new bishop. “When I received the appointment, that was the first thing that I actually thought – that God heard our prayers: he has given us a shepherd”, said Bishop Ryan. “A bishop being appointed to our diocese can very well be seen as a sign of God’s providence – God caring for his people. I see today’s ordination as not about me but this is really more about God – his goodness, his kindness, his faithfulness to his people”, expressed Bishop Ryan during his message at the end of the ordination.
Bishop Emeritus Tomas Camacho’s wish of ordaining his successor was realized in that historical event. “It is the dream of every bishop to be able to ordain his successor”, said Bishop Emeritus Camacho. “Now my dream is fulfilled.” He imposed his hands on Fr. Ryan when he ordained him as priest for the diocese on June 8, 2003 and now he imposed his hands once more, ordaining him as bishop and his successor. Bishop Tomas was the first bishop of Chalan Kanoa for 26 years until his resignation on 2010.
2. Diocese’ Year of Mercy Activities
The Diocese of Chalan Kanoa stepped up its celebration of Year of Mercy by preparing parish and diocesan activities each month of this year. During the last monthly clergy meeting on January 19, 2016 the Pastorelle sisters proposed a variety of pastoral programs to help each parish highlight the ‘experience of mercy’ both personal and communal. For the month of February, the religious priest and sisters of the diocese celebrate the closing of the Year of Consecrated Life on February 2, 2016, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. A Eucharistic celebration at the Maturana House of Prayer was held. The Northern Marianas Islands has always been blessed by the presence of religious men and women who ministered to the needs of the faithful with fervent zeal and selfless sacrifice. Among the religious communities who are still actively serving in the diocese are the Jesuits, Mercedarian Sisters, the Sisters of Jesus Good Shepherd and the Religious of the Good Shepherd.
Throughout the year, other events and activities were held throughout the diocese such as, workshops, recollections, World Day Prayer of the Sick celebrations and retreats both for the clergy, religious and the lay faithful.
3. 4th Annual Youth Camp
The Diocese of Chalan Kanoa has always shown interest on the care and ministry to youths and young adults by organizing annual youth camps. This year, the northern parish of San Roque, generously welcomed all youths of Saipan by hosting the event at Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School. San Roque’s new parish priest, Fr. Allan Cabatian OAR, and his very energetic parishioners outdid themselves in planning and smoothly executing the 2 day event which is a way for youth in the diocese to experience an event like World Youth Day. This year’s Youth Camp adapted the 2016 World Youth Day theme, “Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.” All the activities and talks revolved around this theme. With the help of Sister Emma Lusterio and Vir Abueme, San Roque parish hopes that this year’s camp will bring the diocese’s youth together, empower and invigorate as well as encourage them to be active members of the Church.
4. San Roque parishioners welcomes back OAR during Parish Fiesta
It was one hundred and eight years ago when the Recoletos left the mission in Northern Marianas after 136 years of missionary presence in the islands. Now the Order of Augustinian Recoletos have returned to re-established their mission in Saipan. Last Sunday, during the San Roque Fiesta celebration, Bishop Ryan P. Jimenez officially welcomed the OAR to the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa with the installation of Fr. Allan as Parish Adminstrator of San Roque.
There are three Recoletos priests assigned in the mission in Saipan: Fr. Allan Rubett Abellera, OAR, Fr. Leo Neil Casas Bullos, OAR and Fr. Felipe “Philip” Udsig Rollon Jr., OAR. They will be ministering the northern parishes of San Roque and Santa Remedios. Bishop Ryan hopes that through the presence of OAR the spiritual life of the northern villages of San Roque and Tanapag may be revitalize. “When I met with Fr. Allan and Fr. Neil the first thing I told them is to visit families. Bring the presence of God to the homes.” Visitation of homes by the parish priests helps them to get to know their people and likewise, it will also help the families to get to know their priests. At the end of the Mass, Fr. Allan greeted his parishioners and thanked God for bringing OAR back to the Marianas Islands. “The Recoletos presence in the island is not something new in fact have just returned.” He also appealed for their support, participation in the parish and above all for their prayers reminding them that a shepherd cannot be called shepherd without the sheep.
5. Mount Carmel School launches new school year with another enrollment boost and a “new” campus
Marking a fifth year in a row of enrollment increases, Mount Carmel School opened doors for the new 2016-2017 school year with an enrollment of over 500 students, up from a historic low of 260 five years ago. In addition to the enrollment increase, the school launched the new year with many enhancements, including new kindergarten students from the Sister Remedios Early Childhood Development Center, a new ballet studio from Glushko’s Academy of Performing Arts, an expanded playground, a new uniform code, much needed building and classroom repairs, and a new paint job on the middle school and elementary school buildings.
“It’s almost as if students are walking on to a brand new campus,” said school president, Galvin Deleon Guerrero. Deleon Guerrero took the helm of his alma mater five years ago when he returned as its president. “We owe a debt of gratitude to our hardworking administrators, our insurance company, our bank, and our insurance adjuster, all of whom worked tirelessly to prepare the campus for the new year.”
Regarding the enrollment increase, Principal Taimanao attributed it to the concerted efforts of faculty to improve instructional quality. She said, “Our accreditation evaluation and several surveys suggested that we take steps to improve how we teach, which is exactly what we did.” She added, “As a result, we saw both an increase in student and parent satisfaction on recent surveys and an increase in student performance on standardized tests.”
6. Karidat marks 36 years of Service, Advocacy, and Convening
On May 5, 1980, Karidat immersed itself in the island community with the goal to fulfill the demands of the ministry through service, advocacy for a just community, and convening all people of goodwill to do the same. In the organization’s 36th year in the CNMI, executive director Lauri B. Ogumoro said that Karidat’s mission has not changed.
Karidat remained steadfast even after Typhoon Soudelor devastated Saipan. With the help of several businesses, corporations and individuals, the group was able to provide aid to those in need.
The organization’s service, Ogumoro explained, assists all people from wide ranging economic levels in the community. In particular, a grant from Catholic Charities USA funded ongoing services for almost 18,000 residents. Today, the work to rebuild a resilient community continues with joint efforts involving the American Red Cross and Commonwealth Advocates for Recovery Efforts.
Karidat also continues its advocacy in the face of injustice. “This can take the form of advocating for individuals, as well as advocating for just social policy in the community,” Ogumoro said. “Karidat envisions a full-fledged food bank that will bring food security to those most in need.”
7. Six Lay Pastoral Ministers Commissioned
Six candidates were commissioned on Sunday May 22nd as lay Pastoral Ministers for the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa at Kristo Rai church. They are Rosiky Camacho, who resides in Sta Soledad Parish, Virgilio Abueme and Jeffrey Camacho who are active at Mt Carmel Cathedral and Mt Carmel school, Alphonso Yangirelit who is a member of San Jose Parish, Tony Yarobwemal, who is in charge of CCD at St Jude Parish, and Thomas Schweiger a long time parishioner at Sta Remedios Parish. All of them have served the church in various capacities as extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, or Parish Council members, and coordinators of youth retreats.
Fr Ken Hezel, in his homily recalled that these men first accepted the invitation to “come and see” three years ago, went through weekly formation sessions with Fr James Balajadia and Sr Maryann Hartmann, felt called to respond to this ministry to serve the diocese. He also spoke to the importance of having local lay people to be like salt and yeast, those ingredients needed to inculturate the church, to be able to absorb and express the faith in local ways and vocabulary and song. The second important reason is that all laity, through baptism, shares in the role of priest and prophet with Jesus.
At the conclusion of the Eucharist, celebrated by Fr Ryan, he asked the congregation to support and pray for these six men. They will return to their particular parishes to continue to assist in any way Pale` requests including conducting prayer services for special events, preparing parents for baptism of their children, assisting bereaved at time of death and burial of a loved one. Those present at Kristo Rai Church warmly welcomed them at the conclusion of the brief commissioning ceremony.
8. Workshop participants learns the basic of liturgical music
Tinnah dela Rosa is passionate about leading people to pray and sing through liturgies and music that aid in the full, conscious, and active participation of the worshiping community. On Monday, November 14, 2016 she shared her passion to the faithful of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa where she facilitated a liturgical music workshop entitled: “Pray, Sing God in the Liturgy.”
“Music must serve and never dominate the liturgy! It’s function in a liturgical celebration is ministerial.” This is one of the many points which Tinnah dela Rosa emphasized to several dozens of parish choir members from different parishes in Saipan who attended the Liturgical Music Workshop last Monday evening at Mt. Carmel Cathedral.
“This workshop is about the place of music in the liturgical celebration, “ says Tinnah. She also shared some basic principles about liturgy as a whole and the role of music in every celebration and the three-fold judgement to determine the value of a liturgical song. Other ideas discussed in the workshop is about what is allowed or not allowed to be sung in a liturgical celebration according to Musicam Sacram. She also offered some observations on why people today are not participating in the singing in the Churches and she presented two principles to encourage participation.
9. Mary: a mother to all of us!
On the Solemnity of the Immaculate Concepcion, Thursday, December 8th, the island Catholics from all parishes in Saipan filled once again Mt. Carmel Cathedral to celebrate the Mass and the annual traditional Lukao. The Most Reverend Ryan P. Jimenez D.D., Bishop of Chalan Kanoa presided the Solemn Mass and concelebrated by the priests of the diocese. Fr. Fran Hezel, SJ was the homilist and he reflected on the motherhood of Mary and more importantly on the truth that she is a mother to all.
“Mothers are always ready to embrace every member of the family,’ says Fr. Hezel. Reflecting on the scene of Mary with the beloved disciples John standing at the foot of the cross, Fr. Hezel said that on that moment Mary gained adopted sons, not only John but also the Roman soldier beneath the cross. “Jesus blood splattered not only on the beloved disciples but also on the Roman soldier. In this sense, Mary also became the mother of the soldier.”
Fr. Hezel then reflected on how Mary is also a mother of our multi-cultured island. “Here in Saipan, we are family who have come along way. “My friends this quite a parade of newcomers over the years and yet all of us have been sprinkled by the blood of Christ and hence we share the same mother.” So what does our mother expects from us? Simple, to get along with one another, to love one another, to open our hearts to one another. Fr. Hezel concluded by urging everyone to celebrate our history with gratitude.
10. Richard Lane animates Saipan youths
Richard Lane made all the youths stand in the sanctuary and made them face their parents and the parishioners saying to them: “My brothers and sisters, behold the future of the Church, the future of your parish! He then addressed the youths encouraging them to express themselves and their faith the best way they can.
This was the highlight of the Mercy Talk for the youth of Mr. Richard Lane, a lay Catholic evangelist who is on island doing series of talks as part of the Year of Mercy activities of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa. On Saturday, the youths of San Vicente and Santa Soledad together with some of the parents and other parishioners listened and participated in the animated talk of Mr. Lane.
Richard Lane also shared to the youths his visit to the Department of Correction the day before. He and Fr. Jesse Reyes met with about 50 inmates. “They were broken and battered but they were hungry. They have made mistakes and when the world does not forgives them, God forgives them,” says Mr. Lane.
