In order to assist Bishop Ryan Jimenez in providing pastoral and spiritual needs to the Refalawasch community, a new ministry called the “Refalawasch Ministry” has been established in the diocese of Chalan Kanoa effective today, Sunday, September 30, 2018.
This idea of launching this new ministry started last year when Bishop Ryan consulted some members of the Refalawasch community and discussed ideas on ways to reach out and implement the five-year Pastoral Plan of the diocese which took effect on January 1, 2018.
The diocese identified six priorities in its pastoral plan for the next five years: evangelization and faith formation, social justice and outreach, marriage and family life, youth, liturgy, and vocation.
On faith formation, for example, the team hopes to reach out to more families whose children have not received the sacraments of initiation- -baptism, confirmation, and eucharist–and invite them to prepare in receiving these sacraments. Visiting homes, providing instructions, offering flexible time for faith formation,
and encouraging members of the community to actively participate in the Church ministry are some of the activities that the Refalawasch Ministry hopes to implement.
The term “Refalawasch,” according to Jack Omar, one of the team members, refers to the people who came to the Marianas from the Caroline Islands as early as 1892. Mr. Omar has this to add in launching this ministry: ” I hope that I can assist in some ways to bring the Refalawasch community together to actively take part in the services of the Church from Rota, Tinian, Saipan, and to the farthest islands in the Marianas.”
The Most reverend Ryan Jimenez, D.D., Bishop of Cha- lan Kanoa has made the following appointments effective September 30, 2018.
This Refalawasch Ministry is composed of the following team members.
Deacon Tony Yarobwemal as coordinator of this ministry gladly accepts this new responsibility. “I am very happy to be part of this Refalawasch Ministry. I think this an important ministry to reach out to our Refalawasch brothers and sisters,” says Deacon Tony.
The Ad hoc Committee and newly appointed members of this team will meet after the 5:00 P.M. Mass today, Sunday, September 30, 2018, at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral.
Senator Sixto Igisomar, on the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul on September 27, 2018 expressed the importance of prayer and support to the Church and to the poor members of the community” “I pray for our Lord’s guidance to give us strength so that we can spread the word and give hope to our people, to keep the faith and stay with the Catholic Church, to support our bishop and the holy Father in spreading our faith and serving our people most especially today as we celebrate the feast of St. Vincent de Paul, a model in helping the poor.”
Ad Hoc Committee Members
Deacon Tony Yarobwemal as Coordinator
Fr. Isidro Ogumoro as Spiritual Director
Joaquin P. Omar, Gregoria F. Omar, Maria (Malua) T. Peter, Senator Sixto K. Igisomar, Jesus M. Elameto
Members:
Vivian P. Nogis, Edward Ramon Iglecias Blas, Julian Rebuenog Camacho, Vicente R. Taitano, Esther Solomae Teregeyo Wabol, Edwina Taitano, Lillian Ernestine T. Laniyo, Jesusa Kileleman Helgen, Gordon Marciano
