1. Diocesan Pastoral Planning
Without a doubt, the biggest story of 2017 for the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa is the yearlong process of Pastoral Planning which Bishop Ryan Jimenez and the Pastoral Planning Committee spearheaded.
This five-year road map for the diocese began with the intensive ‘listening sessions’ by Bishop Ryan five months after his episcopal ordination. Parish by parish, he met and dialogue with parishioners, liturgical ministers, parish councils and different parish groups. The results of this ‘listening sessions’ became the working documents of the Pastoral Plan.
It was quite a busy year not only for the clergy but also for all parishioners involved in the different ministries in their respective parishes as the committee organized several workshops and recollection as part of the Pastoral Planning process. They brought in speakers from off-island including Coadjutor-Archbishop Michael Jude Byrnes of Guam.
The result is a 32-page document which contains the Vision-Mission of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa and the six ministry-priorities identified as the main focus of the diocese in the next five years. The document was officially unveiled last December 28, 2017 during the Launching of the Pastoral Plan which begins this New Year.
2. Cardinal Tagle and the 40th Anniversary of Simbang Gabi
The most beloved Prelate of the Philippines, His Eminence Luis Antonio “Chito” Tagle, DD, was the guest of honor during the 40th Anniversary of Simbang Gabi in the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa.
The Archbishop of Manila, well known around the globe for his charismatic talks and his trademark smile, celebrated back-to-back Simbang Gabi Masses at Mt. Carmel Cathedral to commemorate the 40th year of Simbang Gabi in Saipan. He also led the Advent talk on Missionary Discipleship at Mt. Carmel Cathedral attended by the clergy and religious and hundreds of faithful from around the island. It was a whirlwind yet a very spiritual and fruitful visit for the cardinal.
Despite the early time of the day, hundreds of people attended both Simbang Gabi Masses and listened to the homily of the Filipino cardinal who is a world-renowned speaker. With his natural and humble charism and mixed in with his healthy humor, he managed to draw the crowd hanging on his every word and transmit to them God’s message.
2. Visit Cardinal Mafi
Saipan is indeed blessed by the visit of not one but two well-known cardinals this year. Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi, Bishop of Tonga visited Saipan last October. He came primarily to be the retreat-master for the bi-annual retreat of the diocesan clergy in Rota.
During his visit, he presided the Mass of the Holy Spirit for the new CCD school year attended by hundreds of young people from all over the island. Cardinal Mafi was elated that he is beginning what he called “a pilgrimage to Saipan” with ‘heaven’, that is with an encounter with the youths while referring the Gospel passage that says: “the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to the little ones”.
Hundreds of youths, many of them part of the Pre-Confirmation and Confirmation programs of the parishes in Saipan, flocked to the Cathedral to see Cardinal Mafi who is the only cardinal in the whole of CEPAC and the Bishop of the Kingdom of Tonga.
The simplicity and the very personal approach in sharing his personal journey of faith enabled Cardinal Mafi to relate and encouraged hundreds of youths of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa to ‘keep the journey, weak as we are’.
4. CCD Catechetical Formation / Recollections
One of the ministry priorities of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan is Faith Formation but even before its official implementation the diocese has already stepped up its commitment to the CCD program. CCD students and young people in the parishes preparing for their reception of the different Sacraments are better served if the parish CCD catechists are well equipped and better prepared.
Through the inspired leadership of Sr. Nina Caccam, SJBP, the Office of Religious Education has organized a series of recollections for CCD catechists by cluster parishes in Saipan and even in Tinian and Rota. This was a welcome change to the once a year gathering of CCD catechists during the Annual Catechetical Week in September. The smaller gatherings of teachers was more productive in terms of their spirituality and training.
Sr. Nina also scheduled once a month catechetical formation for all CCD catechists in Saipan as part of their continuous formation. Local clergy and religious presented a half-day seminar on various theological topics like “Introduction to Christian Anthropology” and “Christian Morality”. Other relevant topics will be presented in the coming months.
5. Chrism Mass
For the first time in six years, the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa celebrated the traditional Mass of Chrism with the full blessing of all three oils – Oil of Catechumens, Oil of the Sick and Oil of Chrism. These are the oils which will be used for the celebrations of all the sacraments this year. Since, the retirement of Bishop Emeritus Tomas Camacho, and the diocese was without a bishop, only the Oils of Catechumens and the Sick are blessed and the Oil of Chrism was brought in from the Guam. Canonically, only a bishop can consecrate the Oil of Chrism.
During his homily, Bishop Ryan reflected on the Gospel reading which speaks about the anointing received by Jesus Christ and the significance of the sacred oils and the renewal of priestly commitment of the priests. “Being anointed must have meant being blessed, being energized, being inspired, empowered to bring glad tidings, to share the good news!” he explained. Indeed the whole celebration had an aura of excitement because of the presence of all the clergy gathered around the new bishop and even more because of the presence of so many young people in the crowd. Traditionally, the Confirmation students from all parishes witness the Chrism Mass because they will receive the anointing of the Oil of Chrism in a month time during their Confirmation. Bishop Ryan expressed his optimism of one day seeing some of the youths present become seminarians for the diocese or candidates for the religious life. “That would be a more exciting time in the life our local church.”
6. First Annual Sports fest
Cheers and shouts of excitement filled Mt. Carmel School ground last weekend as Saipan youths compete in different sporting events during Mt. Carmel Youth Ministry (MCYM) 1st Annual Sports Fest.
Hundreds of youths, not including adult chaperones participated from 11 parishes including San Jose, Tinian who brought in the largest delegation. The two-day event featured basketball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, tug-of-war, obstacle course and even hotdog eating competition.
In the end, San Jose, Tinian took the overall title which was determined based on point-system. Each parish is awarded points for every game they win from the elimination round up to the final round.
Edward S. Dela Cruz Jr., MCYM Coordinator for this year’s Sports Fest was very pleased and at the same time surprised with the turn out. They were projecting a small Sports Fest with around 65 participants but the number of youths who registered on the opening day soared to around 235 participants, not including the chaperones and adult volunteers from different parishes.
The local clergy also turn out to support their respective teams. Others like Fr. Charlie, Fr. Allan and Fr. James even participated and played with their youths which added more excitement to the events. Bishop Ryan in his remarks at the opening ceremony, acknowledged the efforts of MCYM for organizing the Sports Fest as well as the participation and support of each parish. “Activities like this is an opportunity to show virtues of respect, sportsmanship and kindness,” Bishop Ryan said.
7. Lent and Holy Week Celebrations
The Holy Season of Lent leading towards the Holy Week is always one of the highlights of the liturgical calendar of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa.
Almost every evening in the last two weeks, Bishop Ryan Jimenez and the priests of the diocese went from parish to parish listening to the confessions of the parishioners as the diocese and the faithful commemorates the Lenten season and prepares to enter into the Holy Week.
In previous years, the diocese has conducted its Come Back to Life Lente Retreat by inviting inspirational speakers from off-island who would do talks and reflection with the youths and parishioners in the Cathedral, including a talk with the inmates at the Department of Correction. In the last two years, Bishop Ryan and the clergy tried a different approach by conducting the Lente Retreat by cluster parishes. This approach led to a greater participation of the parishioners in their respective cluster parishes who would not normally go to the Cathedral to attend the Lenten talks. For this year, Bishop Ryan instructed the priests to conduct the Lenten retreats and Penance services in their respective parishes to give opportunity for each pastor to be more involve directly in the retreat instead of inviting someone from off-island as guest speaker.
8. Karidat’s Ministry to Displaced Workers
One of the issues Saipan is dealing right now is the condition of the migrant workers especially those who were unwittingly became victims of human trafficking. The Diocese of Chalan Kanoa through its social arm, Karidat has stepped up its effort to reach out and minister to those victims of human trafficking, mainly Chinese.
A couple of religious sisters from Taiwan came to Saipan this year to assist Karidat mainly as interpreters to the displaced Chinese workers.
9. Catholic School’s Week
The two Catholic schools of the diocese – Mt. Carmel School in Saipan and Eskwelan San Francisco de Borja in Rota are the two important institutions of the diocese. Catholic education has always been one of the top priorities of the local church.
In celebration of the Catholic School’s Week, MCS promoted vocation for their students. Led by His Excellency Ryan P. Jimenez, the clergy, religious and some lay faithful visited the classrooms of students from 3rd to 12th grade to speak about vocation.
Students listened attentively as priests and the religious sisters shared their journey from first hearing the ‘call’ to follow God, to the sometimes rough but joy-filled period of formation and discernment and finally to a life-fulfilling ministry of the priesthood and or religious life.
Students also had a chance to have a glimpse on the marriage and family life from the wonderful experiences of the married couples who shared how grateful they were to God for guiding their marriage and their family through many difficulties and challenges. These lay faithful are currently active in the different ministry in their respective parishes and they also impart to the students the joy of serving God either as Eucharistic ministers, lectors or in the choirs.
To celebrate this year’s theme and Catholic education, Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja have a slate of activities planned for Catholic Schools Week. “Our school shares the same mission as any other Catholic schools. Our goal is to support the parents in their children’s education. We want to assist them in any way we can. We are about reinforcing our faith and good moral character, and building virtues,” said administrator/principal Carmen H. Atalig.
Atalig thought it was a great theme for 2017 because it is a focus of Catholic schools and the community we live in.
“We are more community-oriented here in Rota,” Atalig added. “It is what we are about.”
10. Revival of Permanent Diaconate
“After some prayer and discussion with my consultors, I have decided to reinstate the Program for the Formation of Permanent Deacons in our diocese.” This was the announcement of Bishop Ryan early this year, on the revival of Permanent Diaconate in the diocese.
The program for the formation of Permanent Deacons has evolved from the existing Lay Ministry Program of the diocese. The Diocesan Lay Ministry training program under the leadership of Fr. Ken Hezel, S.J. began in 2013 with some forty participants. Twelve men and women from that first group have continued in that training during these years; six of whom received a Certificate of Lay Ministry in May 2016. The Diaconate Formation program will be open to these six men in three stages: 1) Inquiry Period/ Information Session Screening and selection. 2) Aspirancy Period after bishop’s approval. 3) Candidacy Period: Final period before ordination Installation as lectors, acolytes, and if chosen deacons.
At the moment there are five candidates for the diaconate: Estanislao Roque Kogure Benavente and Antonio Yarobwemal from St. Jude Parish; Jeffrey Melvin Tenorio Camacho from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral – Parish; Rosiky Flores Camacho from Santa Soledad; and Thomas Joseph Schweiger from Santa Remedios. They were installed as Lectors on December 2, 2017 at St. Jude Parish. They are expected to complete their formation and ordination this coming year.
