Tuesday, January 28, 2014

WHERE TO ROUTE YOUR DONATIONS

Given the continuing revelations that the Redemptoris Mater Seminary is not what we were told it was, many people have been asking how to otherwise support our church and future priests. As an FYI, St. Fidelis Friary currently has eight men, all from Guam, currently in formation.

Address: 135, Chalan Kapuchino, Agana Heights, Guam
Phone: +1 671-472-3339
Hours: Tuesday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Daily Mass: 12:pm

Other links:
The Capuchins in Guampedia
Visit their blog Pacificaps
Visit their page on Facebook, and by the way, tell them to update it.

And:



The people were once again "allowed" to attend Mass at the Friary, but only after public outrage and glaring media attention. Apparently, the current situation is going to require the same, but obviously much more....much, much more.

18 comments:

  1. This year, our family will not contribute to the Archdiocese Annual Appeal, formerly called Catholic Charities Appeal. What an injustice to the people of Guam to ask them to give from the generosity of their hearts - to fund a lie! We will donate to the Capuchins for the young men preparing for that Order. In the meantime, what happens to Aaron Quitugua and other local men who want to pursue seminary studies in the mainland? What can we do to help them as well?

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  2. Financial support is not the issue with Aaron Quitugua as he was willing to pay for his own education. Aaron's issue is that the Archbishop will not "sponsor" him. In order for a man wishing to study for the priesthood for a particular diocese, that diocese must sponsor him before he can be accepted. At this point, Aaron's options are to find another diocese who will take him or seek priesthood in a religious order. Aaron's desire though is to serve his home diocese as a priest. Given this, his only option is to wait for a new bishop. The only thing you can do to help him is to express your concerns to the Apostolic Nuncio as per the instructions under the tab above.

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  3. As a religious order, they are here at the pleasure of the Ordinary, the archbishop. They can either be removed from the diocese, service no longer needed or there is a conflict, like Saipan situation (Caps vacated diocese of Chalan Kanoa)...They can also leave diocese if they are recalled by their province...Guam is a vice-province...Where do i donate to the "true" diocesan (priests for guam) clergy?

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    Replies
    1. As of now, there is nothing you can give to for the diocesan clergy other than to give directly to them. However, as we have seen, diocesan clergy can be removed from the diocese even faster than a religious order.

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    2. I believe with all my heart that if the caps were told to leave! services no longer required! there will be a massive exodus within the church. The Caps have not only made a bond with the island Catholics, but in all honesty have the best homily, are sincere in their services in ministering to the faithful and have already set their roots on island. God help the church should they pack up and go! It will be at this point where HELL WILL REALLY BREAK LOOSE!

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    3. YES. If Caps were told to leave there would be torches and pitchforks. People Power would definitely explode then.

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    4. Of course, the Capuchins have been serving Guam for over 100 years and their ranks are dominated by local men, with 8 in formation now. They are deeply loved by Guam's faithful, and the Archbishop would be quite foolish to send them on their way.

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    5. BIBA CAPUCHINO!

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  4. Fr George is recorded saying, "The Friary does not perform weddings."---Wasn't the Mayor of Sinajana married at the Friary?---saw pics on the mayor's FB page with Fr Gus officiating...

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    1. Yes, permission can be requested and granted for the administration of the sacraments in other places than a parish. The record of those sacraments however is still recorded with the parish.

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    2. Yes, I did get married at the Friary. My mother and father were married at the old friary many years ago. I used to work at the friary in my teen years and most Capuchins are close personal friends of mine and the family. I had to get permission from both pastors of Agana Heights (where my record will be kept) and Sinajana (my pastor) as well as the Friary house manager and the Vice Provincial. Fr. Gus and Fr. Eric were present and presided over the ceremony. So you are correct Tim my record for my marriage is registered in Agana Heights.

      Sincerely,

      Robert Hofmann.

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  5. How can we donate ONLY for the NON NEO seminarians?

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    1. Don't think you can. There is no such thing as Neo, non Neo savings account. There is only one and the only one for NEOS. By all means donate it to the CAPS and help the local boys there who are in formation.

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  6. Yes, I heard they're 8 men in formation but I know for a fact prior to that they had 6 men either kicked out or left for some reasons. I know for a fact that the capuchins kicked out a very good friend who was a capuchin for 4 or more years

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    1. Just to let you know, I also received your 2nd comment with the names of the men. However, I don't know if those men care for their names to appear on this blog without their permission. They are welcome to submit their own comment or contact me if they want to.

      In answer to your question. The capuchins are no different than diocesans or any religious order when it comes to requiring that men meet certain requirements before being admitted to an order or the priesthood, or even accepted into a seminary or a novitiate. There is no right to be a priest or a religious.

      I know some of the men you've mentioned personally and they're all good, but it is the duty of the vocations director to help men discern whether or not they have a true vocation and even if they do, whether or not they are called to that particular way of religious life.

      It would be a very grave mistake for a director to knowingly allow someone to be admitted to religious life or the priesthood if the director was aware of a problem or an impediment, or simply a lack of a vocation. It is their duty to urge the aspiring cleric to move on or step back and at least discern a few more years from the vantage of a lay life.

      Plus, some men will find their vocations much later in life. You mentioned that some men were "kicked out or left for some reasons". We don't know what those reasons are, but in the case of the Capuchins, we can be assured that those reasons were in the best interest of the man involved, even if he doesn't understand or accept those reasons yet.

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  7. It seems rather apparent that our dear Local Ordinary while acting out extraordinary, has forgotten that HE too is a Capuchin. Our Local Ordinary has forgotten his own mission and also has chosen to abandon brethren Diocese priests. How do you stand against those you are supposed to protect and nurture? Mark 3:24-26 24"If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25"If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26"If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished!…

    If the same situation of Fr. Paul Gofigan happened in a NEO Parish the Pastor would have been looked at as "Being Christ like and Calling the Sinner to Conversion" but alas, Santa Barbara is a Non Neo parish so he is looked at as putting a Parish, a School, and a Community in "GRAVE DANGER".

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  8. This story reminded me of the caps in the Northern Mariana islands. The people of Saipan dearly loved Fr. Patrick Castro and Fr. Eric forbes. However, Bishop Tomas Camacho removed the order and then attempted to reclaim their property which rightly belonged to the caps. The Holy See supported the caps. Bishop Camacho worked with his good friend Monsignor Bernard Prince to reclaim the property.

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  9. If you read the Aaron Quitugua story and get the point, even if we set up our own independent fund, supplied by us lay people, to pay for Aaron's or any other young man's education to be a diocesan priest for our very own island, the Archbishop will say NO, just like he said NO to Aaron. Under the Archbishop, its the Neo seminary or nothing at all. Sad. Rome needs to know.

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