Thursday, May 29, 2014

I AM NEARLY TO THE POINT OF TEARS

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "A MAN NOT AFRAID TO PUT HIS NAME TO HIS POSITION": 

To Anon above from Diana's post:

As a priest who was asked to be here I am totally offended by the term contract priest. The Archdiocese of Agana needed priests, they went to my bishop, and he agreed to send priests per Archbishop Anthony's plea. I love Guam and would like to stay. But if God wills it, and I am no longer needed here, then I will go back to my diocese and serve the people of God there.

However, while here I do expect to be treated with the same dignity as every other priest. I was at the clergy convocation in 2010 and please understand from the results of the pre-convocation survey there are obviously problems with unity. One priest gave the example of lunch with the Archbishop. I agree with him, but look at it from a different perspective than yours.

I am away from my parents and my siblings. I am away from my childhood friends. Mind you, I am not complaining, this was my choice. But the one thing that a priest has to look forward to is the brotherhood with fellow priests and a strong relationship with our bishop. 

If you do not want to have lunch with your boss, maybe you should look for another job. But if your father or mother continually ignored you, if they rarely invited you over just to say they love you and care for you, and they think about you often, wouldn't that hurt you? Especially if they showered attention upon other "favored" sons. I hope this helps to put into context how some of the priests feel.

The convocation was greatly anticipated by some as a means to openly and frankly discuss the issues that are causing serious problems among brother priests. I entered with great hope. Shortly afterward, after a brief attempt by the Archbishop, which frankly felt a bit artificial, we fell back into the same pattern.

The article published by Tim on the unity issue is very telling, and I venture to say that if the exact same questions were posed today, the results would reflect an even bigger split among priests.

Some of this may be the Neo's fault, and some of it may be the "non-Neo's" fault. But the reality is it doesn't make any difference at this point whose fault it is. 

What is truly important is that both sides recognize that there is a problem and that we sit down like intelligent, mature adults and hash out our differences, reach an understanding and then move forward to reunite the clergy. Just like the Neo priests, I too could be told any day that I am being assigned away from Guam. In their case on mission, in my case back to my home diocese. But, while we are here, we should do everything possible for ALL people possible, because that is what Christ is calling us to do.

I am nearly to the point of tears at this very moment thinking about this situation. I wish I had the courage to tell more, and reveal my name. Unfortunately, I fear the retribution that may follow. I look forward to the day when I can be confident that my pastoral father loves me deeply and truly. 

Lord, how I long to feel the warmth of his fatherly embrace. 

10 comments:

  1. Janet B - MangilaoMay 29, 2014 at 6:04 PM

    I read this and I am crushed, actually crying as I write this. Fr, whoever you are, I am praying the rosary right after this, for you, and for all who feel abandoned by their father. My the Lord comfort you and console you.
    God bless you in your service. Pray for me as I pray for you.

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  2. I totally feel for you Father. To be called a Filipino contract priest is to belittle you, to make you think and feel inferior. Shame on that person. I think that 99% of the population of Guam have Chamorro/Filipino blood in them and it is a shame that this person, a foreigner, would belittle us(I too have Filipino blood in me). Unfortunately, much of that belittling is coming from our seminarians, neo-priests, and others from the non-Asian side of the world. Their attitude can be arrogant and sanctimonious. They are abrupt and rude, and they tell us that if we do not like it, tough! It's their Way or the highway for you. They are embolden because they have the archbishop on their side---wiping their asses! Sorry to be crude but sometimes we have to be crude to make a point stick. Courage Father. Pray for us.

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  3. Brother, do not lose hope...have Faith in the Father...and in our Lord Jesus. You are not alone. Call me if you would like to talk. Our blessed Mother will not and has not abandoned her SONS....Mary, Queen of the Clergy, loves u...and all her priests-sons....

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  4. This post is shocking .

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  5. to anon whoever you are and you think Apuron is a Chamorro name? Bwahahahaha!!??!
    why do you think the Sablan has to be so prominent in the middle? hahaha
    Check urself before you wreck urself man.

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  6. Brother just remain calm. Our Blessed Mother never abandons her priest sons. Cannot say a lot here but Tim Rohr knows who I am. Help is on the way.

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  7. Father do not worry about retribution speak only the truth and the truth will set us all free. The problem on Guam is that priests have shared the truth of their own internal dynamics and relationship with the archbishop and each other. In fact some of the most serious issues on Guam are with unresolved issues between priests and the archbishop. Only now are people beginning to speak the truth. The fact is priests are now coming forward and openly talking about the reign of terror happening in the archdiocese.

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  8. There does seem to be a number of priests concerns in the archdiocese of Guam. For this reason our organization today opened up past files only to learn that Guam and the Mariana islands have several unresolved priest issues with the bishops. One in particular was the new York based story in 2008 involving a priest of the Mariana island and his bishop. These islands are close together and connected. With the father Gofigan story, the comments of the priest yesterday on this page questions are being asked by accountability.

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  9. What can I say to you Padre, except to apologize for those who are so inconsiderate and insensitive.

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  10. Tim sorry to burden you but few can write as well as you. There are a number of points raised in this posting which international readers may need help to understand. Can you share with readers the importance of the relationship between a bishop and a priest.

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