While we say "Guadalupe" - because that's what the Spanish-speaking bishop thought he heard the Aztec, St. Juan Diego, say - St. Juan Diego did not speak Spanish, and probably said the phonetically similar Aztec word Te Coatlaxopeuh, which is the name Our Lady most likely gave him when he asked her for it. To learn more about Te Coatlaxopeuh and her amazing possible connection to Guam, go here.
Meanwhile, this post is an All Points Bulletin to help us track down the missing statue of Te Coatlaxopeuh from the church which is named for her, the church in the village of Santa Rita.
We are not unfamiliar with accounts of the statue of Our Lady of Kamalin going missing from time to time, and in fact its disappearances and reappearances have become part of its legend. But apparently we have a new legend happening in Santa Rita, and, according to some parishioners, it goes like this:
We are not unfamiliar with accounts of the statue of Our Lady of Kamalin going missing from time to time, and in fact its disappearances and reappearances have become part of its legend. But apparently we have a new legend happening in Santa Rita, and, according to some parishioners, it goes like this:
Shortly after the freshly neo-ordained Fr. Fabio took over the Santa Rita parish, "someone" apparently "broke into" the church one night, took all the statues down from their places, and placed them all in a row in the center aisle as if they were all marching out the door.
Fr. Fabio then "discovers" the dastardly deed and calls parishioners who come running to stop the saints from their apparently self-imposed iconoclastic protest. The parishioners arrive in time and the saints are stopped dead in their tracks. Phew!
However, it is discovered that some of the statues are damaged, including the statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe. And, wouldn't you know it, "she" has to be sent off for repairs.
Months go by. As you might expect, parishioners begin to ask about her. After all, she is the patron of their church and her statue had been with them almost since the end of WWII. Various explanations are given about her whereabouts. So the good parishioners wait...and wait.
However, it is discovered that some of the statues are damaged, including the statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe. And, wouldn't you know it, "she" has to be sent off for repairs.
Months go by. As you might expect, parishioners begin to ask about her. After all, she is the patron of their church and her statue had been with them almost since the end of WWII. Various explanations are given about her whereabouts. So the good parishioners wait...and wait.
After many months, Fr. Fabio receives marching orders to go evangelize the heathen elsewhere and he is replaced by another fresh face from the neo-seminary, Fr. K. So the parishioners try their luck with Fr. K. Fr. K. is a nice guy (at least in comparison to his predecessor) and is not as good at making up stories, so he tells the parishioners the truth: the statue is in storage!
"Wonderful", say the parishioners, "can we please have our statue back?" "Ummmm....", says Fr. K., "I have to ask the archbishop." "Okay", say the good parishioners of Santa Rita. More time goes by. No statue.
Finally they ask again. "Ummmm....." says Fr. K. The archbishop says that the statue can be moved to the rectory and you can visit it there. "Uhhhhh..." say the parishioners, "how come?" "Ummmm.....says Fr. K, "Archbishop says." "Uhhhhh...." say the parishioners, "okay, when?" "Ummmm.....", says Fr. K, "I have to ask the archbishop." "Ummmm......", say the parishioners, "okay."
And as per the last report, still no statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, not even in the rectory.
Note to parishioners of Santa Rita. They are getting rid of your statues and have lain plains to tear down your church. But don't worry, in the words of their arch-neocat: "It is about a trend in the church history to rebuild the church from bottom up, through small communities. You fight this trend. But how can you fight a trend in church history? It is hopeless."
So far they have been proved right: "It is hopeless". It's up to you if they will be proved wrong.
Shady shady shady. Like all things Neo - what they do is secretive and full of lies. People of Santa Rita speak up!
ReplyDeleteAnona 6:59PM,
DeleteHi I am curious to know what is it that they do that's "secretive and full of lies"?
Anything from experience?
I want to write a whole blog about everything they do SECRETIVE!!!! :)
Well, you can start with the above story. Go to Santa Rita and ask the pastor to see the statue that is "in storage".
DeleteJust as I commented about Cathedral Basilica....our Lady of Kamalin in storage!!! Kiko Madonna front and center. Hey, you know what? I saw one of those Kiko vigils at a yard sale for 2.00. Just wait. Guess Fr. K can't ask Arch about what to do about Guadelupana!!! He's AWAY! Adios
ReplyDeleteUnconscionable!!!
ReplyDeleteEileen Benavente-Blas
People of Santa Rita speak up NOW! or you will come to regret not doing so.
ReplyDeleteThe NCW is suppose to catechize and bring back into the church those who have fallen away, NOT DESTROY OUR COMMUNITY. If you want dancing, clapping, kissing, new liturgy, new confession, secret secrets...then just attend your closest Protestant church.
I grew up in Santa Rita, served as an alter boy for nearly a decade, and although it's been a long time since I lived there, Our Lady of Guadalupe holds a dear place in my heart. I really saddens me to hear about what's happening over there, and it upsets me that the people of Santa Rita have allowed this to happen. I pray that they have the courage to speak up and protect our traditions and our sacred place of worship. People of Santa Rita, stand up and speak up for what is right. I know our respect for the leader of the church is part of our culture, but you must take action against those who want to eliminate our culture.
ReplyDeleteHow long does it take to restore a statue? The parishioners are being duped by the NCW. The parishioners of Santa Rita must snap out of the Neo's clutches before it's too late!! I feel sorry for the devout faithful, especially the elders of the village who cherish the history and traditions surrounding Our Lady of Guadalupe.
ReplyDeleteI was a parishioner there for 17 years and I see and feel the difference between then and now. The only parishioners who are content are the members of the NCW. Sad.
. . . and then there is that new parish center that's not really the parish center as intended.
ReplyDeleteThey should be honest abot the whereabouts of the statue !
ReplyDeleteI certainly hope that the statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe statue shows up real fast. If I were a Santa Rita parishioner, I would first verify for my own satisfaction that the statue is in fact not there at its rightful place in church, and if not I would be driving right up to the Chancery to find out some answers! Granted the Archbishop is off-island (off to Korea? Rome?), but somebody has to be held responsible, in his absence. If the scenario described in these comments are correct, the Archbishop had given orders to have it removed and/or hidden away (if not destroyed). If these stories are true, HOW LOW CAN THESE PEOPLE GET! Other churches with Neo-pastors - WATCH OUT! Keep your eyes opened!
ReplyDeleteFANMAKMATA, TAOTAO SANTA RITA! DEFENDI I HINENGETA, YAN I KOTTURATA! Never mind the petition, for now. You can always do that later! Your first priority is to protect YOUR church!
I had no problem accepting that the NCW is a "sect", a "cult" - but now an "iconoclast" as well? O MY GOD!
Good chance that they will put it up right away after this post, and then they will act like it was always there. They will claim that the villagers were just temporarily blind. SMH
ReplyDeleteI hope and pray for the safe return of the statue back to the church it was named after. .If the arch is behind it's removal, SHAME on him. Don't let the NCW take control of your parish church. Look what the NCW did to San Vicente Ferrer/ San Roke Church. Fr. Alberto had it renovated and now it displays the icon's of the WAY just like the RMS. He had the balcony sealed off to create more rooms and to display more icon's on the wall. It was done in time for Fr. Edivaldo's first mass. So what does that tell you about the Barrigada church. I lived in Barrigada all my life and I served the church for decades. I was very active in the pastoral council, CCD, and also ministering. Because I did not accept the movement, Fr. Adrian removed me and the other council members from the pastoral council without even meeting with us to tell us thank you only to learn his intention to replace us with his NCW people. I was shocked and speechless to read about it in the church bulletin that I was no longer in the pastoral council. How callous was that to be treated by our pastor.
ReplyDeleteDon't let the NCW take control of your church because if they do, it will look like the RSM and Barrigada church.
The silence from Santa Rita is deafening. Maybe it's too late.
ReplyDeleteI fear you may be right. Watch the video attached to Tim's post "Who is Blockley? Part 2".
DeleteBlockley was the seminarian Apuron mysteriously introduced to Guam back in 92.
DeleteThe statue was replaced by a painting. Not sure if it's one of Kiko's artwork and could be the reason why the statue was removed.
ReplyDeleteTake a pic of it and send it to us. But of course if that's okay with the Santa Rita people then I guess that's okay.
DeleteWhat's the scoop from Agat?
ReplyDeleteParish Council Members, watch out for your statuaries. They'll be replaced by kikoiconic art if you don't. I fear for Santa Marian Kamalen in Agana.
ReplyDeleteIf they even think about removing Santa Marian Kamalen, Lord help them.
DeleteLo and behold if they replace Santa Marian Kamalen with Kikoitist paintings. She will surely walk away, never to return!
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ReplyDeleteEvil is attacking the archdiocese . Archbishop is no longer a sign of unity to this local church.
If the painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe has manly features then it's a fake. If it resembles any facial features of kikoman and crapmen, then it definitely is a fake...destroy it ASAP! If you need to see examples of neo art just surf the web. Where, o where has Maria Guadalupe gone? In regards to the statues being in line as if they were walking out of the church...maybe they know better than to stay there and were trying to get a message across to the people. Has anyone ever thought of boycotting neo parishes and flocking over to neighboring non-neo parishes? Remember, the people are the church. Without the people, that building just becomes another building. Support the non-neo parishes today!
ReplyDeleteThe statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe was found lying face down and that's what probably caused the damage which could have been staged so that she could be "sent away" for fixing. I'm now thinking that this was staged by Fabio to make way for Kikotist paintings. SANTA RITANS, DEMAND THAT OUR DEAR STATUE OF GUADALUPE BE BROUGHT BACK TO ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE!!
DeleteWord is a similar fate happened a few years ago to some statues in Agat and had been "restored". Some noted a difference in appearance most notably the face and expression on the statue(s). Can anyone verify this from an Agat parishioner?
ReplyDeleteI am an Agat Parishioner. And no, families from the Parish donated money to have those statues repainted. The Statue I think u are referring to is Santa Rosa de Lima. That isn't the originally expression of that statue. Long ago the statue fell on the floor from an earthquake & parishioners tried their best to repair her to it's former beauty but the expression you see today is what was done by the parishioners.
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