Group Says Vatican Visit to Guam is Rare

By Janela Carrera
Pacific News Center
December 30, 2014

http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/guam/item/1447-group-says-vatican-visit-to-guam-is-rare

The visit from 3 Vatican officials to Guam next week is a rare occasion, says the Concerned Catholics of Guam.

Guam - As the Archdiocese of Agana prepares for an important visit from three Vatican officials next week, a group of concerned Catholics is also planning to meet with the delegation. The group says they will hand over what’s called a white paper.

It’s been dubbed a pastoral visit by the Archdiocese of Agana, but some believe the visit from three important Vatican officials next week has more to do with the troubles plaguing the Church than a mere trip just to say hello. 

"For all the times that I could remember, usually they would come passing through, it’s usually just the papal nuncio ... so he is someone we could expect to visit with us at least once a year but he’s been here twice in the past six months so there’s something telling about that," notes Sablan.

"In addition to it being a rare occasion it’s also interesting to note the duration of the visit. It’s a seven day visit and normally they pretty much come in, spend a day or two, then they move to the next area," CCOG President Greg Perez points out.

The three delegates are the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Martin Krebs, the secretary for the Vatican Congregation for Evangelization of Peoples Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai and Father Tadeusz Nowak. According to Archdiocese of Agana Chancellor Father Adrian Cristobal, the visit is a "gift to the island" and will happen around the same time Pope Francis will be in the Philippines. And while that may indeed be the case, the Concerned Catholics of Guam has requested a meeting with the three high ranking officials as they intend to deliver what’s called the white Paper.

"If we can have a private audience we will present effectively the white paper, as we would call it, of the issues that need to be addressed; about what is occurring here," says Sablan.

Among the many concerns CCOG plans to investigate is the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Yona. Sablan says there are reportedly only two Guamanian seminarians studying at the seminary among about 40 others.

The Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Yona, says Sablan, was originally intended to be a Diocesan seminary. Instead, it appears the curriculum being taught at this seminary is similar to missionary work as Sablan points out, many of the seminarians do not end up serving on Guam. 

"And that’s okay as well. There’s nothing wrong with that because that’s a different approach to becoming a priest ... and so if that is the case then just tell us, clearly. But I think it was promised to us as a diocesan seminary," Sablan explains.

The three Vatican Officials are scheduled to be on Guam from January 4 to January 10 of 2015.

Father Adrian Cristobal responded to PNC's inquiries about the Redemptoris Mater Seminary, saying there are 39 seminarians enrolled there; 29 for Guam, 3 for Samoa Apia, 4 for American Samoa, 1 for Dallas, and 2 for Kiribati. Father Adrian also says it's not true that close to $1 million is being spent by the Archdiocese of Agana to operate the seminary.