Archbishop Hon Names New Church Leaders

By Haidee V Eugenio
Pacific Daily News
July 1, 2016

http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2016/06/30/vatican-sent-archbishop-names-new-vicar-chancellor/86540158/

In this file photo, Archbishop Savio Tai Fai Hon addresses clerymen and other Catholic faithful during a prayer gathering at the Saint Anthony and Saint Victor Catholic Church in Tamuning.

Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai, who currently administers the local Catholic Church, announced Thursday two new, key leaders of the Archdiocese of Agana, almost a month after the Vatican appointed him to temporarily administer Guam’s Catholic Church.

Hon appointed the Rev. Father Jeffrey San Nicolas as delegate of the administrator, assuming responsibilities similar to those of the vicar general and moderator of the curia. A curia is a group of officials who assist in the governance of the local Catholic Church.

San Nicolas assumed the post previously held by the Rev. Msgr. David C. Quitugua.

Rev. Father Jeffrey San Nicolas (Photo: Courtesy Archdiocese of Agana)

The Vatican-sent archbishop also appointed the Rev. Father Jose Antonio “Lito” Abad as chancellor, a post previously held by the Rev. Father Adrian L.F. Cristobal.

While Quitugua and Cristobal vacated their curia positions as of Thursday, they still retain their positions at their parishes, the Archdiocese of Agana told Pacific Daily News.

This means Quitugua remains rector of the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagatna, and Cristobal remains pastor of San Vicente Ferrer and San Roke Parish in Barrigada.

“Likewise, aside from their new positions with the Curia, (Father) Lito will continue his present role as pastor of Blessed Diego (Luis de San Vitores Church in Tamuning) and for the time being, (Father) Jeff remains the principal of Father Duenas Memorial School,” the archdiocese said in an email response.

Rev. Father Jose Antonio "Lito" Abad (Photo: Courtesy Archdiocese of Agana)

In a statement Thursday, the Archdiocese of Agana’s Chancery said the appointments were made after Hon, the apostolic administrator, had spoken personally with all of the clergy in Guam and many other members of the local church.

“It was the result of the weekly meetings of the Presbyteral Council of the Archdiocese and must be seen as a collegial effort for the purpose of promoting unity and stability in the local Church,” the statement adds.

The Presbyteral Council is a group of clergy members that assists in the governance of the local archdiocese.

San Nicolas and Abad, whose appointments came into effect Thursday, will be sworn in to their new positions during a prayer meeting on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica. The prayer meeting is public.

Reorganization begins

Hon’s announcement of the two appointments came a few days after laying the groundwork for the reorganization of the Catholic church in Guam.

Pope Francis appointed Hon on June 6 as temporary apostolic administrator while allegations of sex abuse against Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron are investigated.

Four individuals have come forward since May, publicly accusing Apuron of sexually abusing altar boys in Agat when he was parish priest of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in the 1970s. But the accusers said no one from the Vatican or the Archdiocese of Agana has reached out to them since they came forward to accuse Apuron.

Apuron has not been charged with any crime and he remains as archbishop. He remains out of Guam.