Major shakeup in archdiocese as priests receive new assignments for first time in 8 years

The majority of the current pastors of the several parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Agana are moving to other parishes as the apostolic administrator, Father Romeo Convocar has decided the new assignments and released that list to the public moments ago.

The shakeup of the priest assignments is supposed to happen every six years, but two years ago the archdiocese decided to extend appointments to an expiration of June 30, 2024. Effective July 1, 2024, the following parishes will be run by the following priests as administrators and parochial vicars (as noted). Father Convocar also has shuffled some of the deacons:

 

Agana: Dulce Nombre de Maria Agana Cathedral Basilica

Administrator: Monsignor James Benavente

Parochial Vicar: Father William Mamangun and Father Tom McGrath

Deacons: Steve Martinez and Greg Calvo

 

Agana Heights: No appointment noted*

 

Agat: Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Administrator: Father Harold Prieto

 

Asan: Nino Perdido Y Sagrada Familia

Administrator: Father Gerry Hernandez

 

Barrigada: San Vicente

Administrator: Father Dan Bien

Deacon: Larry Claros

 

Chalan Pago: Our Lady of Peace and Safe Journey

Administrator: Father Carl Vila

 

Dededo: Santa Barbara

Administrator: Father Richard Kidd

Parochial Vicar: Father Jonathan Alvarez, Monsignor Ruben, Father Fran Hezel

Deacons: J. Gumataotao, R. Hernandez

 

Dededo: Saint Andrew Kim

Administrator: Father San Yun Lee (Dominic Savio)

 

Inarajan: St. Joseph

Administrator: Father Paul Gofigan

 

Maina: Our Lady of Purification

Administrator: Father Junee Valencia

 

Malojloj: San Isidro

Administrator: Father Michael Jucutan

 

Malesso: San Dimas

Administrator: Father Jason Granado

 

Mangilao: Santa Teresita

Administrator: No appointment noted*

Deacons: H. Hosei, G. Quitugua

 

Mongmong: Nuestra Senora de las Aguas

Administrator: Father Jeff San Nicolas

 

Ordot: San Juan Bautista

Administrator: Father Joseph Anore

 

Piti: Assumption of Our Lady

Administrator: Father Dan Ferrandiz

 

Santa Rita: Our Lady of Guadalupe

Administrator: Father Ron Pangan

Deacon: J. Fernandez

 

Sinajana: Saint Jude Thaddeus

Administrator: No appointment noted*

 

Talofofo: San Miguel

Administrator: Father Jun Trenchera

 

Tamuning: Saint Anthony of Padua

Administrator: Father Mike Crisostomo

Parochial Vicar: Father Joel Delos Reyes

 

Toto: Immaculate Heart of Mary

Administrator: Father Krzysztof Szafarski

Deacons: R. Dela Cruz, E. Ruda, A. Leon Guerrero

 

Tumon: Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores

Administrator: Father Romeo Convocar

 

Umatac: San Dionisio

Administrator: Father Jason Granado

 

Yigo: Santa Bernadita

Administrator: Father Alberto Rodriguez

 

Yigo: Our Lady of Lourdes

Administrator: Father Val Rodriguez

Parochial Vicar: Father Antonino Camiiti

Deacons: Dave Richards and Len Stohr

 

Yona: Saint Francis of Assisi

Administrator: No appointment noted*

 

GMH/Naval Hospital Guam Chaplain: Father Dan Trajano

 

DYA/DOC Chaplain: Father Vincenzo Acampora

 

Pending: Father Efren Adversario

 

*Note — The new assignments are for diocesan clergy of Agana and are separate from the Capuchin Franciscans. As a religious order, the Capuchins determine placement of its members as pastors separately at four Archdiocesan parishes: Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Agana Hts.; Santa Teresita, Mangilao; St. Jude, Sinajana; and St. Francis, Yona. They have a long-standing agreement with the archdiocese to guide the faithful and oversee the four parishes as pastors.

 

The following is the letter from the apostolic administrator, which contains further information:

Dear family of Christ,

Easter blessings and the peace of Our Lord be with you!

Following a process involving months of consultation, recommendations, discussions and above all, prayer, I hereby announce the new parish assignments for our clergy today.

I ask everyone to wholeheartedly support our priests and embrace these new appointments with excitement and trust in our Lord. Often, changes tend to shake us. It is because we naturally look to the unknown and unfamiliar with uneasiness, even fear. However, as we have learned time and time again, trust in Jesus, He transforms our fears into peace and joy!

These changes are long overdue We have not implemented major, church-wide new assignments of priests in our Archdiocese of Agaña for many years. Although it is good to have priests and deacons form strong bonds of unity, familiarity and support with members of their specific parish, we must always look beyond our own personal space. The Church is One Body in Christ. All members of the Body are equally vital. The good and wellbeing of all family members are important.

^“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.  For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. . . that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.  If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” 1 Corinthians 12: 12-13, 25-26.

What wonderful gifts and strengths can your present pastor, priest or deacon share with others at a different parish which might be struggling? Is a fresh start elsewhere just the thing that will help both clergyman and parish be more bountiful in service to our Lord? How can our archdiocese more effectively distribute and use the talents of its dedicated priests and deacons? These are just some of the questions we asked ourselves which I now ask all faithful to reflect upon in prayer.

As the Apostolic Administrator, I am decreeing the new assignments of priests after considerable discussions during a process of consultation involving our Priest Personnel Board and the College of Consultors.

Above all, I have made the decisions on where best to place our clergy after much prayer and discernment, looking to the Holy Spirit for ultimate guidance. There are different factors involved in this very challenging and often emotional process. Understandably, many of you have formed close bonds with priests at your parishes for a good number of years. I desire that our clergy as well as the parishioners be happy, healthy and effective as they serve our Lord. As I rendered my decision in each case, my ultimate consideration is what will be the best for our Church and the parishes individually and collectively.  As I said, we are One Body in Christ.

All priests are vested with the tremendous responsibility of pastoring our people at the parishes and sites at which we serve. We are entrusted with nourishing and tending to the spiritual needs of our people while also efficiently managing and protecting the material goods of the Church. Each priest is also both teacher and sanctifier.

One unique quality of this year’s assignments is that the positions to be assumed by the incoming priests will be that of administrator. This is done so as not to encumber the discretion of the incoming archbishop when he is so named. In other words, when he is appointed, the new archbishop must be able to make his appointments without impediments.

Once more, I humbly ask all faithful to strongly support our priests and have faith in the process. Whether they remain at your present parish or are placed in a new one, in each situation, our priests and deacons need your continuous prayers and assistance. Satan loves to attack the consecrated men and women of the Church. Your prayers do much to shield us.

These are challenging times. However, this is also an exciting period for our Church on Guam when we are given a beautiful opportunity to transform ourselves into a better, stronger archdiocese. We are One Church, One Body in Christ. Let the Light of Our Lord shine brightly in us!

Yours in Jesus Christ,

/s/The Very Rev. Romeo D. Convocar

Apostolic Administrator