He knocked three times on the front door of the Agana Cathedral Basilica [“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me.” (Rev. 3:20)]. And a few minutes after Monsignor James Benavente, rector of the cathedral, opened the doors to Archbishop Ryan Jimenez, the choir began a song likely familiar to most Guamanians since childhood. And the hundreds gathered – from young to old – sang.
Abe Nanan Yu’us, sen gasgas Maria
maogte minauleg, yan grasia siha.
Abe! Abe! Abe Maria!
I become quite emotional each time I hear the song. It might have been the first song I ever learned. From as early as I can remember, my grandma and grandpa were the ever-present forces in my life. She taught me that song. She sang it all the time. It was probably my first connection to a language I would never learn to speak, but at least as I sing to the Lord, it is part of my voice and identity.
“As we sang all my favorite hymns, I teared up a bit hearing a full church all singing our hearts out as the sun set behind the stained glass,” Ginger Cruz reflected about the three hours she sat among her fellow Catholics. The congressional candidate is a product of Catholic education in Guam, having attended St. Anthony School and the Academy of Our Lady of Guam. “You could feel the unity that too often eludes us in our daily struggles.”
It was a celebration I had never seen: the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Agana in full regalia on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven, welcoming a new archbishop for only the fourth time in history. Two by two the deacons and priests of the archdiocese, and then bishops from many places and even a cardinal bishop from Portugal processed to the altar, the Guam clergy loudly singing with the Catholic faithful excited to see their new archbishop installed Thursday in Hagatna.
And yet the pomp and circumstance, the incense, even the prism of beautiful colors from the Pacific sun passing and transformed by the stained-glass murals of Christ and His mother’s journey did not overshadow the only person who mattered at that Mass. The One in the Tabernacle who is sacrificed at every Holy Mass to please His Father, then shares Himself with us to save us from our sins.
Part of the gravitational pull on my heart was the occasion itself. Not the installation. The solemnity. It was one of the only four days of the year the Roman Catholic Church confers its highest Mass celebration in honor of Christ’s blessed and immaculate mother. For even the most hardened of Chamorro and Guamanian hearts, Heaven’s centuries-old canopy of protection from the Blessed Mother – Santa Marian Kamalen – has unexplainable power over our souls. When the Guamanian Catholic is at his lowest, when she is most ashamed to approach Christ, they ask Santa Maria to open the door to the Lord.
Senbithen yan Nana, pution i tase
para i mahalañg, Nanan minaase.
Abe! Abe! Abe Maria!
On Thursday, the Church in Guam opened the door to Ryan, sent by the Holy Father, to be our shepherd. A servant leader whose ministry is anointed by Christ Himself, traced through a Petrine tradition to the time the Lord told His first Pope that upon him He will build His church. [“Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 18:18]
But that door did not open until he knocked. Thrice. A reminder that God’s love always abounds and surrounds us. But in order to enter His loving embrace, we need to accept His invitation, and knock on His door with faith through mysticism – the impossible that only God can perform – like the Trinity. Unconditional love, Father Paul Gofigan constantly reminds his parishioners, does not require or force reciprocity from the loved, but is given freely by the lover. And, despite corners of the church where the most hardened hearts lurk, the universal church – and the new archbishop insists his archdiocese – teaches that God’s love is for all.
All are welcome, from wherever you are in your journey
In a news conference the day after his installation, Archbishop Jimenez (he prefers a less formal approach, “Archbishop Ryan”) said the Church’s doors are open to everyone. All. No conditions. No catch. People who are dealing with the seeming brokenness of life. Gays who have felt ostracized. People living in extramarital scandal. The poor who don’t have nice clothes to attend Mass. Citizens who hurt others.
“His message of unity and his humility is inspiring and is much needed [in] Guam and in the church,” the country’s only openly gay lieutenant governor – Joshua Tenorio of Guam – reflected. Mr. Tenorio attended the Holy Mass with his partner, Matthew Topasna. Mr. Tenorio has been the object of criticism that often spills into bigotry and hatred over his sexual orientation, particularly from conservative Catholics. He reportedly was denied his request to baptize a child as godfather based solely on his political position and his openness about his orientation. Many other openly gay men and women have been approved by the archdiocese to be godparents so long as they aver certain qualifications.
“I value freedom of religion and I respect and recognize that current church doctrine doesn’t allow for the growth and recognition of gay relationships. That is something reserved the for the civil realm and within our civil rights as citizens,” the lieutenant governor said in his reflection. “Despite this difference, I appreciated the message of unity and inclusivity that Archbishop Jimenez espoused. Our hearts and souls were filled with the love he has shared with all of us – the people of God.”
In his homily the day before, the archbishop likened the Blessed Virgin’s earthly journey that led to her assumption into Heaven, body and soul, to people’s journey as the Body of Christ. Everyone is in a different part of the journey, at different points of formation, urgency, readiness, zeal, and joy.
Those who find Christ win the journey.
Archbishop Jimenez said what is important is that we are on the journey, no matter where we are in that journey, and that the archdiocese be that beacon drawing people to Christ’s Light. That is what the role of he and his brother priests should be, he said, emphasizing that priests should be available to serve the community and especially to bring the sacraments to the faithful. Even on their days off, he said.
“The image of Mary on a journey,” the archbishop began his homily reflecting on the Gospel account of Mary’s pregnant visit to Her cousin Elizabeth, “made me think about our journey in life; our journey that is life.”
He said that in the journey – and in those ancient times, traveling by foot long distances was dangerous for anyone, but especially for poor, young girls, which Mary was – the Blessed Mother was not alone. “Jesus was in her womb,” he said. “Jesus is with Her. In Her journey, the Lord is with Her.”
“He accompanies us,” the archbishop said of God. “He is with us in our earthly journey, where He does great things for us, which oftentimes we do not notice. And if we are true and faithful to him, just like Mary, then we will also be with Him. We will be one with Him in Heaven for eternity.”
Gi lañget tumunog, ini na pution
para i taotao siha, Nanan gofliion.
Abe! Abe! Abe Maria!
He said the celebration of Mary’s assumption brings hope for our journey to God.
And on this journey, we are not simply separate people on separate journeys, but a Body of Christ. “That is why we should not judge anyone,” especially based on where each person is on the journey of faith.
“Because we are the Body of Christ,” he said, “and the Lord embraces us.”
Ang katawan ni Kristo.
Internal divisions: Threat to the archdiocese, or opportunity for leadership?
The celebration did not appear celebratory for all. While the parishioners – by the smiles and the sound of responses and singing – clearly were excited about the new archbishop, it was the demeanor of several of his brother priests throughout the Mass that seemed to tell the story of an archdiocese that continues to be fractured.
“There has been disillusionment from priests about the leadership since (former) Archbishop [Anthony] Apuron,” a priest told Kandit on condition of anonymity. “There are cliques. There are even racial divides that perhaps our parishioners would not expect coming from priests. But this is the truth. So we wonder and we are hopeful at the same time that Archbishop Ryan will be the leader we need. It’s still too early to tell.”
While Catholic laity do not often see the politics behind the vestments, one of the more apparent and controversial fractures in the archdiocese centers around the Neocatechumenal Way, a group of Catholics who subscribe to different methods of worship. Their detractors accuse “The Way” as it is called of heretical practices. In fact, it was Agat parishioner Tim Rohr (also the founder of the well-read blog Jungle Watch) whose exposes into The Way uncovered a real estate scandal in the Apuron administration. The light he and others shone on that gave courage to whispers of the coverup of clergy sex abuse. Those whispers turned to shouts, and the rest became history.
Interestingly, when Kandit asked Archbishop Jimenez at his Friday news conference how he will address these internal divisions – specifying the internal divisions among apprehensive priests and the controversy of The Way – he only addressed the matter of priests who may have grievances.
He acknowledged his awareness of this potential problem, but admitted he needs time and effort to figure things out.
“I cannot make judgment on that until I really sit down and talk to my brother priests,” he said. And by “visit” he said he means more than celebrating Mass with them in their parishes and having meals with them. He wants to “truly engage in listening sessions and give my time and hear them out.”
A Diocese of Chalan Kanoa parishioner familiar with his former bishop questioned the archbishop’s sincerity in his future engagements with priests in Guam. “The priests in Saipan were divided, and he caused a lot of that division,” the parishioner said on condition of anonymity. “I don’t think he’ll change.”
A longtime parishioner of Chalan Kanoa, Saipan Senator Celina Roberto Babauta, was more hopeful for Guam.
“Bishop Ryan Jimenez’s tenure in the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa was marked by a profound commitment to his flock,” she said, recounting his emergence in the diocese from a Catholic school teacher in Rota all the way to the diocese’s second bishop. “His experiences with the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa will undoubtedly be crucial in fostering unity, renewal, healing, and most importantly, reconciliation within the Guam community,” she said, calling him her friend and brother.
“To the parishioners of Guam, Bishop Ryan’s experiences to the CNMI faithful is a foundation upon which will rely heavily on and can build a promising future for the Archdiocese of Agana,” she continued in her reflection. “His outsider’s perspective offers an opportunity and a valuable guide in fostering reconciliation for the Archdiocese of Agana. His fresh perspective will bring opportunities and is expected to bring new energy and direction. I pray for your patience to allow him to guide our faithful along his journey. God bless you all.”
Ms. Babauta was one of only two of the CNMI’s elected officials who attended the Mass in Guam. The other was U.S. Delegate to the House of Representatives Gregorio “Kilili” Sablan, who attended the Mass with his wife Andrea. Ms. Babauta estimated that a quarter of the faithful gathered at the Cathedral were visiting from the CNMI.
The JungleWatch contributing author known as “Frenchie,” in a post on the blog Saturday took a wait-and-see approach to the new archbishop.
“Archbishop Ryan appears to be a consummate political individual, with a sense for symbolism, and an acute reading of the crowd he addresses,” he wrote. “Like him or not, he certainly is not somebody to take lightly. He displayed a lot of charm and flexibility, but you can sense a level of cold determination.”
And that analysis is what may very well distinguish the new archbishop. Will he use his gifts for good, or is there an Apuronic tragedy waiting to happen by a man gifted with savvy but self-condemned to the trappings of his office?
“The question being,” Frenchie wrote, “shall he use it for good, or shall he be another politician in sheep’s clothing. Only time will tell.”
“Archbishop Ryan, originally from the Philippines and now on Guam via Saipan, brings with him a humble soul, a sense of humor, and a charisma that resonates deeply,” Ginger Cruz said. “His ability to comfortably blend languages and connect with clergy across the Pacific truly showcased the spirit of inafa’ maolek and the evolving unity of our island. It’s a time of hope for the faithful, and because of that—the same for Guam itself. I pray for him and all who share his mission.”
The archdiocese’s youngest priest and arguably its best homilist, Maina administrator Father Junee Valencia, gave the following reflection about the installation Mass:
“’Where the bishop is, there let the people gather’ came to life for me. This quote is from St. Ignatius of Antioch who was an early Church Father. He wrote it in one of his letters around 107 AD.
“The full quote is:
“’Wherever the bishop appears, there let the people be, as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.’
“This quote emphasizes the importance of unity in the Church and the authority of the bishop in the early Christian community.
“During the installation I thought here before me is my Spiritual Father who will care for our souls.
“The early church, the Catholic Church is a hierarchy not a democracy. This is what makes us One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I prayed for the grace of obedience and unity.
“God bless His Excellency, Archbishop Jimenez!”
By the looks on some of the priest’s faces throughout the Mass, Father Junee may be among the more joyous and less apprehensive of the new leadership.
So, as Frenchie summarized, ‘only time will tell.’
“We hurt you”
Archbishop Jimenez, in his homily, went further than any of his predecessors in acknowledging the clergy sex scandal that rocked the Catholic faithful here.
“We church leaders disappointed you,” he said, folding himself into the wreckage of an archdiocese of the past, where he was not a participant. “We’ve hurt you. We’ve betrayed your trust. But that’s where we are. And yet, God embraces us for who we are. For where we are in our journey of faith.”
The archdiocese has struggled to reconnect with parishioners who have stopped attending Mass because of the clergy sex scandal.
In his news conference the day after the Mass, he said he also was talking about any occasion where priests have failed to exercise their ministry for people.
“We’re here to bring people to Christ, not to reject them,” he said.
Asked at the news conference how he would approach a Guamanian who tells him the sex scandal rocked their faith and is what led them away from the church, he said “The very first approach I would take is to really be patient with where they are. Don’t judge. Just as God is patient with us, I also need to be patient. But it doesn’t mean that I won’t do anything. It is our role to proactively go out there are reach out. Our job is to go out there and ring the bells.”
As the Chamorro version of the famous Christmas song goes:
Malañgo i taotao
ti amtiyon esta;
lao mato si Yuus ni Yóamte.
Guiya i amot
náhomlo yan mames.
Where will all this take us? Will Archbishop Ryan Jimenez convert the inertia behind his installation into works of holiness that leads to the saving of souls? Will he be competent in the administration of a church with far fewer resources than there existed in the Apuron era? Will he help the archdiocese out of the depths of the valley Mr. Apuron threw it into, or will he mimic those shadowy movements?
He appears to be an intelligent man, and certainly is savvy and charming. He must recognize, even with the little time he has spent here, that more eyes are on him. Scrutiny here is more daring and outward than what he may be used to in Saipan.
And the issues here are more pronounced: from poverty and drugs to corruption and human rights. Guam has big problems, and unfortunately, civil leaders have thus far failed to stymie the gulf growing between good and bad. Perhaps what Guam needs is a leader who serves under the pretext that there is nothing relative about good versus bad, holiness versus evil.
Will he be that leader?
Guam needs saving. I’m sure the irony isn’t lost on some that the man who wields the opportunity and moral authority to bring that Savior is from Saipan, rooted in Rota, and born in the Philippines.
As he begins his new ministry, people will watch which way he channels the responsibility thrusted upon him, and the authority that emanates ex cathedra.
At the end of it all, politics are irrelevant and even social justice is secondary to what matters to me and I’m sure thousands of others in Guam. I want to be in communion with Christ through His church. As the hymnal goes, I want to stand at the Heavenly shore asking our Blessed Mother to show us – finally – Her Son in all His glory.
Anae si Maria, kahulo gi lañget
hafata na maisa, i Upúpulan hit.
Abe! Abe! Abe Maria!
Biba Santa Marian Kamalen!
