THAT TIME WHEN APURON GAVE THE INVOCATION AT THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

By Tim Rohr

At the invitation of Rep. Madeline Bordallo, (D-GU), then Archbishop of Agana, Anthony Sablan Apuron, gave the opening prayer to a meeting of the U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 12, 2003.

LINK here or here

Most Reverend Anthony Sablan Apuron

Archbishop of Agana

Agana, GU

Sponsor: Rep. Rep. Madeline Bordallo, (D-GU)

Date of Prayer: 11/12/2003

One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:

Mrs. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and privilege to welcome the Most Reverend Anthony Sablan Apuron, OFM Cap, DD, Metropolitan Archbishop of Agana to the People's House and to thank him for offering today's prayer.

Archbishop Apuron has served God and His people first as priest and now bishop for over 31 years. Born November 1, 1945, he was ordained a priest in the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin on August 26, 1972. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Agana by the late Archbishop Felixberto C. Flores on December 8, 1983 and consecrated Titular Bishop of Muzuca on February 19, 1984. On May 11, 1986, (1)  the Most Reverend Anthony S. Apuron was elevated to Metropolitan Archbishop of Agana.

As the head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agana, he is the spiritual leader for over 350,000 Roman Catholics in Guam, the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa in the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Diocese of the Caroline and the Marshall Islands. He has been the moral voice for the faithful who look to him for direction in these difficult times. (2) Under his leadership, the Archdiocese of Agana has expanded its ministries to meet the changing needs of the community.

On behalf of the people of Guam, I want to thank Archbishop Apuron for being with us today and for his leadership and guidance of the people of Metropolitan Archdiocese of Agana. Si Yu'os Ma'ase.

Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:

The Most Reverend Anthony Sablan Apuron, Archbishop of Agana, Guam, offered the following prayer:

Almighty God, whose goodness fills our hearts with joy. You are blessed for bringing us together to work in harmony, in peace, and in justice. Send Your blessings upon our United States House of Representatives, who generously devote themselves to the work of our Nation and Territories in the laws they pass and the resolutions they create.

In times of difficulty and need, grant them the strength to transcend personal interests and seek after the common good for all. Strengthen them with Your grace and wisdom so that everything that they begin with Your inspiration, continue with Your guidance and by You be happily ended. Grace us with Your saving presence and aid us with Your constant blessing.

All glory and praise be to You, our ever–living God, forever and ever. Amen. 

(1) May 11, 1986. I always thought it coincidental that Apuron was elevated to Archbishop on the very day and date my wife and I married.

(2) A moral voice? Madeleine had to know. Everybody did. 

AMERICAN JUSTICE FOUNDATION: MAKE AMERICA WISE AGAIN

By Tim Rohr

This may seem like a different sort of issue for regular readers; however, it isn't. Empowering ordinary people to do extraordinary things is what JW has been about from the beginning. And, as the record shows, that is exactly what we - through this blog, through the posts, through your comments - have done. Amazing accomplishments. 

However, in addition to our passion and our activism, knowledge was needed, particularly knowledge of the law, of lawful procedures, both canon and civil, and ultimately, knowledge of how to use that knowledge to bring about justice as well as rein in those who deny it. In the past, we benefited greatly from the late, great Bob Klitzkie, whose knowledge of all of the above kept us on course as we battled impossible odds. 

I mean, just think of it! We got the Vatican, in fact, the Pope himself, to remove an archbishop; we exposed decades of horrific clergy sex abuse; we brought justice to hundreds (that we know of) who, as children, were molested, mutilated, and otherwise ruined by perverse abusers; and we got enacted into law legislation to bring about that justice and deter similar abusive terror going forward. And let's not forget that we are the only place in the world that has shut down an RMS. 

All of the above resulted from knowledge and passion working together for a just cause. In the same vein, I am using this post to promote an organization known as the AMERICAN JUSTICE FOUNDATION. The founder is an attorney, Dr. Frederick Graves, whose course HOW TO WIN IN COURT WITHOUT A LAWYER literally saved me from what was on course to be a major life disaster - a story I will tell another time. (See graphic in the sidebar: No Lawyer No Problem)

I am copying here the AMERICAN JUSTICE FOUNDATION's "manifesto." If any of it strikes a chord with you, go to the HOME PAGE and JOIN. 

America's motto "We Trust In God" has nothing to do with "religion".

God is the Reality that decides the destiny of men and nations.

We Americans have rights because they are God-given.

We were born with them.

This is the First and Primary Principle of American Justice.

To deny this is insanity. 

For government to deny this is tyranny!

America's government exists to protect your God-given rights.

Our rights are not "permissions" granted by judges or politicians.

American Justice Foundation® wants you to fight for your rights,

so we teach you and your children the common-sense Rules of

Court that give you power to fight peaceably to restore God in

government ... our only guarantee of Liberty and Justice for ALL!

"MAKE AMERICA WISE AGAIN !"

GUILTY CONSCIENCE

 

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL MEAT GRINDER OF NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY PRIESTLY FORMATION

By Rodney

In response to LUIS CAMACHO: "IF...I MESS UP..." 

Ever wonder what happens when you combine amateur lay-psychotherapy, public trauma-dumping, and a massive identity crisis, and then hand the survivor a Roman collar? Welcome to the psychological meat grinder of Neocatechumenal Way priestly formation.

During their seminary years, NCW candidates are subjected to "scrutinies"—essentially a spiritual strip-search where lay catechists happily trample right over Canon Law’s strict protection of the internal forum. Candidates are conditioned through public confessions, emotional coercion, and a total surrender of personal boundaries. By the time they are ordained, their psychological autonomy hasn't just been stunted; it's been dismantled and replaced with absolute subservience to Kiko’s itinerary.

Then comes the real mind-bender: the cognitive dissonance. Once assigned to a parish, these men are forced to play a high-stakes game of ecclesiastical Jekyll and Hyde. Upstairs in the main church, they must cosplay as orthodox diocesan priests, dutifully nodding to Canon Law and the Catechism. But downstairs in the parish basement on Saturday nights, the mask comes off. They revert to being Kiko’s enforcers, presiding over a parallel church with its own proprietary theology, bizarre liturgical aesthetics, and unquestioned loyalty to the movement's founders.

You cannot force a human psyche to endure years of coercive emotional surveillance and then demand they live a permanent double life without the mental wheels coming off. This massive, unbridgeable gap between the official Church teachings they studied and the sectarian reality of their daily ministry exacts a severe, fracturing toll on their mental health.

You are ultimately left with emotionally compromised, psychologically fractured men wielding immense spiritual authority, shielded by a powerful internal lobby ready to sweep their inevitable psychological unraveling under the rug. Therefore, NCW priests are a danger to the parishioners and even to the NCW families themselves.

BECAUSE THE MONSTERS ARE STILL HERE

By Tim Rohr

Just a note. 

In writing this book about the disaster that has been the Archdiocese of Agana, I am coming across long-forgotten (or missed) documents that bring home just how terrible things were and still are in this archdiocese: the Catholic Church of Guam.  

If there was a picture of hell on earth - this is it: the Catholic Church in Guam for the last 50 years, or more.

The real question for us - for those of us who care - is how this happened...and what to do next - to save our souls, the souls of our children, and our church. 

Writing this book is absolutely frightening - because the monsters are still here. 

LUIS CAMACHO: "IF...I MESS UP..."

 By Tim Rohr

The above is from a November 2013 Umatuna article that records the thoughts of newly ordained Luis Camacho "during the prostration" at his ordination on November 9, 2013. 

What Camacho prayed for "during the prostration" is odd, but his reporting it to the Umatuna reporter is even more odd. 

As Camacho lay on the floor at the Cathedral-Basilica before Archbishop Apuron and (probably) many other clerics, Camacho was thinking, "If in my priesthood I mess up..." 

Camacho's thought, as recorded in the Umatuna, comported with what I was told by an informant: that Apuron (compromised as he was) knew that the two men he ordained that day (Camacho and Jucutan) were not men he could ordain in good conscience. 

He did anyway - because he was ordered to by the Neocat generals who controlled him. And Camacho's own thoughts, upon his ordination, indicate that the one thing on Camacho's mind was that he was going to mess up - an indication that even Camacho knew that he did not have a genuine vocation to the priesthood. 

Less than two years later, in fact only 16 months after ordination, March 17, 2015, Camacho messed up: he was arrested by Guam police after being caught with a minor girl, alone in a car, parked at a deserted Agat beach. 

We won't get into what he was doing with the girl at the time he was caught and arrested. We don't need to. The fact is that, at the time, Camacho was the pastor of two parishes - Merizo and Umatac - and he was found alone with a 17-year-old schoolgirl in a car at a deserted beach during a time the girl was supposed to be in school.

I have always believed that had Camacho simply said, "I am sorry, I messed up, please forgive me," that he would not have had to be on the run for the better part of these last ten years, nor would he have to be in his current situation: having to appeal a Vatican verdict of "delicta graviora and dismissed from the clerical state."

In fact, saying "I am sorry, I messed up, please forgive me" was exactly what Camacho prayed he would say if he ever "messed up."

I prayed...that if in my priesthood I mess up, that I may be able to have the sincerity, the willingness to bring it to the light."

I have also always believed that this is what Camacho very much wanted to do, but because he was a Neocat, and not just a Neocat, but also Apuron's first local product of RMS, the Neocat machine sprang into action and has been hustling Camacho around the world for the last ten years - to the terrible detriment of Fr. Luis Camacho. (See the FILE.)

What they, the Neocats, did to Fr. Luis Camacho is probably our best example of how Neocats sacrifice and destroy anyone and everyone who is a problem to Kiko's heretical agenda - even their own priests. 

Just remember. Luis Camacho, at the exact moment he was being ordained a priest, prayed:

"...if in my priesthood I mess up, that I may be able to have the sincerity, the willingness to bring it to the light."

Apuron and the Neocats NEVER gave him that opportunity. Ten years later, Camacho has that opportunity. Who is still controlling him?

THE LUIS CAMACHO FILE

By Tim Rohr

One of the issues that we suspect Archbishop Jimenez will want to quietly disappear is the case of NEOCAT Fr. (?) Luis Camacho. 

On Dec. 11, 2025, Archbishop Jimenez announced that Camacho "was found guilty of delicta graviora and dismissed from the clerical state." 

Four days later, on Dec. 15, 2025, Jimenez announced that "Camacho was exercising his right to appeal to the Vatican within 60 days, meaning he was not yet permanently laicized pending appeal." 

True, the Vatican moves slowly; however, Jimenez still owes us an update on the matter, even if there is none. 

Following is JW's full Luis Camacho file - in case Jimenez is missing anything.

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 2013-FLC\_Luis Camacho-Ordination01.png

**Content**: Contains personal reflections from Fr. Luis Camacho during his ordination ceremony, including his prayer for sincerity to bring any future mistakes to light.

2013.11.09-FLC\_Archdiocese of Agana » Ordination to the Priesthood of Luis Camacho and Michael Jucutan.pdf

An announcement by the Archdiocese of Agaña regarding the live broadcast of the ordination of Luis Camacho and Michael Jucutan on Nov 9, 2013.

2015.03.18-FLC\_A\_Martinez to Apuron.pdf

A formal complaint sent by Deacon Stephen Martinez on Mar 18, 2015, to Archbishop Anthony Apuron and Child Protective Services (CPS) detailing allegations that Fr. Luis Camacho transported a 17-year-old minor without permission and engaged in sexual contact with her at a beach in Agat.

2015.03.17-FLC_POLICE BLOTTER.JPG

The documents contain a police blotter entry from Mar 17, 2015, detailing criminal incidents reported in locations including Yigo, Tamuning, and Agat. Recorded offenses include criminal trespass, fraudulent use of license plates, theft of property, burglary, and custodial interference. The entries note responding officers, reporting

2015.03.17-FLC_PoliceBlotter.pdf

The documents provide a police activity blotter for Mar 17, 2015. The records detail various incidents across multiple locations, including traffic accidents, thefts, harassment, burglary, criminal trespass, and disturbances. Each entry includes incident numbers, specific locations, involved personnel, and reporting officers.

2015.03.18-FLC_AOA Statement Luis Camacho.pdf

An official press statement from the Archdiocese of Agaña announcing that Archbishop Apuron accepted the resignation of Fr. Luis Camacho following his arrest for custodial interference.

2015.03.18-FLC\_Pacific Daily News - Timeline.pdf

A social media capture of a Pacific Daily News article and public comments regarding the arrest and resignation of Fr. Luis Camacho.

2015.03.18-FLC\_Pastor Arrested for Taking Minor without Consent.pdf

A news report from Pacific News Center detailing Fr. Luis Camacho's arrest on Mar 17, 2015, for custodial interference after being found with a 17-year-old in a car at an Agat beach.

2015.03.18-FLC-A_Martinez to Apuron.pdf

The documents include a Mar 18, 2015 report from Deacon Stephen Martinez to the Archdiocese of Agaña and Child Protective Services. It details allegations of sexual misconduct against Fr. Luis Camacho involving a minor on Mar 17, 2015, citing violations of archdiocesan policy and local laws, noting that the Guam Police Department arrested the priest.

2015.03.18-FLC-B_Martinez to Apuron - fr luis camacho-follow up.pdf

The documents contain a letter dated Mar 18, 2015, from Deacon Stephen Martinez to Archbishop Anthony Apuron. It addresses concerns regarding a pattern of sexual misconduct among Neocatechumenal Way (NCW) clergy and seminarians in the Archdiocese of Agana. Martinez urges the Archbishop to implement thorough psychological screenings and background checks to address these issues and protect the faithful from potential abusers.

2015.03.19-FLC\_AP-Guam priest resigns after arrest for custodial interference \_ West Hawaii Today.pdf

An Associated Press article published by West Hawaii Today reporting on Fr. Luis Camacho's arrest and immediate resignation as pastor on Guam.

2015.03.19-FLC\_Marianas Variety - Guam police find priest with 17- year-old girl.pdf

A news article and public commentary from Marianas Variety detailing the arrest of 29-year-old Rev. Luis Camacho for custodial interference and his background.

2015.03.19-FLC\_Neocat Priest Luis Camacho caught at beach in car...pdf

A blog post summarizing the incident involving Fr. Luis Camacho and the 17-year-old girl at an Agat beach.

2015.03.22-FLC\_UMATUNA-Archdiocese of Agana statement concerning Fr.pdf

A publication of the official archdiocesan statement in *Umatuna Si Yu'os* confirming Fr. Camacho's resignation and restricted faculties.

2015.03.23-FLC\_KUAM-Priest allegedly had sexual contact with minor - KUAM.com-KUAM News\_ On Air. Online.pdf

A report covering Deacon Stephen Martinez's complaint alleging sexual contact between Fr. Luis Camacho and the 17-year-old minor.

2015.03.25-FLC\_Marianas Variety - Arrested priest may have had sexual contact with teen girl.pdf

An article discussing Deacon Stephen Martinez's obligation under archdiocesan policy to report the alleged sexual misconduct to civil and church authorities.

2015.03.25-FLC\_PNC-Priest Had Sexual Contact with Student, by Janela Carrera, Pacific News Center, March 23, 2015.pdf

A Pacific News Center article archived on BishopAccountability.org regarding Deacon Martinez's formal report of sexual contact involving Fr. Camacho.

2015.03.27-FLC\_Catholic Church in Guam still divided - CathNews NZ and Pacific CathNews NZ and Pacific.pdf

An article describing local divisions within the Catholic community on Guam following Fr. Camacho's arrest and a prayer vigil held for unity.

2015.04.02-FLC\_Luis Camacho - FOIA.pdf

The text document of Timothy J. Rohr's formal FOIA demand sent on Apr 2, 2015, to Guam Police Chief Fred Bordallo.

2015.04.09-FLC\_Luis Camacho - FOIA-2nd Letter.pdf

A follow-up request sent by Timothy J. Rohr on Apr 9, 2015, noting the expiration of the 4-day statutory response window for his initial FOIA demand.

2015.04.13-FLC\_Luis-Camacho\_Police\_FOIA.pdf

The complete two-page response letter from Police Chief Fred Bordallo denying Timothy Rohr's FOIA request because the case was pending with the Attorney General's Office.

2015.04.20-FLC\_BORDALLO EMAIL.pdf

An email sent by Tim Rohr to Chief Bordallo on Apr 20, 2015, expressing concern over delays in receiving the promised written response from the GPD Legal Section.

2016.03.04-FLC\_Luis celebrating Children's Mass.jpg

An image post showing Fr. Luis Camacho celebrating a Filipino Children's Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Doha, Qatar, on Mar 4, 2016.

2016.04.07-FLC\_Chuck to Ballin.pdf

An email sent on Apr 7, 2016, by Charles White to Bishop Camillo Ballin informing him of Fr. Camacho's 2015 arrest and sexual misconduct allegations on Guam.

2016.04.08-FLC\_Ballin to Chuck.pdf

An email response from Bishop Camillo Ballin on Apr 8, 2016, to Charles White, defending his knowledge of Fr. Camacho's background and telling White to "be ashamed".

2016.04.11-FLC\_T.Untalan to Apuron\_Resign.pdf

A letter from Teri Untalan to Archbishop Apuron requesting his resignation due to his handling of Fr. Camacho's case and transferring him to Doha, Qatar.

2016.04.12-FLC\_PNC-Priest Accused of Sexual Contact With Minor to Host Retreat for Youth This Month.pdf

A news article reporting on public outcry and Teri Untalan's letter after it was discovered Fr. Camacho was active in youth ministry in Qatar.

2016.04.13-FLC\_Church continues to investigate Fr. Luis Camacho - KUAM.com-KUAM News\_ On Air. Online.pdf

A statement from Chancellor Fr. Adrian Cristobal clarifying that Fr. Camacho remained under supervised ministry and psychological/spiritual evaluation while canonical proceedings continued.

2016.04.20-FLC\_KUAM-Church continues to investigate Fr. Luis Camacho - KUAM.com-KUAM News\_ On Air. Online.pdf

An updated release of KUAM's coverage on the ongoing canonical investigation into Fr. Camacho.

2016.06.25-FLC\_Bishop Ballin's Report on Canonical Investigation.pdf

A pastoral letter issued by Bishop Camillo Ballin declaring that a Vatican inquiry concluded "there is not a semblance of truth" to allegations against Fr. Camacho and welcoming him back to the Vicariate.

2016.06.25-FLC\_Invoice to Ballin.pdf

A mock invoice sent by "Faithful Catholics of the Archdiocese of Agana" to Bishop Ballin regarding seminary costs, adding commentary about Fr. Camacho and Archbishop Apuron.

2024.05.07-FLC\_AOA News re Fr Luis Camacho May 7 2024 fin.pdf

An official archdiocesan statement announcing Fr. Camacho's return to Guam after nine years, noting that his faculties remain restricted while his case is reviewed.

2025.12.11-FLC\_Archbishop's Letter to Faithful on Luis Camacho, Dec 11 2025 PDF.pdf

A pastoral letter from Archbishop Ryan P. Jimenez stating that the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith confirmed Fr. Camacho was found guilty of *delicta graviora* and dismissed from the clerical state.

2025.12.15-FLC\_Clarification re Rev L. Camacho.pdf

A follow-up statement from Archbishop Jimenez clarifying that Fr. Camacho was exercising his right to appeal to the Vatican within 60 days, meaning he was not yet permanently laicized pending appeal.

HOW THE NEOCATS BUY BISHOPS

By Rodney

(From his comment on KIKO ARGUELLO'S (FAKE) HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.) 

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Kiko Argüello claims he’s taking us back to the "roots" of the Early Church, but he dug so deep he struck a pipeline of pure heresy. Under the guise of historical renewal, he hasn't just distorted Church history; he's swapped the actual Catholic Catechism for his own theological fan-fiction. At its core is a blazing streak of Neo-Pelagianism—the arrogant idea of Kiko that salvation isn't a free gift of God’s grace, but, a prize you "earn" by relentlessly grinding through his exhausting, multi-decade endless series of "steps."

True Baptism unites us in humility with a broken humanity. The NCW’s version, however, functions like an exclusive spiritual country club, breeding an insufferable, cloistered self-righteousness.

When the root is this rotten, the whole tree is diseased. Just look at the toxic fruit they drop into parishes worldwide: parallel, sit-down dinner-party liturgies; bizarre public "scrutinies" that resemble psychological abuse sessions; and a Gnostic culture of absolute secrecy.

How does the Vatican's doctrinal watchdog (the DDF) remain blissfully blind to this parallel church? Just follow the money. The NCW famously passes the "trash bag" for massive tithes, ensuring generous cuts flow directly to Diocesan Bishops and compliant Cardinals. It turns out the greatest "miracle" of the Neocatechumenal Way isn't spiritual renewal—it’s the sudden, profound theological blindness that strikes a bishop when a heavy envelope lands on his desk.

RODNEY: "RETURN TO THE TRUE ORDO AMORIS"

By Rodney

(From his comment on THOSE TROUBLESOME LAY PEOPLE)

"The hierarchy stages "environmental liturgies" while remaining spectacularly blind to the moral rot in its own house." - Rodney 

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For centuries, the Catholic Church ran on St. Augustine’s logical blueprint: the Ordo Amoris (the order of love). At the top sat the Supernatural (God and salvation), next the Spiritual and then the Intellectual, down to the basement: the Material.

But keeping your eyes on heaven makes for terrible secular PR. When Paul VI issued Humanae Vitae in 1968 to uphold spiritual law, progressive bishops threw a continental tantrum. Today, that same hierarchy plays docile lapdog to the "Synodal Church," demanding blind obedience to endless, aggressively vague meetings.

Welcome to the Great Inversion—a masterclass in institutional hypocrisy where the lowest rung (the material) is now supreme dogma. The hierarchy stages "environmental liturgies" while remaining spectacularly blind to the moral rot in its own house. They spent decades ignoring horrific abuses in their seminaries, turning a comfortable blind eye from Fr. Maciel’s empire to problematic dynamics in the Neocatechumenal Way.

When it comes to the Mass, Orwellian doublespeak reaches peak performance. Rome rubber-stamps clown masses and liturgical free-for-alls, yet crashes the hammer on traditionalists desiring an ancient, reverent liturgy. Restricting the TLM is not "pastoral care"; it is the clinical suffocation of moral freedom.

To cap off the inversion, intellectual values have been entirely dynamited. Doctrinal clarity is replaced by weaponized ambiguity from Cardinal Fernández at the DDF—a man whose credentials include publishing notoriously explicit books before landing Christendom’s top doctrinal job.

Terrified of secular irrelevance, the modern Vatican bureaucracy sold out the salvation of souls for financial security and worldly survival. They flipped the ladder upside down and now wonder why everyone is falling off.

Thankfully, the laity are waking up. The lay people of Guam put their Post-Baptismal responsibilities into action. By successfully pushing out Vatican enforcers like Cardinal Filoni and Bishop Hon, Guam’s faithful forced the establishment to right-side the hierarchy of values. It is high time the rest of the Catholic world took notes. The global faithful must stop playing docile second fiddle to whatever fashionable nonsense rolls out of Rome and demand a return to the true Ordo Amoris.

A POINT OF FACT

By Tim Rohr

Today, I came across a copy of a letter from the law office of Cunliffe and Cook (signed by Atty. Jeffrey Cook) to Atty. David Lujan. 

The letter, dated August 4, 2016, informs Atty. Lujan that Cunliffe and Cook have been retained as legal counsel "for the Archdiocese of Agana" in the matter of Roy T. Quintanilla et al. vs. Archbishop of Agana et al., Civil Action No.: CV0552-16.

Cunliffe and Cook argue that they represent only the Archdiocese of Agana, not Anthony Sablan Apuron.  

As a point of fact, legally there is no such thing as the "Archdiocese of Agana." There is only "Roman Catholic Archbishop of Agana," which, of course, is a person, and that person is (was) Anthony Sablan Apuron.

The proper name is noted in the Guam District Court's docket:

Cunliffe and Cook, nor any other church lawyer(s), never represented the Archdiocese of Agana. At all times, legal counsel for the "archdiocese" represented a person: the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Agana. 

This is also why the current archbishop should never permit any letter, notice, press release, circular, aviso, etc., to be printed, published, or sent with merely the words "Archdiocese of Agana" as the author, sender, whatever - something that is commonly done.

There is only "Roman Catholic Archbishop of Agana." And he has a name. Use it.

WHAT HAPPENED TO FILONI AND HON?

In the post THOSE TROUBLESOME LAY PEOPLE, I ended with the following: 

P.S. Getting tangled up with "those troublesome lay people" in Agana was not good for either of their (Filoni and Hon) careers. Both were removed from Rome after the Apuron thing blew up. 

Anonymous then left this comment:

Pretty sure that Pope Francis's removal of Filini (sic: Filoni) and Hon from the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples had more to do with their objections to Pope Francis's secret deal with China.

The use of the "s" in the spelling of Evangelisation (rather than the "American" spelling with a "z") suggests the commenter is probably European and may even be personally familiar with the situation he references. 

Filoni

In the case of Filoni, I would be inclined to agree with the commenter that the Pope's removal of Filoni from his position as Prefect of said Congregation was probably due more to his objections to Francis' China policy than to his role in the screw-up by Hon in Guam. The dates certainly reflect this:

Francis' China policy was signed September 22, 2018. Filoni was removed on December 8, 2019.

Hon

However, Hon was removed as Secretary of the same Congregation on September 28, 2017, one year before the China policy was signed. Hon had been an outspoken critic of the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, with whom Francis would later make a deal, since 2011. But the timing of Hon's removal points more to his screw-up in Guam. Here's why:

Hon served as the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Agana, Guam, from June 6, 2016, until October 31, 2016. During that time, Hon incurred what is probably one of the largest black marks on his record a cleric of his stature could ever incur: through both his actions and inaction, Hon created the hostile environment that led to the legislation that opened the door to the bankruptcy of the Archdiocese of Agana.

While we'd like to think that clergy sex abuse and the covering it up - which is what Hon appeared to initially try to do - would be bigger black marks. Sadly, that's not the case. In fact, it was Apuron's mishandling of the RMS property, not the "mishandling" of altar boys, which initially caused the Vatican to take notice of what was going on in Guam. 

Stupid islanders

How Public Law 33-187 became law and how Hon caused it to happen will probably be a very lengthy chapter in my upcoming book about the entire mess. But the bottom line is that Hon took us - as Attorney David Lujan said - for "stupid islanders."

It is obvious that Hon's policy is designed to have the confessor brainwash the victims into believing, as modern-day counselors would say, that it was the victims' fault that the pedophile molester abused them, and to deal with this matter in-house. Hon needs to awaken from his Rip Van Winkle sleep to see that things are not done this way in the 21st century; rather, the Defendant is hauled into court to face his accusers for the entire island to see and hear. Furthermore, please inform your Client we are not stupid islanders! - Atty. David Lujan letter to Atty. John Terlaje, July 14, 2016.

Hon's attitude set off a firestorm, and it might have remained nothing but a firestorm, but for a man named Bob Klitzkie. With the Concerned Catholics of Guam, Klitzkie responded to Hon's insult with a strategy that led to the formation of an organization named SILENT NO MORE, which led to the introduction of legislation (by Sen. Frank Blas, Jr.) to lift the civil statute of limitations on sex crimes against minors. 

Blas' bill permitted civil suits against perpetrators, but not against the institutions for which those perpetrators worked or operated. After Hon "sniffed" at the bill, Klitzkie, a former lawmaker, pro tem judge, and attorney, flexed his lawmaking muscles and worked with key figures in the Guam Legislature to amend it to include institutional liability.

Hon panics

After two days of dramatic, tearful, horrific, and grueling public testimony, the bill passed the legislature unanimously. Hon panicked and tried to orchestrate a petition campaign at every Mass to stop then-Governor Calvo from signing it into law. 

Hon's campaign didn't work, and three years later, after hundreds of lawsuits, the new Archbishop of Agana, Michael Byrnes, declared bankruptcy. 

According to Wikipedia, the following happened after Hon returned to Rome:

• On 28 September 2017, Pope Francis named him Apostolic Nuncio to Greece,[12] his first position in the diplomatic service.
• On 24 October 2022, Pope Francis named him Apostolic Nuncio to Malta.
• On 18 May 2023, he was also named as nuncio to Libya.
• On 2 February 2026, Pope Leo XIV accepted his resignation upon reaching the age limit.

Interestingly, Filoni, upon being removed from leadership of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, was appointed  Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher.

I say "interestingly," because it is an Order of which I am a member, albeit not in good standing. In 2013, Filoni's predecessor threatened me to lay off Apuron. I threatened back and decided not to be active in an organization whose leader covered for sex criminals, and according to Archbishop Vigano, as well as Fr. Gene Gomulka, a former military chaplain, may be one himself.

LUJAN: "HON NEEDS TO AWAKEN FROM HIS RIP VAN WINKLE SLEEP"

By Tim Rohr

Since we are on the topic of Archbishop Hon after he took over for Apuron in 2016, here is an interesting (and entertaining) letter between two attorneys: David Lujan for Apuron's victims and John Terlaje (now Judge Terlaje) for the Archdiocese of Agana (aka Apuron). A copy of the original is here.

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LUJAN & WOLFF LLP 

ATTORNEYS AT LAW 

July 14, 2016 

John C. Terlaje, Esq., 
2nd Floor Suite 216 
194 Herman Cortes Avenue 
Hagatna, Guam 96910 

RE: July 8, 2016 Letter 

John, 

This responds to your letter above regarding certain points you raise. 

First, what policies and procedures is the Archdiocese following whenever sexual allegations against a sitting Archbishop is made? It would enhance your Client's credibility, and his agents', if he would provide me with a copy so I can follow along with the claim that it is being followed. In other words, the time for abstraction has passed, and it is time for your Client to deal with reality. 

Second, while it is true that the responses made by Apuron and Edivaldo were made before Hon's appointment as the Apostolic Administrator, I believe it is fair to assume that the statements are now Hon's since he refused to retract said statements.

Third, the statements of Apuron and Edivaldo were made on May 13 and May 31, 2016, respectively.. You state Hon is currently reviewing all statements that may have mentioned my Clients. It has been over a month since Hon began reviewing the two (2) statements. Perhaps Hon's time would be better spent taking a speed-reading class so he can finish reviewing said statements this year. 

Fourth, please provide me with a Stamp Receipt copy by Rome that all documents containing my Clients' allegations have been received, then my Clients can rest assured that your statement is true. 

Fifth, that Hon would tout his appointment of Fr. Castro as the contact person to deal with victims, in addition to offering spiritual counseling and guidance, and that all confessions will be confidential between the confessor and penitents, is simply astounding. Hon's policy is akin to asking the victims to come to the molester's house, hat in hand, to be advised by the molester's family, is not only feudal but with a tinge of a Spanish inquisition flavor. It is obvious that Hon's policy is designed to have the confessor brainwash the victims into believing, as modern-day counselors would say, that it was the victims' fault that the pedophile molester abused them, and to deal with this matter in-house. Hon needs to awaken from his Rip Van Winkle sleep to see that things are not done this way in the 21st century; rather, the Defendant is hauled into court to face his accusers for the entire island to see and hear. Furthermore, please inform your Client we are not stupid islanders! 

Sixth, while not in your letter, a July 12, 2016 PDN article states that Hon replaced Deacon Claros with Deacon Leonard "Len" Stohr as the Sexual Abuse Response Coordinator (SARC). Would I be correct in concluding that Hon fired Claros? Further, if Stohr is the coordinator, what is Fr. Castro's real role and what are his qualifications in this sordid affair? By these changes in this abbreviated time frame, Hon is imitating Goldilocks as she tries 3 different porridges and beds. 

The events of the past few weeks have demonstrated Hon's contempt for the truth fact-finding mission whether the victims are, in fact, being truthful. He continues to refuse to meet with them; to embrace them; to offer prayers for them; or, simply to acknowledge their pain. Instead, he preaches neutrality and healing for both the molested and molestor as if they are equals. Hon needs to remove his red conical looking hat which he wears as if he were a peacemaker. He must realize that red denotes danger. He needs to cease cloistering himself at the Chancery, that den of inequities as stated in the Bible, surrounded by the Old Guards that protected Apuron's sexual molestations from coming to light. From one seasoned lawver to another, please advise Hon. and his Gang, cease the hypocrisy.

John, please ask Hon the following questions: 

• Has Apuron confessed his sins to Fr. Castro and obtained spiritual counseling and guidance that Hon offers to the victims? 
• Where are you hiding Apuron? 
• Don't Hon and Apuron understand that flight and sequestration are signs of guilt, as is a popular saying in criminal law? 
• Has Hon concluded that Apuron is, in fact, guilty? 
• If not, perhaps you should counsel him that the facts are simply overwhelming!

In closing, thank you for your letter (which I suspect was written by Apuron's, and now, Hon's confidants). I look forward to further exchanges so that the truth may come to light. 

Sincerely, 

DAVID J. LUJAN 

cc: Roy Quintanilla 

Walter Denton 

Roland Sondia 

Doris Concepcion 

THOSE TROUBLESOME LAY PEOPLE

By Tim Rohr

Let's take a look at Archbishop Krebs' letter to Apuron of Sep. 30, 2016. There is a lot more to this letter than meets the eye. 

First, some background:

Apuron fled Guam sometime between May 17, 2016, when Roy Quintanilla made his accusation, and May 25, 2016, when a Vatican photographer found him at St. Peter's, apparently begging Pope Francis for help.

On June 6, 2016, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Savio HON TAI-FAI Apostolic Administrator for the Archdiocese of Agana. The appointment was sede plena, which means "the seat is filled," indicating that Apuron remained Archbishop in name.

At the time, Hon served as Secretary to the Vatican's Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Hon's boss was Cardinal Fernando Filoni, who served as Prefect of the Congregation.

Hon had previously visited Guam in January 2015 as a "Visitator," the modern equivalent of an Inquisitor. Hon was tasked with looking into what all the ruckus in Agana was about, which at the time included the Fr. Paul thing, the Msgr. James thing, the Fr. John Wadeson thing, the John Toves thing, and the beginning of the RMS thing.

I remember feeling relieved that Rome was finally paying attention. However, it soon became clear to those of us who personally met with Hon in January 2015 (including me) that Hon was not here to fix things but to shut down the lay uprising against Apuron and the Neocats. His boss, Filoni, was already a known Neocat sympathizer, if not a closet Neo himself.

So we didn't trust Hon when he showed up a year and a half later in June 2016 as the Vatican-appointed administrator. And we were right not to trust him. 

On June 9, 2016, at St. Anthony's church in Tamuning, Hon, addressing the clergy and laity of the diocese, changed the script. According to our inside intel, Hon was supposed to assure us he would coordinate the investigation into the sex abuse allegations against Apuron - the thing that caused Apuron to flee. 

Instead, under a thinly disguised speech about "unity," he functionally chastised us for creating "disunity." Once again, Hon was here to put down the uprising. And given that Filoni was his Neocat boss, this was no surprise.

I was in the audience that day, and I saw the look on Archbishop Krebs' face as Hon went off script. It was pained. Krebs had been working for at least two years to address the exploding issues in Apuron's diocese, a diocese which had just been rocked with the horrific allegations from Roy Quintanilla, and then Walter Denton, who, coincidentally, had come forward with his graphic account of his being raped by Apuron as a twelve-year-old altar boy, one day after (June 7, 2016) Hon's appointment to Guam. (Roland Sondia hadn't come forward yet.)

It was immediately clear that Hon was acting on orders from Filoni - the Neocat's buddy in Rome - to put down the lay uprising in Guam. Krebs' face was pained because he knew what Hon was up against, and he knew that Hon didn't. 

Hon was up against the most organized and determined group of lay people in the entire Catholic world, and we were about to make his life HELL.

We did.

Here is Kreb's letter to Apuron with my comments in red.

+++++

30th September 2016 

The first thing to note is the date, 9/30/16. The date of Apuron's letter to Filoni is 7/23/26. Nearly two months to reply. Yes, things move slowly in Rome. However, when you read Krebs's letter, it's easy to see that the reason for denying Apuron's demand (to discipline Hon) was very simple and did not require deliberation. (I'll get to the reason when we get to it.) The time required to formulate the response suggests there must have been a heated argument between Krebs and the Neocats: Filoni, Hon, and the Neocats Brass. 

Your Excellency, 

At the request of His Eminence Card. Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, I have the honour to inform you of the following decision. 

I can see Archbishop Krebs smiling to himself when he wrote: "I have the honour..."  "Honour" (Honor) would have been the word to use in a congratulatory letter. But this was a DENIAL, even a slap down. And Krebs said he had "the honour" of delivering it. Well, given what Krebs had been through the last few years with Apuron and the Neocats and the mess they created, I am quite sure that, for Krebs, it was INDEED an HONOUR. 

On 28th July 2016, the Congregation has received a hierarchical recourse "against the actions of the Apostolic Administrator sede plena, Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai, SDB, which have interfered with matters concerning the Bishop, in accord with the norms of CC. 1732 ff". As sender of the recourse was indicated the address of the Archdiocese of Agaña. 

Krebs seems to go out of his way here to mention that the "sender" (Apuron) used "the address of the Archdiocese of Agana." There was really no reason for Krebs to say this, other than to further poke Apuron, given that Apuron had abandoned the Archdiocese of Agana the previous May and had taken refuge, probably first in Rome, and then, by then, at the Neocat base in New Jersey. Krebs appeared to want to tell Apuron that he (and everybody else) knew Apuron was no longer residing in the Archdiocese of Agana. 

Now Cardinal Filoni communicates that the recourse has been attentively examined but cannot be accepted, because the Apostolic Administrator has been appointed "per mandatum speciale Summi Pontificis", and therefore in the name of the Holy Father, against Whose decision there is no recourse (can. 1404 : "Prima Sedes a nemine iudicatur"). Moreover, the Decree of appointment has attributed to the Apostolic Administrator in the same ecclesiastical circumscription "omnes facultates ad administrationem et gubernionem pastoralem eiusdem Archidiocesis spectantes, sine ulla exceptione". Consequently, the Apostolic Administrator "replaces" the Archbishop "in omnibus", until the Holy See decides otherwise. On 12th August 2016, Cardinal Filoni has personally informed the Holy Father of the hierarchical recourse, and His Holiness has taken note of what is presented above. 

Apuron's demand that Filoni discipline Hon is denied because it was the Pope himself who appointed Hon, not Filoni. And, as Krebs lays out, there is no recourse against the Holy Father. Moreover, Krebs points out that Hon's authority is "in omnibus," meaning, "in everything." 

With every best wish and kind regards, I am 

Yours sincerely in the Lord 

+ M. Kum 

+Martin Krebs Apostolic Delegate 

The letter as a whole functionally memorializes a major turn of events. Two months earlier, Hon was so clearly on the side of the Neocats that we (the lay uprising) had added Hon's name to our pickets against Apuron. 

The public pressure we (the lay uprising) put on Hon forced him to take certain actions against Apuron (detailed in Apuron's letter), which prompted Apuron to protest to Filoni. Apuron's protest to Filoni was probably what flipped Hon's switch and led him to side with Krebs, resulting in the decision to deny Apuron's demand for recourse. 

Apuron, as a bishop, should have known that Hon's appointment to Guam was made by the pope. In fact, I am sure that he did. So why did he write such a stupid letter? There's only ever one answer when things don't make any sense: The Neocats. 

The Neocats were (and still are) so sure of their power in Rome, especially since they had Filoni in their pocket. Filoni was so powerful at the time that he was known as The Red Pope (a cardinal who was just as powerful as the pope). So, it's easy to see how the Neocats believed they could get Filoni to back Apuron and shut down Hon. 

And he probably would have, but for one thing: those troublesome lay people in the streets of Agana.

P.S. Getting tangled up with "those troublesome lay people" in Agana was not good for either of their (Filoni and Hon) careers. Both were removed from Rome after the Apuron thing blew up. 

OUR "SYNODAL" JOURNEY

"We need to seek ways of walking together in our Synodal journey as one people of God." 

- Archbishop Ryan Jimenez, Pastoral Letter, August 15, 2016

THE USE OF EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS IS NOT TO BE HABITUAL

By Tim Rohr

A few days ago, a commenter inquired why the "ministers" in Dededo wear "white gowns like the priest."  I assume the commenter was referring to those persons who are properly called "Extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist," and the "white gowns" are albs.

If Guam were part of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the answer would be yes.

GIRM 339 In the Dioceses of the United States of America, acolytes, altar servers, readers, and other lay ministers may wear the alb or other appropriate and dignified clothing.

However, Guam is not part of the USCCB. Guam belongs to the Episcopal Conference of the Pacific (CEPAC), of which, by the way, Archbishop Jimenez is the sitting president. 

So, given that the instruction GIRM 339 is specific to "Dioceses in the United States of America," and Guam's Catholic Church is NOT a diocese in the USA, the question is: what is the policy for dioceses within CEPAC? 

Archbishop Jimenez, as the current president of CEPAC, is in a good position to answer this, but don't expect one. He probably never thought of it before. Guam (and the rest of the Marianas) usually just defaults to whatever the USCCB is doing - when it is convenient. 

Meanwhile, however, there is an instruction that applies to this question which is not specific to a certain geographic region, but applies to the entire Church, and it's not about whether this or that person may wear an alb, but when in fact these "ministers," the Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, may be employed.

The instruction is titled: 

ON CERTAIN QUESTIONS REGARDING THE COLLABORATION OF THE NON-ORDAINED FAITHFUL IN THE SACRED MINISTRY OF PRIEST

The Instruction was promulgated by multiple Vatican Congregations in 1997.

The specific instruction regarding the use of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion is as follows (empahses added):

Article 8

The Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion

The non-ordained faithful already collaborate with the sacred ministers in diverse pastoral situations since "This wonderful gift of the Eucharist, which is the greatest gift of all, demands that such an important mystery should be increasingly better known and its saving power more fully shared".(95)

Such liturgical service is a response to the objective needs of the faithful especially those of the sick and to those liturgical assemblies in which there are particularly large numbers of the faithful who wish to receive Holy Communion.

§ 1. The canonical discipline concerning extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion must be correctly applied so as to avoid generating confusion. The same discipline establishes that the ordinary minister of Holy Communion is the Bishop, the Priest and the the Deacon.(96) Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are those instituted as acolytes and the faithful so deputed in accordance with Canon 230, § 3.(97)

A non-ordained member of the faithful, in cases of true necessity, may be deputed by the diocesan bishop, using the appropriate form of blessing for this situation, to act as an extraordinary minister to distribute Holy Communion outside of liturgical celebrations ad actum vel ad tempus or for a more stable period. In exceptional cases or in unforeseen circumstances, the priest presiding at the liturgy may authorize such ad actum.(98)

§ 2. Extraordinary ministers may distribute Holy Communion at eucharistic celebrations only when there are no ordained ministers present or when those ordained ministers present at a liturgical celebration are truly unable to distribute Holy Communion.(99) They may also exercise this function at eucharistic celebrations where there are particularly large numbers of the faithful and which would be excessively prolonged because of an insufficient number of ordained ministers to distribute Holy Communion. (100)

This function is supplementary and extraordinary (101) and must be exercised in accordance with the norm of law. It is thus useful for the diocesan bishop to issue particular norms concerning extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion which, in complete harmony with the universal law of the Church, should regulate the exercise of this function in his diocese. Such norms should provide, amongst other things, for matters such as the instruction in eucharistic doctrine of those chosen to be extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, the meaning of the service they provide, the rubrics to be observed, the reverence to be shown for such an august Sacrament and instruction concerning the discipline on admission to Holy Communion.

To avoid creating confusion, certain practices are to be avoided and eliminated where such have emerged in particular Churches:

— extraordinary ministers receiving Holy Communion apart from the other faithful as though concelebrants;

— association with the renewal of promises made by priests at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, as well as other categories of faithful who renew religious vows or receive a mandate as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion;

— the habitual use of extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at Mass thus arbitrarily extending the concept of "a great number of the faithful".

+++++

The above hardly needs commentary. The last sentence should suffice. The use of extraordinary ministers is NOT to be "habitual."

KIKO ARGUELLO'S (FAKE) HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

 By Chuck White

ROME RESPONDS...TO APURON

By Tim Rohr

In "AND HE'S LYING STILL" (Sep. 10, 20206), we saw a letter from Apuron addressed to Cardinal Filoni demanding that Filoni take action against Archbishop Hon. The letter was dated July 23, 2016.

On Sep. 30, 2016, Filoni answered Apuron through Archbishop Krebs, the Apostolic Nuncio at the time. There is much to say about this answer, but I will save the comments for another post. Here is the reply from Filoni. (emphases added)

30th September 2016 

Your Excellency, 

At the request of His Eminence Card. Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, I have the honour to inform you of the following decision. 

On 28th July 2016, the Congregation has received a hierarchical recourse "against the actions of the Apostolic Administrator sede plena, Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai, SDB, which have interfered with matters concerning the Bishop, in accord with the norms of CC. 1732 ff". As sender of the recourse was indicated the address of the Archdiocese of Agaña. 

Now Cardinal Filoni communicates that the recourse has been attentively examined but cannot be accepted, because the Apostolic Administrator has been appointed "per mandatum speciale Summi Pontificis", and therefore in the name of the Holy Father, against Whose decision there is no recourse (can. 1404 : "Prima Sedes a nemine iudicatur"). Moreover, the Decree of appointment has attributed to the Apostolic Administrator in the same ecclesiastical circumscription "omnes facultates ad administrationem et gubernionem pastoralem eiusdem Archidiocesis spectantes, sine ulla exceptione". Consequently, the Apostolic Administrator "replaces" the Archbishop "in omnibus", until the Holy See decides otherwise. On 12th August 2016, Cardinal Filoni has personally informed the Holy Father of the hierarchical recourse, and His Holiness has taken note of what is presented above. 

With every best wish and kind regards, I am 

Yours sincerely in the Lord 

+ M. Kum 

+Martin Krebs Apostolic Delegate 

LINK TO COPY OF ORIGINAL LETTER

LIPSTICK ON A PIG?

By Tim Rohr

It's unfortunate, but the reality is that we, the Catholics in the Archdiocese of Agana, Guam, must always question everything our church leadership says and does. And we must do this because not doing this has cost us millions and millions of dollars, many ancestral properties, and, most importantly, countless lost souls. 

For decades, many of our clergy, at the highest levels, lied to us, deceived us, misled us, and stole from us while raping our children, our church, and our bank accounts, leaving us with the bill of ruined children and a bankrupt church. 

Sorry to be so negative, but not really. I was personally persecuted by Apuron's mob for daring to be the face of what everyone knew for decades. I paid a heavy price for speaking the truth, and my children are still paying it.

So, I am going to question everything, including this:

Archdiocese announces efforts toward canonization of San Vitores

LINK

This was announced on September 10, 2026. The timing of the announcement leaves us only two options for what to think:

1. The removal of Blessed Diego's relics on Sep. 1, 2026,  from the Cathedral to the church in Tumon was for the purpose as set forth in the Sep. 10, 2026 announcement, in which case, our current church leadership is simply negligent and very poor planners, given that the relocation of the relics occurred with great media fanfare but no context such as the present announcement would have provided, making the "efforts toward canonization" appear as an afterthought.

Or:

2. Our church leadership became rattled after the otherwise sudden, unannounced, and rather disrespectful, if not physically harmful (to the relics), relocation of the relics was called out on JungleWatch on September 2, the day after the move, and, in which case, they are now scrambling to put lipstick on a pig.

It's quite sad when the only charitable option is to surmise that the real reason is neglect and poor planning - especially given that we are talking about the man who brought Catholicism to Guam, and then died for it.

The following is the text of the announcement:

---

Circular No. 2026-31

To: Clergy, Religious and People of the Archdiocese of Agana

From: Very Reverend Fr. Paul A.M. Gofigan, Vicar General    

Cc: Archbishop Ryan P. Jimenez

 Rev. Fr. Junee Valencia, Parochial Vicar / Blessed Diego Parish

Date: September 10, 2026

Re: Movement for the Canonization of Blessed Diego

Luis de San Vitores

---

Pax et Bonum 

The Archdiocese of Agana is undertaking an important effort toward the canonization of Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores, the Jesuit missionary and martyr of Guam. As we move forward, various events and activities will be planned to promote greater awareness, prayer, and devotion to Blessed Diego throughout the Archdiocese.

As we continue toward canonization, one of the most important things that must be demonstrated and documented is a genuine, active, and widespread devotion to Blessed Diego among the faithful, together with the Church’s required canonical process.

For this reason, devotion to Blessed Diego is not simply encouraged; it is an essential part of this effort.

His Grace, Archbishop Ryan P. Jimenez, has appointed Rev. Fr. Junee Valencia, Parochial Administrator of Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores Church in Tumon, to lead this movement. A committee has been formed to help foster a renewed devotion to Blessed Diego and to provide opportunities for the faithful to learn about his life, missionary zeal, and martyrdom.

On Tuesday, September 1, 2026, several significant items associated with Blessed Diego were transferred to Blessed Diego Church in Tumon: his cassock, the machete traditionally associated with his martyrdom, a painting of Blessed Diego, and a historical letter written by him. These items now provide the faithful with a special opportunity for prayer and public veneration.

The faithful are warmly invited to come and pray before these sacred relics associated with Blessed Diego.

Public Veneration:

Weekdays, except Thursdays - 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Also available after weekday Masses

In the months ahead, educational and devotional initiatives will be developed for parishes. Parishes will be encouraged to incorporate prayers and a novena to Blessed Diego into their parish life. All parishes are requested to pray the Prayer for the Intercession of Blessed Diego (see below)  at all Masses, and the faithful are encouraged to pray this prayer both communally and privately.

Our hope is that, through a renewed and widespread devotion to Blessed Diego, his memory and intercession will become increasingly present in the spiritual life of our people. We pray that this devotion will support the canonical requirements necessary for his eventual canonization and for Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores to be proclaimed a Saint of the Universal Church. 

God willing, Blessed Diego Church may one day be designated as an official shrine through the proper process with the Holy See.

His Grace, Archbishop Ryan P. Jimenez, Rev. Fr. Junee Valencia, the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission, and the committee are grateful for the prayers and support of the faithful and are committed to promoting this cause.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

---

PRAYER FOR THE INTERCESSION

OF BLESSED DIEGO LUIS DE SAN VITORES

God of Mercy and Love, 

through the preaching of Your martyr Blessed Diego,

You brought the good news of Christ to the people of the Marianas, who had not known him.

By his prayers help us to endure all suffering for love of You and to seek You with all our hearts, for You alone are the source of life.

We ask this through Your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever.

 Amen.

(Pause now and ask Blessed Diego for your request) 

Our Father … / Hail Mary … / Glory be …

Blessed Diego … Pray for us.