Sunday, September 4, 2011

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St. Ambrose of Milan

TO K E N O F FA I T H

VO L . 6 5 N O. 0 3 6The Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Where there is Peter, there is the Church; where there is the Church, there is eternal life.

Complete Parish Mass and Confes-

sion Schedule Page 11

Secular Franciscans Welcome New

Members Page 14

Guam’s Troubling Population Decline

Page 6ARCHBISHOP KNIGHTED IN MANILA

Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron, OFM Cap., DD, receives the cape and medal denoting his knighhood in the Eques-trian Order of the Knights fo the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem from His Eminence, Gaudencio Cardinal B. Rosales, D.D., Archbishop of Manila and Grand Prior of the Manila Lieutenancy of the Order.

Pastoral Letter from the ArchbishopIn anticipation of the adoption of the 3rd Edition of the Roman Missal, Archbishop Anthony Sa-blan Apuron, OFM, Cap., DD, promulagated the following letter to the Catholic faithful of the Archdiocese of Agana.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, As many of you are aware, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments at the Vatican has approved revisions in the English translation of The Roman Missal, the liturgical book that contains all the texts and instructions necessary for the celebration of Mass. These revisions will soon go into effect in the Archdiocese of Agana and throughout the world on the First Sunday of Advent, which this year falls on November 27, 2011. The older edition of the Missal that is being replaced was issued four decades ago and represents an effort after the Second Vatican Council to provide an English transla-tion that was suited to life of the Church at the time. However, the Church in its wisdom has seen that the time has come to revise the older translation in the spirit of liturgical renewal and for clarity of meaning. To promote this, Blessed John Paul II issued the third edition of The Roman Missal in 2000, and after its publication two years later, the Church began the work of transla-tion. This revised translation is based on a more literal reading of the original Latin text, which is intended both to make the liturgy more fully consistent with the liturgical tradi-tion of the Church as well as provide an opportunity for spiritual renewal and growth. The revision of The Roman Missal will be most noticeable for most of us in the subtle changes in the wording of some liturgical prayers, such as the Gloria (“Glory to God in the highest…”), the Creed, and the Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy…”). In addition, certain acclamations will also be more faithful to the Latin, as will be noticed in our responses after “The Lord be with you” as well as in the “Lord, I am not worthy.” In addition, the musical settings for the parts of the Mass will be updated to reflect these changes in wording. Although some of these changes may be confusing at first for some, I look forward to this revision of the Roman Missal and to praying the Mass with you. Besides provid-ing a liturgy more in keeping with that of previous generations, these renewed texts will

Please see “LETTER,” page 2

On August 29, 2011, in the private chapel of the residence of the Cardinal Archbishop of Manila, Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron, OFM, Cap., D.D. was invested with knighthood in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem and appointed a Grand Prior of the Order. The Archbishop was installed by the Vatican to the Order as “Knight Commander with Star” on May 26, 2011, the Archbishop’s knighthood was conducted in Manila by His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal B. Rosales,D.D., Cardinal Archbishop of Manila and Grand Prior of the Manila Lieutenancy. Also in attendance were Most Reverend Bishop Luis Antonio “Chito” G. Tagle, D.D., S.T.D., KHS; Peter Moran and his son Enrique Moran, who are personal friends of Archbishop Apuron; and Very Reverend Monsignor James L.G. Benavente, KHS.The appointment of Archbishop Apuron’s as the   “Grand Prior of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Speulcher of Jerusalem Magistral Delegation of Guam” is a significant and historic step for the Order in Guam. The Magistral Delegation of Guam will establish the first Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem Guam Lieutenancy in the coming months. Archbishop Anthony will now join the ranks of those entrusted to seek the support of humanitarian needs of Christians living in the Holy Land. Together with other clergy members, business leaders, and lay members, it is the responsibility of the Order’s members to promote the Holy Father’s mission in places like Jordan, Cyprus,

Please see “Knight,” page 10

2 3Sunday, September 4, 2011 SUNDAY GOSPEL & REFLECTIONSunday, September 4, 2011ARCHDIOCESAN

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Sisters and Brothers: Today’s gospel beautifully cap-tures how prudently one must handle the task of winning back a brother who has gone astray. The first step is to do it privately. Thus may one protect the sinner’s honor and maintain familial ties that characterize the church. If this brother heeds the admonition, the corrector rejoices that a member of the family has been won back for the church and for God.

If he rejects the attempt to set him back on the right path, then the corrector must proceed with the next step which is based on the rule that “one witness alone shall not take the stand against a man with regard to any crime or any offense of which he may be guilty.” (Dt. 19:15)

‘If this does not work either, then the matter must be brought before the members of the community. The brother’s wrongdoing now becomes the problem of the community. Prayer and action are now a responsibility shared by all the brothers and sisters. Each one is called to try to draw back this brother into the fold.

A concerted effort is needed to preserve the uni-ty of the group. Feeling their loving concern, the erring brother is inspired to mend his ways. If this fails, everyone must pray for patience and continue striving to draw him back. When a brother strays, sadness and pain visit us.

But we are consoled and strengthened by the Lord’s promise that he is with us whenever we try to win back an erring brother through our prayer and our car-ing ways. By sharing such a responsibility, we widen the scope of discipleship.

We proclaim with our very lives that Jesus is with us as we face this delicate challenge of Christian disciple-ship.

May your day be filled with love and may Almighty God bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Refleksion Ibangheliu ginen Atsubispo

Mane’lu-hu, i Ibangheliu sen buhnitu ha fa’nu’i hit hafa para ta cho’gue para ta ganna tatte un che’lu ni umabak. I fine’na para ta cho’gue i para ta akunsehu gue’ guiya ha na maisa. Ginen este sina ta prutehi i onran i na’an i umisao ya ta sustieni i ta payuni na ministru ni patten i gima’yu’os. Yanggen este na che’lu ha ekungok i inakunsehu, i mangoririhi mumagof na i miembron i familiha ma ganna tatte para i gima’yu’os yan para si Yu’os. Lao yanggen ti malagu ha aksepta i para umabira gue’ tatte gi dinanche na cha-lan, pues i mangoririhi u cho’gue i sigundo na planu ni sigun i reklamento na “un testigu ha’ ti sina tumohge’ kontra un taotao put hafa na baban bida-na pat isao-na ni sina muna’ matanchu na umisao gue’.” Yanggen ni este ti sina macho’cho’, pues u machule’ i kausa guatu gi miembron i kuminidat. I isao i che’lu pa’go mama’prupbleman i kuminidat. I tinayuyot yan aksion responsibilidat annai manasaonao todu i mane’lu. Kada unu u machagi umagang tatte este na che’lu para i kuminidat. Un dinana manisisita para u masustieni i umunun i grupu. Yanggen ha siente i guaiyayon na ma’adahi-na, i lachi na che’lu siempre iniga para u tulaika i linachi-na. Yanggen ni este ti sina, pues todu u fanmanayuyot para pinsiensia yan umakuntinuha para u ma’uga gue’ tatte. Yanggen umabak un che’lu, i triniste yan pininiti ha bisita hit. Lao manmakunsuesuela hit yan mana’fanmemetgot hit ni prinimeten i Saina na gaige gue’ entre hita yanggen ta chachagi gumanna tatte i lalachi na che’lu ginen i tinayuyot-ta yan i inadahi-ta. Gi manappatten i responsibilitdat, ta na’ la’anchu i che’cho’-ta ni mandisipulu. Ta pruklama ni mimso lina’la’-ta na si Jesu Kristo manhihita ha’ mientras ta fafana’ este na dilikao inigan i para tafanmama’disipulun Jesu Kristo. Ohalara mohon ya u bula guinaiya i ha’anen-miyu ya i todu hana’sina na Yu’os infambinendisi gi na’an i Tata yan i Lahi-na yan i Espiritu Santo. Amen.

IBANGHELIU (MATEO 18:15-20) Ilek-na si Jesus nu i mandisipulu-na: “Yanggen inisague hao ni che’lu-mu, falak guatu ya un fa’nu’i gue’ ni linachi-na, lao cha’-mu e’esangani otro. Yanggen inekungok hao pues un ganna i korason i che’lu-mu. Lao yanggen sia’kasu na ti inekun-gok hao, fangonne’ otro, kosaki fino’ dos pat tres u tachu yan u testiguyi kada kausa. Yanggen ti maninekungok siha rifieri i kausa guatu gi gima’yu’os. Yanggen ni i gima’yu’os ti ha ekungok pues trata gue’ komu paganu pat taotao kontribusion. Bai asigura hamyo na maesha hafa in pro-hibi gi tano’ u maprohibi gi langet, yan maseha hafa ni in petmiti gi tano’ u mapetmiti gi langet. Bai sangani hamyo ta’lo, yanggen dos giya hamyo in na’dana i bos-miyu guini gi tano’ para in fanmanayuyot put maseha hafa, siempre in fannina’i as Tata-hu ni gaige gi langet. Amanu ha’ na mandana dos pat tres gi na’an-hu, gaige yu’ siempre gi intalo’-niha.”

Mina’ Bente Tres Damenggo Gi Otdinariu Na Tiempo

umatuna.org

Announcements

Hosted by Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish in Agat, the 6th Eucharistic Congress will be held on Sunday, September 25, 2011, begin-ning at 12:00 noon. Fr. Jason Granado, pas-tor, along with parish members and minis-ters are well into the planning stage for this island-wide spiritual event geared towards youth and young adults alike. The event will include praise & worship music, guest speak-ers and workshop sessions. It will conclude with the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and celebration of the Mass.

Please visit the school’s website at www.aolg.edu.gu or call 477-8203 for more in-formation.

ACADEMY OF OUR LADY OF GUAM

• SEPTEMBER 5:  Labor Day Holiday, NO CLASSES

• SEPTEMBER 9: Early Dismissal 1:45; Faculty Meeting 2:00

• SEPTEMBER 16: Early Dismissal 1:45; Staff Development 2:00

• SEPTEMBER 22: Mercy Day Liturgy

• SEPTEMBER 23: Mercy Day Holiday, NO CLASSES

NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL

• SEPTEMBER 5: Labor Day – NO CLASSES

• SEPTEMBER 6 – 9: Week of 1st Qtr Progress Report Distribution

• SEPTEMBER 8: College Night

• SEPTEMBER 16: NDHS Service Day

• SEPTEMBER 23: Faculty/StaffDe-velopment Day

2011 ARCHDIOCESAN CATECHETICAL-LITURGICAL CONFERENCE

Conference to be held on Saturday, Septem-ber 10, 2011 at Fr. Duenas Memorial School—Phoenix Center. Registration to continue un-til August 29, 2011.

Registration forms are available online at www.archagana.org.

For more information, please call the Chan-cery Office: 472-6116.

Please send any announcements to: news@umatuna.org.

SEPT 25: EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS AT OUR LADY OF MT CARMEL PARISH

help convey images that can help us express our desire to worship, to praise, and to give thanks to God in fresh, new ways. An added benefit of this revision is the opportunity for many to become more fully aware the reverence of the Mass, in its revised language and the way we are guided in our worship. Such an awareness offers us a richer appreciation for the gift of the Eucharist as the source of life and the unity of the Church. This better fulfills the Church’s desire as expressed in the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy for “full, conscious, and active participation in liturgi-cal celebrations called for by the very nature of the lit-urgy” (CSL, 14). As an Archdiocese, we are offered many opportuni-ties to grow spiritually from this experience. To facili-tate this and in preparation for the new Missal, training sessions and orientations for clergy have already begun in addition to preparations for musicians and catecheti-cal coordinators. In addition, on September 10, 2011, the Archdiocese of Agana will be hosting the Catechetical-Liturgical Conference at the Fr. Duenas Memorial School Phoe-nix Center in Mangilao, entitled “Do This in Memory of Me.” The conference will mark an intensified prepa-ratory period for the education and training of all mem-bers of the Archdiocese. It is my hope that those who attend the conference will bring back what they have learned to their parishes, schools, Church communities/organizations, and families. It is important that we step into this new era of liturgical renewal with a deep sense of appreciation for the gift afforded us by the Church to keep growing in the fullness of grace. As we prepare to receive this revised Roman Missal, we reflect on the gift being presented to us at this time. Let us pray that we are open to the Holy Spirit in ex-ploring these revisions in the prayers of the Mass. May we understand that these words will assist us in lifting our minds and hearts to grow deeper in our faith by praying the Mass more consciously, fully and actively, together giving praise and thanks to God.

Servus tuus,

Most Rev. Anthony Sablan Apuron, OFM Cap., D.D.Metropolitan Archbishop of Agaña

LetterContinued from page 1

The parish family of Nuestra Senora de la Paz y Buen Viaje in Chalan Pago, along with their pastor Fr. Santiago Flor Caravia, will be hosting their 7th annual Vigil for Peace on Saturday, September 10, 2011. The Vigil for Peace began in September 2004 at the suggestion of a parishioner, in cooperation with Fr. Santiago, to come together and pray through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in her title of Our Lady of Peace and Safe Journey for world peace, the safe return of our loved ones serving in the armed services and in line with the anniversary of the major attacks of September 11, 2001. What started as a two hour vigil in the humble beginnings, reciting the decades of the rosary in different languages, has grown to the all night vigil filled with prayer and meditation that it is today. In the one year since our last Vigil for Peace in 2010, we have witnessed the natural catastrophes and personal struggles taking place all over the world from the Tsunami in Japan on March 2011 to the bombings in Delaware just this past month. Even within our island, we have witnessed brutal violence resulting in many deaths for innocent people. These are just a few of the many challenges we face in our world today. The prayer filled evening will begin with the celebration of the Vigil Mass for the Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time starting at 5:30 pm. The evening will continue with the presentation of candles representing our intentions for the evening in collaboration with the singing of the Divine Mercy Chaplet during the second hour.

Following the presentation of candles will be the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament throughout the evening as we meditate on the mysteries of the most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary along with contemplative scriptural readings. The recitation of the Holy Rosary will begin with the Joyful Mysteries, led by the Christian Mothers in the third hour. The Legion of Mary will continue with the Luminous Mysteries in the fourth hour. The Sisters of Saint Paula will follow with the Sorrowful Mysteries in the fifth hour and the World Youth Day 2011 Group will round out the evening with the Glorious Mysteries in the sixth hour. Following Compline (night prayer), the evening will come to a close with the sign of peace after the enshrinement of the Blessed Sacrament at 12:00 am. Confessions will be heard throughout the evening. Our doors are opened for anyone who wishes to stop by anytime during the evening to spend time in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament or seek reconciliation. Candles for special personal intentions will be available throughout the evening. In these challenging days of seeking the truth and as we continue to pray for the sanctity of marriage, the protection of our family unit and the reality of our personal identities, we encourage and invite our families and friends throughout the island to join us as we pray for peace in our hearts, peace in our families, peace in our parishes, peace in our island, peace in our country and peace throughout the whole world. May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all.

Chalan Pago Parish Celebrates 7th Annual Vigil for Peace

By OLOPSJ Pastoral Office

54 Sunday, September 4, 2011Sunday, Septem

ber 4, 2011ARCHDIOCESAN / CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

As soon as the school doors of Father Duenas Memorial School opened, trainging for the Phoenix Company was in full swing.The first day of school was already a full day in the NJROTC life. Beginning with issuing and teaching the proper wear of the cadet uniform followed by demonstration of basic formation drills, freshmen had a taste of cadet life in the NJROTC Program. Phoenix Company has consistently achieved the mission of JROTC Program. This year it will be up to the new chain of command led by Cadet Commander Cody Lizama, the Commanding Officer, and by Cadet Lt Commander Justin Brown, the Executive Officer, to instill in the cadets the value of citizenship, service to the United States, personal responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment. The School Year 2011-2012 Long Range Plan was in place before this school year started, with their goal of keeping the program interesting and challenging to every cadet.The corps of Phoenix Company officers is focueds on having a very successful year and achieving the Distinguished Unit Award with Honors again.

FdmS nJrOtC begins training

AOLG Holds Freshmen Parent Orientation

As in the past 62 years, the Academy of Our Lady of Guam once again opened its doors, this time to 106 young women who are beginning their first year of high school. Entering high school is an exciting time, full of change and new experi-ences. Yet, it can also be an overwhelming experience, not just for the students, but for their parents as well. In order to help ease the anxiety that goes hand in hand with this milestone in life, and understanding that their students are more likely to succeed when their parents are involved in their school activities, the Academy also opened its doors, hallways, and classrooms to the parents of the incoming freshmen on Fri-day, August 19, allowing them the opportunity to meet their daughter’s teachers, the school’s staff and administration, as well as their daughter’s peers. Welcome, Class of 2015!

notre dame High School Faculty receive 21st Century Skills Orientation Notre Dame High School Faculty attended a three-day orientation that focused on Classroom Management, 21st Century Teaching and Learning skills, and Faith Development the week of August 2 through August 4, 2011.  Dr. John Sanchez from the University of Guam’s School of Education presented the different standards, assessments, methodologies and 21st Century skills that surround classroom management on the first day of the orientation.  The following day, Notre Dame alumnae Ms. Elizabeth Cruz and Ms. Gemma De Guzman, from the Technology Education department at the University of Guam, demonstrated how teachers could

enhance student learning through the use of technology and 21st Century teaching skills.  Ms. Cruz recommended numerous websites and resources that are available to teachers, and challenged the faculty to use various methods of technology to disperse knowledge to students.  The final day of the Faculty Orientation ended at Carmel on the Hill in Malojloj, where teachers attended a retreat on Faith Development, facilitated by S. Francine Perez, SSND.  The three-day orientation aimed to prepare teachers both spiritually and technologically, and provided them with the necessary tools to successfully engage Notre Dame’s students in the upcoming school year.

(Top) Dr. John Sanchez of the University of Guam gives a presentation on classroom man-agement.(Left) Members of the Notre Dame faculty enjoy the view from Carmel on the Hill Retreat Center in Malojloj.(Above) Sister Francine Perez, SSND, gives a presentation on the Four Pillars of teh Faith at Carmel on the Hill Retreat Center, Malojloj. Photos Courtesy of Jessica Perez-Jackson

Freshman World Geography teacher Jeanne Dietrick meets with parents at orientation. (Photo Courtesy of AOLG Staff )

Photos Courtesy of Master Chief Val Separa

76 Sunday, September 4, 2011 CHURCH & SOCIETYCHURCH & SOCIETY Sunday, September 4, 2011Sunday, Septem

ber 4, 2011 A recent local online poll asked: “The 2010 Census counted 154,805 people on Guam. Surprised?” Most of the respon-dents voted “yes”. Perhaps they were reacting to time stuck in traffic as a population indicator, but, yes, the popula-tion is well below the 2010 U.N. estimate of 179,693. While some are blaming the low number on the “exo-dus” from Guam that began with the eco-nomic downturn in the late 90‘s, a more likely culprit can be found in an analysis of the data from the 2000 census. In 2000, there were 35,599 women of childbearing age (15-44) who had given birth to total of 55,196 children. This equates to a fertility rate of 1.5 children per woman which is far below the popu-lation replacement rate of 2.1. We can also assume that fertility has continued to decline. Vital Statistics re-ported 3,421 births in 2010 versus 3787 in 2000, a 10% decline. Interestingly Guam’s abortion rate is also 10% with one out of every ten pregnancies ending in abortion. This means that our 2010 fertility rate is probably closer 1.3. Of course, Guam is very transient which makes it difficult to use such numbers to decipher deeper social issues. But a de-cline in Guam’s fertility rate was noted as far back as 1984 in the Journal of Bioso-cial Science (16:231-239 Cambridge Uni-versity Press): “Since the end of World War II, the Guam native population, who are mostly Roman Catholics, has undergone one of the most dramatic socioeconomic de-velopments ever recorded. They have rapidly become incorporated into the dominant American culture and econ-omy. This accelerated process of mod-ernization has been accompanied by a very sharp fertility decline. One reason for this decline has been the increas-ing defection of Guam Roman Catholic women from the traditional teaching of their Church on the subject of birth control. This trend of fertility decline, al-though at higher levels, resembles that of East Asian countries with rapid fertility decline.” The countries referred to in the report are Japan,Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Singapore. Japan, the coun-try most economically connected with Guam, is now the “oldest” country in the world with nearly a quarter of its popula-tion over 65, and with a fertility rater of only 1.25, is already in the throes of de-mographic meltdown. The U.N. Population Division predicts that Japan, as well as other countries with similar fertility rates (and that includes Guam) will have two seniors for every

one child by 2050.The economic conse-quences of such a forecast shouldn’t take much number crunching. Business guru Peter Drucker has noted, “The dominant factor for business in the next two de-cades...is not going to be economics or technology. It will be demographics.” The above mentioned countries be-came post-war powerhouses as their populations boomed and human capital became abundant. However, the anti-natal attitudes and policies that began creeping into most industrialized na-tions in the 70’s is now showing its gray head, and the prospect of economic col-lapse has caused the governments of Ja-pan, Singapore, Sweden, Australia, Rus-sia, Czechoslovakia, and others to begin paying parents to have children. The irony of course is that we have been duped for decades into believing that fewer children meant greater prosperity, and it seems to be true since the world’s wealthiest countries are currently those with the lowest fertility rates. However, the fact that many of those countries are now frantically trying to increase their birthrates should tell us that something has gone terribly wrong. Most industrialized societies have cre-ated social safety nets that depend on taxing the current work force. Because that work force has decreased by half over the last 40 years while the number of pensioners has more than doubled, the whole system is beginning to col-lapse. There simply isn’t the work force/tax base to sustain the bloated entitle-ment state. Can anybody say “Greece”? History has witnessed periods of low fertility before but the current popula-tion implosion is a different sort of ani-mal. Whereas past low fertility periods were normally connected to war, famine, and pestilence, the current birth dearth is due primarily to voluntary childless-ness, something unknown to history, at least on the massive scale we are now witnessing. That “Catholic” Guam is in the same pack as Japan and the others in this race towards collective societal suicide is more than just an economic concern. Since God’s first command was to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth”... it is an eternal concern as well. For an in-depth expose on what de-mographers are calling “one of the most ominous events of modern history” watch the DVD “Demographic Winter” which can be ordered from www.demo-graphicwinter.com (or found at the Ca-thedral Gift Shop).

This column reflects only the views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff and management of the Umatuna. It can be commented on and shared via email and social media at www.themassneverends.com Hyperlinks to supporting data are provided on the online version.

ITE, MISSA ESTFrom the Mass to the Market:

Engaging the World Beyond the Church Doors

Guam’s Demographic Demise?

Tim Rohr

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- While stud-ies have long shown the negative ef-fects on children of divorce compared to those from two-parent households, a new study has determined that chil-dren born to cohabiting couples fare even worse than children from di-vorced families. Despite a drop in the divorce rate,

“family instability continues to increase for the nation’s children overall, mainly because more than 40 percent of Amer-ican children will now spend time in a cohabiting household,” according to the study, “Why Marriage Matters,” is-sued Aug. 16 by the Center for Ameri-can Families at the Institute for Ameri-can Values and the National Marriage Project, based at the University of Vir-ginia. “As marriage becomes less connect-ed to childbearing, children are more likely to be exposed to a relational mer-ry-go-round with adults coming in and out of their lives,” the report said. “Now, approximately 24 percent of the na-tion’s children are born to cohabiting couples, which means that more chil-dren are currently born to cohabiting couples than to single mothers.” The study found that children born to cohabiting couples are much more likely to experience a parental breakup compared to children born to married couples -- 170 percent in unmarried households with children up to age 12.

Not only is cohabitation less stable, it is more dangerous for children, ac-cording to the study. Federal statistics show that children are at least three times more likely to be physically, sex-ually or emotionally abused in cohabit-ing households, compared to children in intact, biological married-parent homes. They are also significantly more likely to experience delinquency, drug use and school failure. “If Mom is living with a boyfriend, they may have less trust, less emotional security in their relationship, less sexu-al fidelity,” said W. Bradford Wilcox, a researcher at the University of Virginia

and lead author of the report. “And all of these characteristics in a relationship, which aren’t good, seem to bleed over into these kids’ lives. If Mom and Dad are cohabiting,” he added, “that’s going to be corrosive to the kids’ sense of security in their own lives.” Wilcox, who presented some of the report’s findings Aug. 20 at the Ameri-can Sociological Association’s conven-tion in Denver, told Catholic News Ser-vice the rate of cohabitation is rising. “Yes, people have seen divorce in

their own family lives and or seen friends get divorced or whatever, and that’s made them gun-shy about get-ting married,” he said. “But I also think that some people have responded to their parents’ divorce by developing a kind of deepened dedication to mar-riage. For those getting married today they’re trying to work harder on their marriages than their parents did.” Sheila Garcia, associate director of the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat for Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, said she looked askance at the notion of cohabitation as “an acceptable alterna-tive to marriage. People today tend to

be very individualistic and they look into what is good for them,” Garcia said.

“They enter into a cohabiting relation-ship based on what will make them happy, but it does not take into account what is good for the children.” Garcia cited another concern. “We’ve noticed for a few years now a marriage gap, which means that people who are better educated and wealthier are more likely to marry than those who don’t have those advantages,” she told CNS. “People who are considered working class are less likely to marry. There are economic benefits to mar-riage. And when married is not valued among the working class as it has been, that’s a problem. Marriage is a wealth-building institution.” The “Why Marriage Matters” report concurred. “Marriage is an important public good, associated with a range of economic, health, educational, and safety benefits that help local, state, and federal governments serve the common good,” it said. “The benefits of marriage extend to poor, working-class, and minority communities, despite the fact that marriage has weakened in these communities in the last four de-cades.” Msgr. Labib Kobti, pastor of St. Thom-as More Parish in San Francisco, has a pastoral fealty to the sacrament of mar-riage. “Our (patron) saint has died de-fending weddings,” he said. More was beheaded in 1535 for opposing Henry VIII’s divorce and refusing to renounce papal authority. The San Francisco priest was plan-ning a mass Catholic wedding ceremo-ny on Labor Day, Sept. 5, for 30 couples

who have been only married civilly. But Msgr. Kobti hears from Catholics who are in cohabiting relationships as well.

“During confession they tell you (about it) and you have to tell them, ‘Look, get married, let me help you. We are not asking for money. We just want to help you. You are confessing you know this is not regular, this is not right ... and you want something better.’” Outside the confessional, he told CNS, “they come when they have prob-lems. Now we are organizing some-thing like Marriage Encounters where we meet once a month with couples and to speak about marriage with the groups, and we tell them about the dif-ficulties of life and we try to help them spiritually.” The church teaches that any sexual activity outside of marriage is sinful. If a cohabiting couple seeks to be mar-ried in the church, many diocesan marriage preparation policies suggest that pastoral ministers encourage the couple to live apart until the wedding. Statistics on the webpage of the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat for Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth say that “almost half the couples who come for marriage preparation in the Catholic Church are in a cohabiting relationship.” It also notes that the Official Catholic Direc-tory reported 406,908 couples married in the Catholic Church in 1974; in the 2011 directory it reported that 170,172 couples married in the church. According to the “Why Marriage Mat-ters” study, “Departures from the norm of intact marriage do not necessarily harm most of those who are exposed to them. While cohabitation is associated with increased risks of psychological and social problems for children, this does not mean that every child who is exposed to cohabitation is damaged,” the report said. “For example, one nationally rep-resentative study of 6- to 11-year-olds found that only 16 percent of children in cohabiting families experienced se-rious emotional problems. Still, this rate was much higher than the rate for children in families headed by married biological or adoptive parents, which was 4 percent.” However, it said, “the intact, biologi-cal, married family remains the gold standard for family life in the United States. Children are most likely to thrive, economically, socially, and psy-chologically, in this family form.”

Graph is courtesy of Catholic News Serivice.

Study Finds Cohabitation More Harmful to Children Than DivorceBy Mark Pattison Catholic News Service

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ©2011 CNS

AN INCREASING PERCENTAGE of high school seniors agree that it is usually a good idea for a couple to live together before getting married to find out whether they really get along.

68.870%

60%

50%

40%

30%1976-1980

1981-1985

1986-1990

1991-1995

1996-2000

2001-2006

BOYSGIRLS

2007-2009

63

65.7

44.9

32.3

59.1

“They enter into a cohabiting relationship based on what will make them happy, but it does not take into account what is good for the children.”

98 Sunday, September 4, 2011 Sunday, September 4, 2011 FEATURES: WORLD YOUTH DAYFEATURES: WORLD YOUTH DAY

The pilgrims have made it safely back home! A delegation of 257 pilgrims from Guam journeyed on the 2011 World Youth Day (WYD) in Madrid, Spain. Coming back home with new experiences, each pilgrim embraces their personal story and testimony of how they have shared an intimacy with the Lord who has blessed them throughout this recent pilgrimage. This WYD pilgrimage was that of which many would describe as a “taste of heaven.” It has brought forth our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI’s love and concern for the youth. Every WYD intends to bring the universal church in communion with each other and celebrate the Catholic faith. The church is young and it’s extremely vibrant in the spirit. I would like to share with you the voices of the pilgrims and how this year’s WYD theme of “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith” has been a resounding inspiration through each of the pilgrims experiences.

Jesús Garcia Yelo San Vicente/San Roke Catholic Church, BarrigadaRedemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary of Guam

My name is Jesús, I am from Alicante, Spain, and I was given the chance to live this WYD with my own home parish. I was not by myself, Harold, a seminarian from Colombia, came with me. We had a great time together. First of all, when we arrive, we got to know that a group of more than 200 pilgrims from France were going to be hosted in my town. Four of them stayed in a

house owned by my parents. We had one week of intense pilgrimage. We were around 220. A group of 14 pilgrims from Grenada, an island of the Caribbean, joined us. Thus, Harold and I made use of our knowledge of English to translate for them. It was good to be able to do it for those brothers. We slept a very short time, we prayed, we evangelized and celebrated the Eucharist every day. We were tired, but happy. One of the main experiences I had was to meet, not planning it, the elderly of a marginalized neighborhood. We arrived to the Senior Care Home singing and dancing, and the elderly became extremely happy. We transmitted them our joy, and they helped us to see the reality of live, a suffering that most of us will experience, namely, old age, and the humility and the faith with which some of them are living the situation. Many of our young pilgrims cried because they remembered their grandparents who shared their last days with them. Meanwhile, in our town, more pilgrims came; this time from Poland. It was difficult to communicate, the parishioners said, but all of them were happy. They evangelized in our town, which is also in need of hearing the announcement of the Good News. After the meeting with the Pope, we also received in the parish a group of 53 pilgrims from the Dominican Republic. Since the pilgrimage was this time on our country. We were able to live it from both sides, as pilgrims and as hosts!

Louis T. Agbulos IIIPadre Pio Group & Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic

Church, Agana Heights

August 16th 2011 started the 26th World Youth Day with the hosting country Madrid, Spain. There are many experiences that I encountered while attending world youth day but only two experiences struck me the most. First was on August 16th the first day of catechesis when the speaker Most Rev. William Murphy, a Bishop from the Diocese of Rockville Centre, taught us the attitude we should have during the week. As the catechesis goes on, he tells us about why we are on this mission to see the Vicar of Christ and while telling us he gives us words to remember that “We are on a PILGRIMAGE not a VACATION, so we shouldn’t COMPLAIN about ANYTHING.” this statement he said made it clear to us that we are traveling around the world to join in this festive occasion with Pope Benedict XVI. During the rest of the week of WYD every time I would hear some grumbling around our group I would say the words that Bishop Murphy told us. We are on a PILGRIMAGE not a VACATION. The second experience was the waiting part on August 20th at Cuatro Vientos Aerodrome. When we arrived at the air field you can feel the excitement in the air. Finally making it to our spot around we set up our sleeping bags and waited. Listening to the other cultures chanting and dancing until the vigil started. Now around 8:30pm the announcers had said that the Pope is making his way to the air field and when he did, chants came from 1.5/2 million people saying either

“Esta es la juventud del papa (This is the youth of the Pope), or Benidicto”. So much excitement was present

when we all saw him either up close or on the many screens provided because of the crowds. Adoration was about to start when out of no where a rain storm made it’s presence to all the pilgrims. The heavy rain and strong winds stayed with us for about 30 minutes and it had us waiting for the Pope to begin. During the wait pilgrims all around begin to chant again while waiting for the rain to stop. The rain stopped and now came the adoration and it was such a magnificent setting, it was about 1.5/2 million people chanting and singing, either standing up or kneeling for the beginning of the vigil. Just the silence of the air field made me think that no matter how noisy the crowds can get right when the Blessed Sacrament was shown either on the screen or in person we all had reverence and respect for the same reason and that was because Jesus Christ was present. Just like the theme for this WYD we should live it out and not be afraid to call ourselves Catholics, Firmes en la Fe (Firm in the Faith.) For those attending the next WYD see you in Rio 2013.

Preston PerezSt. Anthony/St. Victor Catholic Church, TamuningRedemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary of Guam

I have been on five pilgrimages, and this was my fourth World Youth Day, and God continues to out due himself. I could spend lines, upon lines writing about what we did and where we went all the other details, but the core message arrived to me through the Mass with Pope Benedict’s Homily. The Gospel was the profession of St.

WYD: PILGRIMS SHARE, REFLECT ON PILGRIMAGEBy Jennifer Louise Dulla U Matuna Si Yu’os Contributor

Peter according to the evangelist St. Matthew. The Pope mentioned that in order for St. Peter to make a profession of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, he needed an intimate relation with God. In my life this is the most direct point that I see God speaking to me. No matter what God is calling me for, the most important thing is that God is at the center of my life and He is sufficient. The number one calling of God is for us to be holy! Visiting the nuns of Lerma, Burgos confirmed this. The word of one of the nuns struck me deeply. That our life from now  until we find our vocations is not a parenthesis, but

that we can enter into the joy of doing God’s will even now.

Terry NaputiPadre Pio Group & Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Agana Heights

Since returning home from the European continent and after spending six-days sharing my love for God with a million young faithful followers, I continue to chuckle with graceful smiles and repeat in my mind, “God is great.” Initially and from the time I began to prepare for this large young adult gathering of Catholics, the only emotion I was able to grasp was excitement – every other emotion was numb. But now I am home with more excitement and many other emotions to continue to share Jesus’ truth, build on His Kingdom, and implore my young friends to know Him personally! Arriving with my group to Cibeles Square to welcome the Holy Father to Madrid, I was captivated by the crowded walkways and throng of young people sitting on the streets leading up to the main square. Where in the world were the million young people? They were standing

and sitting right with me. Like most people who visit another country or culture, they instantly become

“culture shock,” I was in “faith shock!” It was beyond anyone’s imagination to watch and hear how much of God’s love was present in Madrid. It was beautiful. It was beautiful to dance about, parade around, sing aloud, and chant distinctly in all different languages – only to always end in chanting: “BE-NE-DIC-TO!” I leave you with one thought,

“my struggles, irritable senses, and physical discomfort as I sprained my left foot on the second day were minimal points during my WYD journey, but the experience was beyond inspiring and as Bishop William Murphy, Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York shared at my first Catechesis, “Things that are worthwhile are worth sticking with!” The experience was definitely indispensable and worth my

“sticking with!”

1110 Sunday, September 4, 2011Su

nday

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, 201

1LITURGY AND WORSHIPLITURGY AND WORSHIP

Agana: Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-BasilicaMass: M-Su 5:45a (Chamorro);T,W: 6p; Sat 6pm, Sun 7:30, 9:30, 11:30, 7:00pmConfessions: Sat 5-6pm; 30 minutes before Mass; or visit Pastoral Center during office hours

Agana HeightsMass: M-W, F 6:30pm; Sat 6am, 6pm; Sun 7am, 9amConfession:

Agat Mass: Mon 7pm; Tu,W, F, Sat 7am; Sun 6,8. 10:30amConfession: Before or After Mass or as needed

AsanMass: Mon-Fri 6pm; Sat 7am, 5pm; Sun 7,10am.Confession: 1 hour before Mass or as needed

BarrigadaMass: M-W 6pm; Th 6am; Fri 6am, 6pm; Sat 6am, 5:30pm; Sun 6, 7:30, 10amSan Ramon Chapel 8:30amConfession: Sat 5pm or by request

Chalan PagoMass: M,Tu, W, F 6pm; Sat 6:30am, 5:30pm; Sun 6:30, 10amConfession: 1 hour before each Mass

Dededo (Santa Barbara)Mass: M,W,Th 6am, 7pm; Tu, F 6am, 11:30am, 7pm; Sat 6am, 5pm ,7pm; Sun 6,8,10am, 12,5,7pmAstumbo Community Center: 9amConfession: Sat 6pm

InarajanMass:M,Tu,W,F 6pm; Sat 7am, 6pm; Sun 6:30, 9amConfession: Sat 5:30pm

MainaMass: M,Tu,W,F 5pm; Sat 5pm, Sun 8amConfession: Sat 4:30pm

MalojlojMass:Tues-Sat 6:30am; Sun 6am, 8amConfession: Tues-Fri after Mass and by appointment

MangilaoMass: M,Tu,W,F 6pm; Sat 7am, 6pm; Sun 6,8,10:30 am; 12:30 (Chuukese); 6pm Confession: 30 min before Mon-Wed Masses and by appointment

MerizoMass: M-F 6pm; Sat 6pm; Sun 6,11amConfession: Sat & Sun: 15 minutes before Mass

Mongmong: Mass: M-F 6pm, Sat 7am, 6pm; Sun 9am, 6pmConfession: 30 minutes before each Mass

Ordot: Mass: M-F 12:15, 6pm; Sat 7am (Dominican Sisters’ Chapel), 5pm; Sun 9am, 12:15pm (Chamorro), 6:30pmConfession: M-F 12pm

PitiMass: M-F 6pm, Sat 7am, 5:30pm, Sun 7, 9amConfession:

Santa Rita: Mass: Mon-Wed, F 6:30pm; Sat 7am, 6:30pm; Sun 6,8, 10amConfession: 30 min before and after Mass or by appointment

Sinajana: Mass: M,Tu, W,F 7pm, Sat 7am, 5pm; Sun 6:30, 8:30, 10:30amConfession: Sat 4:30

Talofofo: Mass: Tu,W,F 7pm, Sat 7am, 5pm; Sun 7,9amConfession: By appointment

Tamuning: Mass: M-F 5:30, 7:20am, 7pm; Sat 7am, 7pm, Sun 6,8,9:30, 11am, 12:30,5,7pmConfession: Sat 6-7pm

Toto:Mass: M-F 5::45am; Sat. 6am, 6 pm, Sun: 6am, 9:30am, 6pm;Confessions: Before Mass and by appointment

Tumon:Mass: M-F6pm, Sat 7am, 5:30pm; Sun 7,9amConfession: Sat 4-5pm

UmatacMass: Tues 7pm; Sun 8:30amConfession: Sun: 15 minutes before Mass or by appointment

Yigo: Mass:M-F 6am, 6:30pm; Sat 7am, 7pm; Sun 6:30, 8, 9:30, 11:30am, 6pmSta. Bernadita Chapel: Sun 6,7:30, 9amConfession: M-Sat: 6pm

Yona: Mass: Mon- Fri 7am (First Friday Mass at 6:30pm only); Sat 7am and 5pm, Sun 6,8,10:30amConfession: First Friday after Mass and by request

ARCHDIOCESE OF AGANA PARISH MASS AND CONFESSION SCHEDULE

All Mass and Confession times are reported based upon the latest information given to U Matuna Si Yu’os. NOTE: ALL PARISHES WILL HEAR CONFESSIONS BY REQUEST OR APPOINTMENT.

Jerusalem, and Palestine. The Order, which has its roots dating back nearly 1000 years, has come to greater prominence in the last several decades, in particular during the papacy of Blessed John Paul II, who made the order a public association for the faithful. The Order is additionally tasked with the deepening of the Faith of those concerned with conditions in the Holy Land and to raise awareness of the plight of the Christian community which has in recent decades became

a very small minority of the overall population. The Archbishop’s investiture and appointment come only days after Pope Benedict XVI appointed Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien of Baltimore as pro-grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. Archbishop O’Brien, who succeeds John Cardinal Foley who retired in Febrary, 2011, will assume his duties in Rome and around the world after his replacement is named for the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Most Reverend Bishop Luis Antonio “Chito” G. Tagle,D.D., S.T.D., KHS; Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron, OFM Cap., DD; Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal B. Rosales, DD; and Very Rev-erend Monsignor James L.G. Benavente, KHS.

Vincent Akimoto, MDFamily Practice

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AMERICANMEDICALCENTER“Guam’s Medical Home”

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1312 Sunday, September 4, 2011 Sunday, September 4, 2011 FAMAGU’AN YAN MANHOBENVATICANA

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Had your fill of 3-D movies? Take a whiff of “4D,” oth-erwise known as “Aroma-Scope,” now, um, airing in “Spy Kids: All the Time in the World” (Dimension). This third se-quel to 2001’s “Spy Kids” offers viewers the chance, via a scratch-and-sniff card, to “smell” the action as they watch (in 3-D) our young heroes -- and their par-ents -- fight to save the world. While the gimmick is reminiscent of

“Smell-O-Vision” in the 1960s and John Waters’ notorious use of “Odorama” in 1982’s “Polyester,” the scents this time are much more innocent, ranging from bacon, blue cheese, and candy to -- in-evitably -- burps and other gaseous ef-fusions (both of which, however, turn out to smell like candy as well). Once the country’s top agent for the OSS (Organization of Super Spies), Ma-rissa Wilson (Jessica Alba) is now re-tired, her alter ego a secret to her family. Her husband, Wilbur (Joel McHale), is a hapless TV reporter who tracks down

-- whom else? -- spies, but without much success. Marissa’s precocious stepkids, Rebecca (Rowan Blanchard) and Cecil (Mason Cook), don’t give her the time of day. Marissa also has a new baby girl to contend with, one who’s especially challenged when it comes to bodily functions (cue the seemingly requisite toilet humor). Marissa is called back into service when the wicked Timekeeper (Jeremy Piven) threatens to unleash Project Ar-mageddon, the “ultimate weapon” that takes away all the time in the world. While he’s undeniably a villain, Time-keeper’s message nonetheless hits home: “You’re all guilty of wasting time on mindless pursuits instead of spend-ing time with each other and the things that really matter,” he declares. Her true identity revealed, the step-mom is suddenly very cool to the younger generation, and Rebecca and Cecil also join the struggle as Spy Kids, members of the “elite juvenile division” of the OSS. They’re assisted by Argo-naut (voice of Ricky Gervais), a talking

robot dog whose ability to expel bombs from you-know-where comes in handy. As they learn to work together as a family to rescue humanity, the Wilsons discover that time is a precious com-modity that must be used wisely. “Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D” is written and directed, with a winning sense of fun, by series creator Robert Rodriguez. The film contains light comic-book

action and mildly rude humor. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Mo-tion Picture Association of America rat-ing is PG -- parental guidance suggest-ed. Some material may not be suitable for children.

McAleer is a guest reviewer for Catholic News Service.

By Joseph McAleer

Catholic News Service

MOVIE REVIEW: Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D

WORD ON THE STREET: “As a public school student, how do I allow God to be present in my school day?” 

“I keep God in my school day by singing “All I Need” by Coffey Anderson while I get ready.   When I reflect with the song, I realize that this is where God wants me to be.  I thank Him every school day for pushing me to go back to school to further my education.” 

-Keanu A. Kacvinsky, Mangilao, Guam Community College 

“I pray to God for the strength I need to get through school and the entire day.” - Lance C. Reoligio, Agat, Southern High School 

“Because as we learn new things in different classes, make new friends, and also wake up every day, God reminds us we need education in our lives.   When we go through bad times, like failing grades, He humbles us, strengthens us not to give up, have wisdom to learn from our mistakes, and do better in His name.  God wants us to succeed.”  -Alexandra Powk, Yigo, University of Guam

“GOD IN THE CLASSROOM”submitted by the Saint Francis Catholic School 5th Grade Class, Mrs. Felicita Perez, teacher. God is in my classroom every day.  He watches me during school time.  God forgives me with my bad behavior in class.  God gives me strength by listening to my teacher at all times.   God is never too busy to listen to my prayers in the classroom.  When I misbehave, he sends the guardian angel to whisper behind my ears to do Good. - Isarene Quintanilla God is in my classroom protecting me from sin. When I disobey my teacher in class, God forgives me. My God, You have given me also Your light and spiritual strength, most especially at test time.  My God, stay with me forever.  I will always love you.  - Manny Paulino God is present in my classroom, mostly through the love and care we have for our teacher, Mrs. Perez.   God, You have been my bright light ever since I started school at Saint Francis.  You are looking over my shoulder.  You have bestowed pecae in my classroom.  God, You are my hero.   -Reisa Aguon God is everywhere in my classroom.  He is in my teacher, the religion table, in my classmates, and in me.   God sends the Holy Spirit to help me with my test.  God is so generous to me.  When God is so kind on the day of the test, He helps me get an A+.  he has been looking over me in my classroom and in my studies, too. His spiritual strength can send the devil right out the door!  And His glorious light to guide me to do the right thing.  - Kaleb Meno

Pope: Christians Must Make God Known Cradle Catholics Haven’t Done Enough to Evangelize Liturgical Tradition Is Our Guide, Not a Clinging to the Past

When I began my formal graduate studies in Systematic Theology in 2006, I was blessed to have attended a university with an impeccable theology faculty. Among those under whom I studied, listened, and sometimes foolishly debated was Fr. Joseph Fessio, SJ, the founder of Ignatius Press and former doctoral student of Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI (and therefore member of the Ratzinger Schul-erkreis mentioned in the article on this page). Such a blessing is difficult to describe, precisely because Fr. Fessio’s filial rela-tionship to the Holy Father--not to mention regular access to him--gave us stu-dents a very real insight into what the Holy Father means when he speaks or acts. This was the case at the famous Regensberg Address in 2006. Pundits around the world lamented Benedict’s “foolishness” for antagonizing the Muslim world. What they didn’t know was that the Pope knew exactly what he was doing, and he wound up kick-starting a dialogue that had been faltering for centuries--a dia-logue that continues even today. Likewise, Pope Benedict (Fr. Fessio would tell us at dinner) does not want to take the Church back into the past for the sake of the past, nor does he think theol-ogy and liturgy should withdraw from the modern world. Instead, the Pope wants the Church--as it struggles to keep its footing in the modern world--to understand itself in terms of its lineage. Tradition is not a re-treat into the past; instead, Tradition is what preserves us and keeps us upright amid the winds that blow. It’s our North Star that gives us our bearings when we feel like we’re starting to drift in a godless, amoral world awash in its Culture of Death.. It is surprising then that so many people misunderstand his intentions regard-ing liturgical renewal. Anyone who gives even a light read of his writings on liturgy can understand his overall intent The Holy Father does not want to do away with the Mass in English (or any other language). He does not even want to do away with the songs. What he wants is us to understand the Liturgy of the Eucharist as authentic, sacrificial worship. It’s that simple. This is the only real reason for the issuing of this more faithful translation of the Missal: that we may worship our God precisely as He has revealed and as it was handed down to us. And it is by our return now to faithfulness to Tradition that we both worship the Lord far more faithfully as well as not lose our way. jeff@umatuna.org.

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Fr. Joseph Fessio, SJ (left) and Pope Benedict XVI’s personal secretary Msgr Georg Ganswein (CNS photo/Paul Haring 2010)

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Cradle Catho-lics haven’t done enough to show peo-ple that God exists and can bring true fulfillment to everyone, Pope Benedict XVI told a group of his former students. “We, who have been able to know (Christ) since our youth, may we ask for-giveness because we bring so little of the light of his face to people; so little cer-tainty comes from us that he exists, he’s present and he is the greatness that ev-eryone is waiting for,” the pope said. The pope presided at a Mass Aug. 28 in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, during his annual meeting with students who did their doctorates with him when he was a professor in Germany. Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schon-born of Vienna, a regular participant in the Ratzinger Schulerkreis (Ratzinger student circle), gave the homily at the Mass, but the pope made remarks at the beginning of the liturgy. The Vatican released the text of the

pope’s remarks Aug. 29. Pope Benedict highlighted the day’s reading in Psalm 63 in which the soul thirsts for God “in a land parched, life-less and without water. He asked God to show himself to to-day’s world, which is marked by God’s absence and where “the land of souls is arid and dry, and people still don’t know where the living water comes from.” May God let people who are search-ing for water elsewhere know that the only thing that will quench their thirst is God himself and that he would never let

“people’s lives, their thirst for that which is great, for fulfillment, drown and suffo-cate in the ephemeral,” the pope told his former students. However, it also is up to Christians to make God known to the world, the pope said, and older generations may not have done their best. “We want to ask (God) to forgive us, that he renew us with the living water of his spirit and that he helps us to cel-ebrate properly the sacred mysteries,” he said. The formal discussions of the

“schulerkreis” this year focused on the new evangelization. The closed-door seminar was held Aug. 25-28 in the papal residence of Castel Gandolfo and was attended by 40 people, reported L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper. The pope chose two speakers to give lectures: Hanna-Barbara Gerl-Falkovitz, a female German theologian and profes-sor, and Otto Neubauer, director of the Emmanuel Community’s academy for evangelization in Vienna. The lectures were followed by discus-sion among the participants, including the pope. Summarizing the discussions for L’Osservatore Romano Aug. 27, Cardinal Schonborn said participants felt that re-cent World Youth Day events in Madrid represented a fresh “boost of renewed hope” for the church. He said older generations have suf-fered by first living their faith at a time when church life was thriving, and today they are watching parishes lose so many parishioners. But, today’s young Catholics seem to realize they are a minority in a secular, relativistic world and have shown their

“undaunted willingness to give witness to their peers in such an environment,” he said. Seminar participants saw the so-called “John Paul II and Benedict XVI generations” as a whole new phase for the church. No one thought young Cath-olics would be so open to being in “the courtyard of the Gentiles” to evangelize, said the cardinal. He said the meeting also reflected on how to spread the Gospel in a secular world that nonetheless “shows that it is waiting to receive anew the Gospel mes-sage.

Christoph Cardinal Schonborn

The sentence below is encrypted using a secret code. Your job is to break the code by substituting the correct letter for the ones given. Each letter given in the code always represents the same letter throughout the puzzle.

Here are your clues: J = L, and D = O

XDV FDN MCDI ZEVXEAUJF IEJJUKYU UKE PYF DX UKE JDVP ADHEQJRME Y UKREX RC UKE CRBKU

Scriptural Cryptogram

Last week’s solution: “I have not come to call the righteous but instead sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32) Congratulations to Francis and Agnes Flisco for being the first to solve it.

1514 Sunday, September 4, 2011 Sunday, September 4, 2011 DEVOTION AND SPIRITUALITYDEVOTION AND SPIRITUALITY

Mexico City (Agenzia Fides) The Cathedral of Mexico pre-sented the program of activities that will take place from Sep-tember 5 to 9, on the occasion of the veneration of the relics of Blessed John Paul II: “it is an oc-casion full of grace and blessing for the people of Mexico, who the Pope loved so much”, said Fr. Manuel Arellano Rangel, dean of the Cathedral.

Pope John Paul II began his first pastoral visit of his Pon-tificate in Mexico, in the Metro-politan Cathedral: here he cele-brated his first Solemn Eucharist in America and met for the first time the love and devotion of the local population towards the Pope, the Church, Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. More than three decades ago from that January 26, 1979, John Paul II re-turns to the Cathedral as Blessed, and his blood, which has heard the faith of the Mexican faithful, will be the object of veneration on behalf of “the people who are always faithful”.

“The Cathedral is always open to all, it is the home of the People of God, this is why it is symbolic that the relic of the

Pope stays here these days, so we can go to worship and seek the intercession of the Pope for peace in our country, for the safety of our families”, said fa-ther Arellano. The relic of Pope John Paul II on September 9 will conclude its permanence in the Cathedral of Mexico, to continue the four-month journey in 91 cit-ies in Mexico.

Mexico to Celebrate, Venerate John Paul II Relic Pilgrimage

Give! Divine Mercy Moments by Fr. Joel De Los Reyes

Pope John Paul II in 1993

On Sunday, August 28th the St. Fidelis Friary admitted and vested 29 devotees of the spirit of St. Francis into the Secular Franciscan Order, Saint Padre Pio Fraternity, lead by their spiritual director Fr. Patrick Castro, OFM Cap. Preparations are currently underway for September 17, 2011, when the members make their Rite of Profession, which means that in our secular life, they will commit to live the Gospel way of life, entrusted by Christ, through the example established by St. Francis of Assisi. Their mission concentrates on providing spiritual support to youth and young adults as well as the engaged, married couples, and families. In addition, the Fraternity is committed to regular practice of the corporal works of

mercy. Since their inception 14 months ago they have sponsored numerous activities across the island, including the Youth Day of Prayer, Christmas Angel Blessings, the Thanksgiving food drive in support of Kamalin Karidat, as well as the Marriage Dinner and Talk with Fr. Leo. As a fraternity they continue to emphasize Mass, prayer, and regular devotionals, such as the First Wednesday of the Month Padre Pio Mass, the Padre Pio Novena in September, and the St. Francis Novena in October. In addition, the Fraternity conducts a once-a-month Saturday Prayer, to include the Advent and Lenten seasons as well as Lenten talks with Fr. Eric, skilled nursing visits, the Pro-Life Walk, and regular Fraternity Fellowship.

St. Padre Pio Secular Franciscan Fraternity Welcomes 29 New Members

Special to the U Matuna

As a Young Adult I joined the Secular Franciscan to help Strengthen my faith by following the Rules and Foot Steps of St. Francis of the Assisi. I also hope by becoming part of the Third Order of the Secular Franciscans that the Order will help improve my Prayer Life and Pro-mote Family Life here on Our Island. As a Secular Franciscan, I also wish to spread the Gospel in many different ways to the Youth and Young Adults of Our Island in the Spirit of St. Francis of the Assisi.

Frankie Casil Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish

I was raised in Franciscan parishes, and as a youth more than 35 years ago, I vowed to follow the ways of St. Francis of Assisi. I have been blessed to visit the sites where St. Francis received his stigmata in 1985 & 2009. I also went to San Giovani Rotanda the place where St. Padre Pio lived, died and build a hospital in 2009. Therefore, it is time to make a more firm commitment to this lifestyle. It is so hum-bling of an experience to belong to such a great order of people The Franciscan Order.

Cynthia Agbulos Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament

In an effort to pattern my life after St. Padre Pio who patterned his life after St. Francis of Assisi, I hope to spread the Gospel through my daily actions and to see Christ in all of my brothers and sisters from all walks of life and all denominations of belief (or lack of).

Ben Diaz Our Lady of Peace.

Why Join the Third Order Secular Franciscans? Three Answers...

Candidates prepare for their admittance and investiture on August 28, 2011. Photos courtesy of pacificaps.blogspot.com.

If anyone is interested in becoming a Padre Pio Third Order Secular Franciscan please contact Fr. Patrick Castro, OFM, Spiritual Direc-tor at patrikfriar99@yahoo.com, 472-6339 or Joann San Nicolas at joannsnickers@gmail.com,482-1679. New formation group begins on September 24th at 10:00 a.m. at the Friary. Open to all youth and adult in our island community.

The newest members of the St. Padre Pio Fraternity (Photo courtesy of pacificaps.blogspot.com)

One of the most delightful sights of nature is a river with marine animals, birds and plants living in and enjoying its fresh flowing water. River sustains life to man and plants. Some civilizations were born and thrived around rivers such as the Nile River in Egypt, the Amazon River in Brazil, the Mississippi River in America and many more great rivers around the world which are the heart and soul of many peoples’ culture and tradition. Some rivers are so enchanting as to capture the attention of musicians such as the Blue Danube River in Europe. Blue Danube Waltz is one of my most favorite music. The Underground River of Palawan , Philippines is currently a very popular tourist destination which is currently a strong contender to be one of the United Nations search for the New Seven Wonders of Nature. With all the accolades attributed to the river, there’s one outstanding virtue that it possesses and that is; “ Rivers don’t drink the water they carry”. The Sequoia trees in California are known for their huge sizes but their roots don’t go deeply into the soil. They can resist the tempest of the climate and the wind gust because they grow in clusters and their roots intertwine with each other. As it has been said that, “ In union there is strength” There are trees that bear fruit only in season while others continue bearing fruit throughout the year.

Mangoes come in clusters and so are many other fruit trees. In my hometown of Cuyo, Palawan, P h i l i p p i n e s , cashew trees are abundant and

when in season usually in March to April, they give delight with display of their fruits in yellow or red shaped like bells hanging in practically all its branches. Their fruits are delicious to eat, and for children like me then, playing around these trees picking their fruits, no other place in the world could be better, save the garden of Eden. As your taste buds begin to grow wild graving for something to eat, pause for a moment and reflect that no matter how abundant and sweet their fruits are; “ Trees don’t eat the fruit they bear.”. The past days and weeks had been cloudy and rainy on Guam. We have had heavy rains flooding our streets and backyards. When you see nimbus clouds forming up in the sky you can more or less predict that rain is imminent and in most cases happens. Rain water is clean and its taste is beyond compare. Just like you, I too was one of those kids playing in the rain then when the world was younger. One of the best sounds that puts us to deep sleep at night is the sound of the rain falling down on the roof and our window panes. Have you ever realize that; “ Clouds do not

bathe in the rain?”. The bottom line of all this is that, we are meant to give even if we get nothing from it. It gives us great comfort and joy to have generously given something to someone especially the poor and the needy. We don’t have to wait to be told to share and give. You must realize that every opportunity that we are able to give is a grace coming from God. Measuring life by what others do may disappoint us, but measuring life by what we do will make life meaningful and worth living. A raindrop may look too small to the eyes, but somewhere a small flower awaits its fall. A text message may be too short but it whispers from the heart that remembers. Amen on that folks!!

In her Diary entry no. 777 St. Faustina wrote; “ Eye has not seen, nor has ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love Him”.

Tune in to KOLG 90.9 FM for the Divine Mercy prayer at 3 p.m. daily. Recite the Chaplet of Mercy for peace in the world and

conversion of sinners.

Thanks to the Divine Mercy prayer team for your faithfulness in our Divine Mercy Sunday afternoon home apostolate. Likewise to the participants in last Saturday’s Divine Mercy Symposium in the spiritual center of St. Anthony Church. May the good Lord continue to bless you and your families with the abundance of His grace and mercy.

To arrange for Divine Mercy home presentation, prayer and veneration of the sacred relic of St. Faustina, please contact Amy Borja at 472-7778. Thank you.

PILGRIMAGE:

Anyone still interested to join the Divine Mercy pilgrimage from September 19 to October 6, 2011.including attendance to the Second World Congress On Mercy in Cracow Poland from October 2-3. please call now. For more information you can call Anne Marie at 649-3221, Lou Salas at 477-8970, and Fr. Joel at 483-9464. Thank you

TALOFOFO FIESTA All are invited to the Novenas and Masses

In honor of SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

September 10, 2011 – September 18, 2011

Mass and Novena Schedule Date Novena Mass Sat. 9/10/11 4:30 PM 5:00 PM Sun. 9/11/11 After the 7:00 AM 7:00 AM Mon. 9/12/11 6:30 PM 7:00 PM Tue. 9/13/11 6:30 PM 7:00 PM Wed. 9/14/11 6:30 PM 7:00 PM Thur. 9/15/11 6:30 PM 7:00 PM Fri. 9/16/11 6:30 PM 7:00 PM Sat. 9/17/11 7:00 AM 4:00 PM 4:30 PM Sun. 9/18/11 After the 7:00 AM 7:00 AM 9:00 AM On Saturday, Sept. 17, Novena will be at 4:00 PM, Mass at 4:30 PM followed by Procession. Na’ Taotao Tumano’ will follow at the Social Hall. Please join us.

16 Sunday, September 4, 2011LOOKING FORWARD

Speaking of phenomenally stupid ideas, when I first moved to San Antonio, TX in the late 1990s and was still single, a female friend of mine called me one Saturday morning and asked me to drive her about 60 miles to a cat show. I cannot account for why I agreed to this ridiculous request, but after driving on the Death-Race track that is I-35 between San Antonio and Austin (arguably the most dan-gerous stretch of highway in the US), we found our exit and made our way to a com-munity center with a large sign out front that said, “Cat Show Inside.” Going in, I confess that I expected an event like a presentation presented by the West-minster Kennel Club. Not so. Words simply cannot describe a cat show except to say that it is so close to an episode of “Outer Limits” that one can’t help but wonder if it is real or instead some elaborate hoax—a brilliant flash mob stunt populated with more than 200 feline devotees who glare at you while chain-smoking. That was the strangest part, by the way: as I approached each cat kennel area to see But-tons or Sebastian or Mr. Tinkles or whatever name was inflicted on the poor kitty, the owner would inevitably growl words to the effect of “Stay away from my cat. You might hurt him!” while simultaneously smoking an absurdly large cigarette with at least one inch of ash hanging by a thread. After about ten minutes, I’d had enough. As we headed back to San Antonio, I vowed I would never, ever own a cat. Such was my first real indication of what is meant by “cat people.” It’s quite different from dog people, it turns out. Most of us love dogs. They’re loyal. They’re sweet. They follow you around the house simply aching to be with you. Even

“outside dogs” bark at strangers and keep you aware that something is out of the ordi-nary—even if it’s just the mailman honking his horn because he is delivering a package. I used to be a dog lover until this same female friend (whose ideas generally made my bad ideas seem like the wisdom of Con-fucius) dropped a bomb on me one day by

“letting” me keep her newly adopted Great Dane named Greta in my little apartment. This dog was taller than me when she stood on her hind legs. More to the point, you truly

cannot appreciate the mess a Great Dane makes on a white carpet when it has “an accident.” Greta single-handedly made me Customer of the Year at my local carpet sup-ply store just from the steam cleaner rental fees alone. Even now in Guam more than a decade later, my carpet cleaner still sends me Christmas cards. Needless to say, Greta the Great Dane and I went our separate ways. It was either that or buy a saddle and charge for rides in the parking lot so I could pay for the gallons of Fabreeze. Still, after a while, some neighbors of mine had kittens and of-fered one to me. While simultaneously saying words to the effect of “Are you on crack?,” I looked at the little balls of fuzz and saw one that I found, well, enchanting. Sleeping next to him was a little white sister kitten. After telling me that these two were in-separable, I in a moment of uber-suggestibility offered to relieve my neighbor of both little angels and took them home. So two cats. Pablo and Mimi. Pablo was this little grey tabby that was sweet, inquisitive, and liked to sit on the arm of the couch and stare out the window. Mimi however had a personality that made even serial killers say, “Hey, dude, your cat’s a psycho!” This little beast hated everyone and ev-erything except Pablo. That went double for me. This was fine, of course, because she did what most cats do (which I find to be their most lovable trait). They leave you alone. I’m convinced that’s the difference be-tween a cat person and dog person, or rather, the cat person and the dog lover. It’s not the animal itself. It’s all about the owner. I hesitate to use the word “owner” since better words are available. Dogs have mas-ters . Cats, to borrow from an old joke, don’t have masters; they have a staff. Dog people like my wife prefer dogs be-

cause dogs love them, or at least display the traits of love, affection, and loyalty. These are traits most of us normally find attractive, unless of course you are Boo Radley. Cats however are none of these. They do give affection, but only when they feel like it. If you had a bad day, your dog will greet you with a zeal that seems joyful. Cats won’t even bother to let you know they’re alive un-til about 9:00 that night (or the food bowl is empty, whichever comes first). So what is it that makes cat people love cats? I honestly don’t know, but they defi-nitely see something there that the rest of the population doesn’t. It is that trait that differentiates them from dog lovers. Both love their pets, but they are differ-ent sorts of people. Over the years, I have likened this difference to condiments. Some

people like mustard. Some like ketchup (or cat-sup, depending on where in the US you’re from). In the end, you have to choose the one you prefer. You simply can’t like them both equally. The same goes for the Beatles or the Rolling Stones. Snow White or Cinderella. Country or bluegrass. CSI or CSI: Mi-ami. You can like them both, but deep down, we all love one more than the other. Speaking of CSI: Miami, once on a trans-Pacific flight, my wife and I made up a drinking game while watching an episode that

involved taking a shot every time David Ca-ruso utters some pompous line with his typ-ical flair for bad acting. If either of us were actually drinkers, that flight would have gone horribly wrong very very quickly. I am therefore thankful for free water and frozen solid bricks that are in theory ice cream sandwiches. The point is that it’s not so much the things we do but really the things we love that seem to define us. This is not to say that if you tell me you like gingerbread more than choco-late chip cookies, then I can tell your fortune. It’s more that if we evaluate why we incline to certain things, we gain an insight into our-selves. If we’re honest, our motives—all the while becoming more clear—often take on a hue of a desire to satisfy ourselves at the expense

of the Other, be it dog or cat or spouse or whoever. The Blessed Lord, I’m sorry to say, often gets treated this way as well. That seems to be the quasi-tangential im-plication of the Lord when He said, “Where your treasure is, there is your heart.” Put an-other way, what you place importance on is that which directs the rest of you. It is all too common to reverse it and say to ourselves, “Where my heart is, there is my treasure,” but if we’re truthful, we know perfectly well that for the most part the heart goes after what it wants at the expense of what is good in itself. Money and fame are obvious culprits, but comfort, vanity, and self-sufficiency are like the smell of fresh bread in the house. You might not see it, but it’s got you running to the kitchen anyway. So Pablo and Mimi went to a new home once I met my wife, who is incidentally al-lergic to cats. So now I get to watch her avoid my father-in-law’s cat—a Siamese he named

“Ming” who, I might add, hates women. As for me, I don’t really mind the cat-dog tension these days. I got around the whole pet problem by declaring myself a “fish per-son,” mainly because they don’t want any-thing from me except to not be floating at the top of the aquarium for lack of food. I wonder what that says about me?

Send your explanation of why it is that birth-day party clowns are scary, but rodeo clowns aren’t, to jeff@umatuna.org.

Welcome to Planet Cat-PeopleI’m Just Saying Jeffrey L. Fitzgerald

Ming “the Merciless,” perched at her window ready to inflict harm on un-suspecting Women-folk

Sept 5 *Blessed Teresa of CalcuttaMon

Sept. 6 *Blessed Thomas TsujiTues

Sept. 7 *St. CloudWed

Sept. 8 Birth of the Blessed Virgin MaryThurs (Feast)

Sept. 9 St. Peter Claver Fri Optional Memorial

Sept. 10 *St. Ambrose Barlow, OSBSat

Sept. 11 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time

* Denotes saint memorials not normally celebrated on Guam.

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, known more famously in our day as Mother Teresa, was born in Albania in 1910. Originally joining the Sisters of Loreto as a missionary teacher, she eventually felt the call to leave education in India and begin a vocation taking care of the poorest of the poor: the

“untouchables,” or Dallit. Founding the Missionaries of Charity in 1950, she worked with her gradually growing order in helping the poor—regardless of background or religion—until her death on September 5, 1997. Because her beatification is somewhat recent, her memorial is not yet widely celebrated; even so, her example for those who remember her are a constant source of encouragement. Born to Japanese nobility around 1571, Blessed Thomas Tsuji was educated by and then joined the Jesuits (the Society of Jesus). He was exiled from Japan for the public proclamation of his faith, but later returned in disguise. He eventually was arrested again

and was burned alive in September,1627 in Nagasaki for not renouncing his faith. He is one of the 205 Japanese martyrs beatified by Pope Pius IX in 1867, and the cause for his canonization continues in Japan. St. Cloud was the grandson of the Clovis, King of the Franks (the ruler remembered for the converting of the region that would become northern France to Catholicism). Although intrigue in the royal family deprived him of his birthright, he did not seek to claim his royal powers; instead, he placed himself under the guidance of St. Severinus who lived near Paris until he moved to Nogent. He was tireless in instructing the people of that region in the Faith, finally dying about 560 at the age of 36. September 8 celebrates the Feast of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Although little is definitively known, there is a rich tradition in the Church surrounding the Blessed Mother’s youth. Her feast day—exactly nine months after the feast of her Immaculate Conception on December 8, commemorates the pious legend that Sts. Joachim and Anna were infertile, but after

praying for a child received the assurance that their child would help bring about God’s plan for salvation for the world (according to the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James). This feast for Catholics today is especially important since it reminds us that God was active in the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, including her conception, birth, life, and final assumption. St. Peter Claver, born in Catalonia (Spain) in 1581, became a Jesuit and sought to fulfill his vocation as a priest in the New World. Arriving in Catagena (Columbia) in 1610, he became an outspoken defender of Africans sent to the Americas as slaves for labor in mines and on plantations. Although slavery had already been condemned by the Church, St. Peter Claver’s work, although inspiring some admirers, garnered great criticism from many in and out of the Church because of his devotion to Africans. He organized teams of catechists who spoke African languages and was known for delivering fresh food to newly arrived slaves when their ships arrived in South America. In his early 70s, he fell ill with a

degenerative disease and was neglected and brutally treated by the servant charged with his care—a suffering he offered up in reparation for his sins. He died in 1654. A remarkable yet largely unknown saint outside of the United Kingdom, St. Ambrose Barlow was the son of an English nobleman shortly after England broke with Rome during the Reformation. As a young man, he realized his vocation to be a Catholic priest—a dangerous and illegal vocation at the time in England. After studying in Douai in France and then Valladolid in Spain, he return to minister to Catholics in England, where he joined the Order of St. Benedict. After being arrested several times, he was arrested on Easter Sunday, 1641 and imprisoned until his trial on September 7 of the same year. After being convicted of being a Catholic priest and offering the sacraments, he was sentenced to death and was executed on September 9, 1641.

The staff of U Matuna Si Yu’os wish you a safe and blessed week.

Looking Ahead