Jan. 24, 2025 -- NEWS RELEASE
Archbishop Ryan P. Jimenez will celebrate 9:30 a.m. Mass Sunday, Jan. 26 at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagatña as Guam commemorates 2025 National Catholic Schools Week from Jan. 26 to Feb. 1.
Students, families, staff, faculty and administrators of Archdiocese of Agaña schools will fill the pews for the Eucharistic celebration in Guam’s capital. This year’s local theme for Catholic Schools Week is “Impacting Our Community, Inspiring Guam.”
In a message issued on Jan. 9, 2025, Archbishop Ryan P. Jimenez urged prayers for the many people who have been devastated by the wildfires that are raging in Southern California.
At this writing, news agencies report that at least five people have died, hundreds have lost homes and tens of thousands of others have been evacuated from the intense fires that are sweeping the area. The suffering, fear and apprehension is deep, the archbishop noted. Click the header to read the full message.
Dec. 25, 2024 -- Dear People of God,
Rejoice all ye Faithful, Jesus Christ our Savior is born! I extend the peace and love of God to everyone on this joyful Christmas day. I feel blessed to celebrate my very first Christmas on Guam as your shepherd and brother in Christ.
On Christmas, we rejoice in the greatest gift that our Almighty God has given to the whole world: “To you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk 2:11). In his Christmas message of last year, Pope Francis said, “Those words spoken by the angel in the heavens above Bethlehem are also spoken to us. We are full of hope and trust as we realize that the Lord has been born for us; that the eternal Word of the Father, the infinite God, has made his home among us. He became flesh; he came ‘to dwell among us’ ” (Jn 1:14). CLICK TO READ FULL MESSAGE
DEC. 16, 2024: ARCHDIOCESAN ANNOUNCEMENT
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The Archdiocese of Agaña is saddened to announce the passing of Father Antonino Caminiti. Father “Nino” passed away Sunday evening, Dec. 15, 2024. He was 69 years old.
The Most Reverend Ryan P. Jimenez extends prayers and condolences to family and friends of Father “Nino” and asks the faithful to kindly remember him in their prayers.
Nightly Rosaries and Masses will be held at Niño Perdido y Sagrada Familia Church in Asan starting tonight, Monday, Dec. 16, through Dec. 24. Mass of Intentions is at 6 p.m. followed by the Rosary. Last respects will be held from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 26 at Niño Perdido y Sagrada Familia. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12 noon. Burial will follow at Pigo Catholic Cemetery in Anigua.
Father Nino served as a priest of the Archdiocese of Agaña for 16 years. He was ordained to the priesthood on Nov. 8, 2008. Click to read full story.
Dear Pilgrims of God,
The peace and joy of our Savior be with you! The Church is always in the midst of blessings, of graces that our Lord bestows upon us. Even this Advent season as we draw closer to celebrating the glorious birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, our already joyful hearts have more reason to leap in jubilation.
His Holiness, Pope Francis has proclaimed 2025 to be the Jubilee Year of Hope for our Universal Church! In solidarity with our Holy Father and brothers and sisters throughout the world, the Archdiocese of Agaña will open the Jubilee Year of Hope during the 11:30 a.m. Mass Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024 on the Feast of the Holy Family at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagatña. CLICK TO READ FULL MESSAGE.
Archbishop Ryan P. Jimenez has issued an important letter to the faithful regarding the Archdiocese of Agana's Ecclesial Disclosure Statement and Civil Disclosure Statement related to court stipulations of the Church's approved bankruptcy agreement with the victim survivors of clergy sexual abuse. The "Non-monetary Commitments" part of the archdiocese's bankruptcy agreement stipulate: "The Archdiocese will post on its website home page the names of all known past and present perpetrators of the Archdiocese who are identified in the Complaints for Damages" as child sexual abusers." Click here to view the Archbishop's message and the rest of the "Disclosures" documents and lists.
(CEPAC, Suva, Fiji) - The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has appointed the Very Reverend Fr. Romeo Duetao Convocar, former Apostolic Administrator and currently the Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of Agana, Guam, as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa, Northern Mariana Islands.
The appointment was officially published on November 25, 2024 (12:00 noon CET Rome). This appointment was also personally announced in Chalan Kanoa by His Eminence, Luis Antonio Gokim Cardinal Tagle, the Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, who is currently in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, for the celebration of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa's 40th Anniversary of Canonical Establishment. Click to read full news release.
NOV. 14, 2024 -- NEWS RELEASE
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On September 13, 2024, the Archdiocese of Agaña formally accepted an offer by the Department of Administration, Government of Guam, of $2.38 million to purchase the Chancery property which includes the Archbishop’s Residence. Expected closing of escrow is December 12, 2024.
The sale of the Chancery property is a major part of the settlement terms enumerated in the 5th Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan agreed upon by both parties and approved by the Court. From the overall sum, $500,000 of the sale proceeds will be used to renovate the museum space at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica for the new Chancery. READ MORE.
Archbishop Ryan P. Jimenez communicates this message regarding the beautiful Solemnity of Christ the King and the Year of the Eucharistic Revival. Click here for the full text.
In conjunction with the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission and Catholic Cemeteries of Guam's posting of All Souls Day Mass schedules at island cemeteries, the Most Reverend Ryan P. Jimenez has issued a memorandum on the "Occurrences in the Liturgical Calendar during the months of November and December 2024". Click here for a PDF copy.
Distinguished Australian journalist, broadcaster, and podcaster, Geraldine Doogue interviews Archbishop Ryan in Rome while attending Synod. Archbishop Ryan participates at Synod representing Guam, the Marianas Islands, and the Pacific region as President of the Episcopal Conference of the Pacific (CEPAC). Click the slide above to be linked to the interview.
Speaking to Guam journalists a day after his Aug. 15, 2024 installation as the new Archbishop of Agaña, the Most Reverend Ryan P. Jimenez emphasized that each person is important, each person has worth and dignity and is deserving of our love, no matter what their circumstances. Archbishop Ryan was asked what he would say to sinners, non-practicing Catholics, drug addicts, sex addicts or persons who have committed crimes to invite them to the Church. View the short clip at Catholic Radio KOLG's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXUAffacusY&t=31s
The Holy Father's representative, Rev. Msgr. Giosuè Busti, Deputy Head of Mission to the Apostolic Nuncio expressed congratulations to the Most Reverend Ryan Pagente Jimenez, DD and the faithful of Guam in a post-Communion message during the Solemn Rite of Canonical Possession and Installation of our new archbishop Aug. 15, 2024.
The Catholic Church on Guam rejoices and congratulates the Most Reverend Ryan P. Jimenez who officially became the fourth Archbishop of Agana during a splendid Solemn Rite of Canonical Possession and Installation on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024 at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagatna. Click here for the beautiful livestream recording: youtube.com/c/AganaCathedralBasilica
(CEPAC, Suva, Fiji) – The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has appointed Most Reverend Ryan P. Jimenez,
Bishop of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa, as the new Archbishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of
Agaña, Guam. The appointment was officially published on July 6, 2024 (12:00 noon CET Rome). The
Installation Mass will be held on August 15, 2024, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagatna, Guam
In response to breaking news announcement , The Very Rev. Romeo D. Convocar, the Apostolic Administrator of Agaña shares congratulations and these comments below:
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"We have a new Archbishop for Guam, thanks be to God! I welcome this good news with joy! Finally, our prayers asking God for a Guam Shepherd are answered!
In the name of the Clergy of the Archdiocese of Agaña and the entire people of God in Guam, I congratulate our Archbishop Elect, Most Reverend Ryan Pagente Jimenez! May the Good Lord of the harvest bless Archbishop Elect Ryan and the Archdiocese of Agaña!
/s/The Very Rev. Romeo D. Convocar
Apostolic Administrator, Archdiocese of Agaña
The Very Rev. Romeo D. Convocar discusses the roles and obligations of parish priests and the importance of the Catholic faithful's support as many Archdiocese of Agana priests and deacons prepare to start their new parish assignments on July 1, 2024.
New assignments of priests and deacons will take effect on July 1, 2024. Please note, the new assignments are for diocesan clergy of the Archdiocese of Agaña and are separate from the Capuchin Franciscans. As a religious order, the Capuchins determine placement of their members as pastors separately at four Archdiocesan parishes: Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Agana Hts.; Santa Teresita, Mangilao; St. Jude, Sinajana; and St. Francis, Yona. They have a long-standing agreement with the archdiocese to guide the faithful and oversee the four parishes as pastors.
Archdiocese of Agaña Apostolic Administrator, The Very Rev. Romeo D. Convocar asks Catholics as well as all members of our community to please pray for the people of New Caledonia which is in a state of emergency. Six people have been killed thus far as violence and rioting erupted in the capital of Noumea this week.