VOCATIONS
 |
| Visiting archbishops & bishops from the Pacific
came to celebrate the Silver Anniversary of the Diocese in February,
2005. |
The Catholic faith came to our shore a little over
100 years ago. But we are very fortunate that in this rather short period
of time, we are blessed to witness some wonderful deeds of the Lord
right in our midst. The faith which our beloved missionaries risked
their lives to bring to our shore has now firmly rooted and established
in our humble soil. Twenty five years ago, Feb.2, 1980, many of us had
no idea how the young Catholic Church in the Diocese was to make out.
By that time we had only two local priests, four local sisters, seven
deacons, and few seminarians. Almost all of the parishes in the Diocese
at that time were being looked after by foreign priests, whose families
and friends in their homeland provided a great deal of financial support
to their works in their respective parishes. When Bishop Amando came
on the scene, an unspoken query resonating in the mind of many "how
is this brown fellow from Nazareth going to support his parish while
working side by side with well connected SJ and New Yorkers?" Fortunately,
it is the real man from Nazareth, the carpenter son, whose works we
all participate and share in, who sustain and keep alive all our humble
and lowly efforts to be worthy vehicle of evangelization. He the same
who moves the hearts of Germans, Spanish, Americans in times past who
is now knocking on the hearts of Micronesians to do the same.
Indeed, the doors of many hearts in our Diocese are
wide open and have responded to His call. From one local priest in 1980
we now have one bishop and six priests. There were only four sisters
hut now we have twelve with still many young girls at various stages
of their formation. Seven deacons then now twenty three after four had
gone to their eternal rest. All parishes in Chuuk are now looked after
by local clergy with each parish completely supported by the generosities
and contributions of its parishioners. Our people now takes special
pride in seeing the fruits of their sacrifices and hard labor resulting
in big and beautiful churches where community worship become the center
of their lives. More young men are coming forward, and are now at various
stages of seminary formation. We look forward with hope of another priesthood
ordination next year.
Have you ever felt an attraction to the priesthood
or to be a sister? Do you have the big heart and the generosity to lead
the people of God in these islands toward God? Do you want to make a
difference in the lives of people? Or do you ever wonder what it is
like to be a priest or sister in the Diocese of the Caroline Islands?If
you want to find out more about the Diocesan priesthood, then you can
contact any of the vocation promotion coordinators in our Diocese.
Fr. Julio Angkel (Chuuk) - Tel. 691.330-2313
Fr. Nicholas Rahoy (Yap) - Tel. 691.930.4577; cell 930.3577; 330.5830
Fr. Rusk Saburo (Palau) - Tel. 680.488.2226
Fr. Adalbert Umwech (Chuuk) - Tel. 691.330.2313
