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The parish of San Isidro Church, in Sinapalo on the Island of Rota in the Northern Marianas, is reported to be in uproar after learning that their 97 year old parish priest Monsignor Luis Antonelli will be relieved of most pastoral and administrative duties by Nov. 29.
Antonelli has served the people of Rota for over 42 years for both the Sinapalo San Isidro Church and the San Francisco De Borja Church.
Antonelli has stated that “as long as it is God’s will for him to serve, he is more than happy to do it” during a Parish Council Meeting on Oct. 28 at the San Isidro Church.
The decision to remove Antonelli’s administrative and pastoral duties came as a surprise to the parishioners.
San Isidro Parish Council President James C. Manglona has made efforts to contact Father Ryan Jimenez, the apostolic administrator for the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa but no responses or call backs were given.
They said their only contact with Jimenez was when he visited Rota to inform the parish of the decision to remove the monsignor from the leadership.
They are requesting the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa to reconsider its decision.
Antonelli was born on September 23, 1918, in Sheppron, Pennsylvania USA.
The diocese of Chalan Kanoa does not have a Bishop at present.
The first bishop of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa was Emeritus Tomas A. Camacho.
He was appointed in 1984 and retired in 2010.
He says he is hopeful that Rome will finally appoint a new bishop for the diocese and is thankful for the leadership of Fr. Ryan Jimenez, the current apostolic administrator of the diocese.
Camacho said the church in American Samoa waited for over 10 years to get a new bishop, “but I don’t think it will take a long time for us.”
“He is a very qualified person and he’s doing a very good job leading the church,” Camacho said.
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