Fr Ryan Jimenez was ordained Bishop and installed as the Bishop of Chalan Kanoa (Saipan), Northern Marianas on Sunday.
On the Saturday morning prior to the ordination dozens of bikers of various ages, and ethnic and religious backgrounds had marked the occasion by gathering together at 5:30 a.m. to participate in Bike The Faith.
Many officials, including Gov. Ralph Torres, joined hundreds of the faithful in the jam-packed cathedral for the ordination on Sunday.
The ordaining bishop was Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai, Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Agana, Guam.
He was joined by Bishop Emeritus Tomas Camacho of Saipan and Bishop Julito B. Cortes of Dumaguete as co-consecrators.
The co-celebrating archbishops and bishops included Peter Choy Long, Archbishop of Fiji; Jose Palma Archbishop of Cebu; Amando Samo, Bishop of the Caroline Islands; and Daniel Parcon Bishop of Bohol.
The clergy of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa were in full attendance. They were joined by priests from the Caroline Islands, the Philippines, San Francisco and San Jose, California.
The choir consisted of over 100 individuals from the different parishes of Saipan, singing in different languages.
An island fiesta reception followed the ordination.
The group bike ride on Saturday promoted Jimenez’s efforts to encourage religious harmony, faith and healthy living, through group exercise.
At conclusion of the ride Jimenez gave a blessing. He thanked all bikers and helpers from the different faiths for their moral support and asked for their continued prayers as he prepared to assume the role of Bishop.
He also proposed to making Bike The Faith an annual event that would also include visits to and spiritual blessings from “our “brothers and sisters in the non-Christian denominations” on Saipan such as the local Hindu and Buddhist communities.
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