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.

Source

• mvariety.com
• saipantribune.com
• mvariety.com
• Image: mvariety.com

"This is a powerful message of unity by a wise and humble leader. Our prayers are with you." says Pastor Ray Kinsella, Grace Christian Ministries (GCA) in Saipan.

Bishop-elect of Chalan Kanoa, Ryan Jimenez, has invited people to celebrate his ordination with a bike ride.

Bike the Faith (BTF) is not a race. It is a faith-raising fundraising journey.

It will raise funds for Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Marriage Encounter and the Solomon Islands Catholic Community

Jimenez said BTF is an inter-faith event "to integrate my advocacy for healthy living for our community along with strengthening our faith."

The primary beneficiary is the Solomon Islands Catholic Community, "our sister community with great needs to minister to our fellow Catholics there."

The Marriage Encounter local program will be able to continue to advocate for healthy families with its various programs.

The bike riders will go up Navy Hill to GCA for a prayer with Pastor Ray Kinsella. They then its on to Kristo Rai Church for a prayer.

Then they will ride to Life in the Son Church at Gualo Rai to receive blessings with Pastor Eric Abragan.

After that they head for Saipan Community Church and Pastor Roger Abe for beachside blessing.

Finally the bikers visit the ordination location at the Mount Carmel Cathedral for the celebration and final blessing by Pale Ryan aka soon-to-be Bishop Ryan.

Source

• mvariety.com
• Image: mvariety.com

Immigration and same-sex marriage are among these issues, Jimenez said.

He is not saying he's for same-sex union, and it's not his place to state church policy on the topic, he said.

He says he does want to promote respect for people, regardless of who they are.

At a press conference, after his appointment was announced he mentioned Pope Francis' public statement almost three years ago.

"If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?"

The immigration issue in the Northern Marianas includes the plight of displaced foreign workers, some of whom are from the Philippines.

A U.S. immigration limit on how many foreign workers can get work permits in the Northern Marianas each year, could send hundreds of Northern Marianas workers back to their home countries if they fall out of legal immigration status.

When Jimenez's appointment was made public, he was heading to Saipan's neighbouring island, Tinian, to visit a group of Filipino workers who hadn't been paid for months.

Jimenez makes it part of his routine to be in touch with the community he serves, whether it's at a casual coffee shop for breakfast, or at a dormitory for foreign workers who need food for the soul despite their economic struggles.

Balbina Perez, of the Tinian parish, described Jimenez in the diocese's publication, North Star, as "a people person."

Also called "the smiling priest," Jimenez grew up from humble beginnings on the tiny town of Larena, on the Philippine island of Siquijor.

His parents, Rogelio and Lillia Jimenez, raised him on an island almost the size of Saipan, hundreds of miles from Manila, which is accessible only by boat.

One of his first calls to share the news of his bishop appointment was to his mum, a retired public school teacher who still lives in the town where he was raised.

Source

• guampdn.com
• Image: dioceseofchalankanoa.com

Saipan is 218 kilometres from Guam, in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

Catholic parishes, schools and organisations have been collecting non-perishable food items and funds to assist victims of Soudelor.

Water, rice and other canned goods are the most essential items, a release from the archdiocese said.

Saipan is a U.S. commonwealth with a population of 53,000.

Typhoon Soudelor hit Saipan with the intensity of a Category 2 hurricane on Sunday night 2 August, local time.

Winds were measured up to 105 mph as the storm hit. However, they may have been stronger than those reports according to an AccuWeather Meteorologist.

According to the Red Cross, nearly 500 people spent Monday night in several government shelters.

Residents were without water and electricity and were rationing gasoline four days after Soudelor.

President Obama declared the Northern Mariana Islands, including Saipan, under a State of Disaster last Thursday.

Source

• kuam.com
• mvariety.com
• accuweather.com
• abc7.com
• Image: facebook.com/SoudelorRecover

The Mercedarian sisters were the first group of religious women to come to the island.

The Spanish Sisters Loreta Zubia, Inocencia Urizar, Maria Teresa Cortazar, Pilar Lorenzo and Aurora Chopitea arrived by boat at what is now known as the Garapan Fishing Base on March 4 1928.

Later that same year, a second Pacific mission was opened in Pohnpei.

In 1936, the sisters began a mission in Chuuk.

After World War II, the Mercedarians resumed their work which spread to other islands in Micronesia.

In 1951, the sisters established the Saipan's first Catholic school, Our Lady of Mercy Kindergarten, now known as Sister Remedios Early Childhood Development Centre.

The following year, Mount Carmel School opened.

A ceremony at Mount Carmel last Wednesday started with a school Mass at the cathedral.

After the Mass, faculty, staff and students, along with the sisters, made their way to the high school building where a rededication and the blessing ceremony took place.

The high school building was re- named after the Sister's founder, the Blessed Mother Margarita Maria Maturana.

Also present at the ceremony were Lt. Gov. Ralph Torres and Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa, Father Ryan Jimenez.

Source

• Marianas Variety
• Image: Marianas Variety

Bishop Camacho was the first Bishop of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa in the Northern Mariana Islands. He served as bishop from 1984 until his retirement in 2010.

Fr. Ryan P. Jimenez, the Apostolic Administrator said he "Was told that it's not going to happen soon. I was expecting that it happens soon because it will be two years in April this year that we don't have a bishop."

Source

• The Saipan Tribune
• Image; Chalan Kanoa Diocese