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Archbishop Michael Byrnes arrives on Guam

By Haidee V Eugenio
DailGuam Pacific Daily News
November 27, 2016

http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2016/11/27/archbishop-michael-byrnes-arrives-guam/94520092/

Coadjutor Archbishop Michael J. Byrnes, center, is flanked by Sinajana Mayor Robert Hofmann, left, and Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai, upon his arrival at the A. B. Won Pat Guam International Airport early Monday morning, Dec. 28.

[with video]

Coadjutor Archbishop Michael Jude Byrnes stepped foot on Guam for around 1 a.m. on Monday, marking a leadership milestone for the island’s Catholic church.

“When I saw the lights from the plane, I started getting excited,” the Vatican-sent Byrnes said minutes after emerging at 1:18 a.m. from the arrival area of the Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport.

After a long flight from Detroit, Michigan to Tokyo and then to Guam, Byrnes said he was exhausted and looked forward to a good night’s sleep.

But he has a big first day ahead of him, including joining the Catholic clergy in a day of recollection Monday morning and a press conference in the afternoon. When asked about his initial message to the people of Guam, he said, “I really look forward to meeting you."

Byrnes, 58, has two public events on Wednesday in which the public will have a chance to get to know him.

Crowd, music greet possible Apuron successor

Pope Francis appointed Byrnes on Oct. 31 as coadjutor archbishop for Guam, giving him the right to succeed embattled Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron, when Apuron, 71, resigns, retires or is removed.

Apuron, who has been Guam’s Catholic leader for 30 years, is facing a canonical trial at the Vatican over multiple allegations of sexual abuse of altar boys in the 1970s. Apuron still holds the title of archbishop but he has not been seen in public since June when Pope Francis placed him on leave.

Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai and other clergy greeted Byrnes at the airport’s arrival gate. Hon, who temporarily administered the Archdiocese of Agana until the coadjutor archbishop’s appointment, was at the airport long before midnight.

As soon as Byrnes, along with Hon and other clergy, emerged from the arrival area, about two dozen seminarians and administrators from the Redemptoris Mater Seminary started singing and playing the guitar and tambourine to welcome the new archbishop.

“We’re very happy to have him here on Guam, and we’re looking forward to work together with him for the people of Guam and the diocese,” Redemptoris Mater Seminary vice rector Julio Cesar Sanchez said.

Governor arrives on same flight

Gov. Eddie Calvo, who arrived on the same connecting flight to Guam, said he looks forward to working with the new archbishop.

“I had the opportunity to meet him, taking off on the airplane. I look forward to working with him, and again it’s a sign that there is a coming of a new year for the Catholic flock, opportunity to start afresh,” Calvo said.

Calvo said he came from a governors’ conference in Florida.

Prior to his appointment as coadjutor archbishop of Guam, Byrnes was auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Detroit. Byrnes is a Detroit native. He will live in the episcopal residence, which has been vacated by Apuron.

Public events planned for Wednesday

“The Archdiocese of Agana is opening a new chapter in its history and invites everyone to two islandwide celebrations Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016, related to Archbishop Michael J. Byrnes, our new coadjutor archbishop,” the archdiocese said in a statement last Friday.

A “Prayer for the Beginning of the Episcopal Ministry of Coadjutor Archbishop Byrnes” will take place at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagåtña.

At 6 p.m. on the same day, the archdiocese starts the Novena of Masses honoring Santa Marian Kamalen, also at the cathedral-basilica.

Byrnes will celebrate his first islandwide Mass with Hon, visiting bishops and priests, the archdiocese said.

The celebrations will culminate with the islandwide commemoration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on Dec. 8, which includes the celebration of Santa Marian Kamalen and the close of the Golden Jubilee of the Archdiocese.

Contact: heugenio@guampdn.com




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