Group of Catholics Urges Yona Seminary's Closure
By Haidee V Eugenio
A group of Catholics is urging the church to consider closing the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Yona and re-establishing a minor seminary that they said would be of greater benefit to the Archdiocese of Agana. The Concerned Catholics of Guam cited recommendations by a church ad-hoc committee about four months ago, which stated the seminary should close if it does not clarify its purpose, does not seek formal accreditation to ensure the quality of its formation of priests and does not ensure its financial viability. “It is our strong belief that the re-establishment of a minor seminary would better serve our archdiocese as it had done for nearly five decades. We urge you to bring these issues to Archbishop Byrnes,” Andrew Camacho, vice president of the Concerned Catholics of Guam, said in a letter Thursday to the Archdiocesan Presbyteral Council. The council, which consists of nine priests and clergy providing advice to Coadjudtor Archbishop Michael Byrnes, has yet to respond to a request for comment. Byrnes returned to Guam on Monday.
The Yona seminary has been run by the Neocatechumenal Way, whose practices are at odds with many of Guam's traditional Catholics. “The Seminary Visitation Ad Hoc Committee report should not be dismissed,” Camacho told the council. “This archdiocese and the thousands of people are depending on you to give wise counsel to the new archbishop so we may all get on the right path and truly live our faith. Our prayers are with you at this difficult time.” Using figures previously cited by Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron, Concerned Catholics said the archdiocese has already spent about $17 million to operate the seminary in Yona since 1999, with 17 priests from RMS so far ordained, and only eight serving in parishes or as chaplains, the group said. Camacho stated eight seminarians could have been trained at the University of Guam, St. Joseph's Seminary and St. Patrick's Seminary at an estimated cost of $176,000 per seminarian. Concerned Catholics said Archbishop Anthony Apuron had stated that it cost $1 million a year to operate the seminary, although there is no financial report to confirm or verify the figure. The money used to buy the property was donated by Carmelite nuns in the United States. The property is now worth at least $40 million. Prior to RMS, a minor seminary was established as part of the Father Duenas Memorial High School, in the late 1940s. Concerned Catholics said the minor seminary, although modest, provided the spiritual guidance and formation of many local priests for many decades. “This is the kind of institution our archdiocese can sustain and can provide a benefit to our local Catholic faithful,” Camacho told the council.
Contact: heugenio@guampdn.com
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