GUAM
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agana
The past Tuesday July 12, I had the privilege to celebrate the 72nd anniversary of the martyrdom of Father Jesus Baza Dueñas at St Joseph’s Church, Inarajan. Before beginning the Holy Eucharist, I paused a moment in front of the picture of this priest, who died heroically at the age of 33 – the age of Our Lord.
My thought went back to the time of the 2nd World War. When the invaders came to Guam, Fr. Dueñas stood up fearlessly to defend the oppressed and spoke up against all sort of abuses inflicted by the ruthless marauders. Later accused of treason against the Japanese imperial regime, he was arrested in Inarajan on July 8, 1944 and brutally tortured, together with his nephew, Eduardo Camacho Dueñas. He could have escaped, but not wanting any eventual punishment by the Japanese soldiers against his family or other innocent people, he decided to stay upfront. It was for the people he cared and loved that he paid a high price of torture and decapitation.
Ever since then, he has become a remarkable figure in Guam history and in that of the Local Church. He was the 2nd Chamorro to be ordained a Catholic Priest and, at the time of his martyrdom, he was the first Chamorro cleric to be appointed as the Ecclesiastical Superior of the Church (Pro-Vicar) on Guam. In those difficult years of turmoil and fear, he was considered a good shepherd. He spread hope by words and deeds, and at the end laid down his life for his sheep.
Fr. Dueñas is an inspiring example for all pastors, priests and Bishops. The love of Christ was his strength and reward. For love, and not hatred, his life was offered to God and to His people.
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