A testimony of the first years of activity of the Magistral Delegation in Guam
The Magistral Delegation of Guam was created in 2012. Guam is part of the United States and a small island in the Western Pacific close to Manila. Our island community has a loving and humble heart for our Christian brothers and sisters in the Holy Land. Committed to our Order’s mission, Guam’s Magistral Delegation celebrated its inaugural Investiture in September 2012, investing over 20 Knights and Dames to the Order and adding 12 more in 2014.
Beginning in late 2015, our members responded to the call for candidates after hearing the good news that His Eminence the Cardinal Grand Master Edwin O'Brien wished to visit our Island Delegation. The Council – through the leadership of Rodney Jacob (Magistral Delegate), Deacon Steven Martinez, KHS, (Ecclesiastic Master of Ceremonies), John Rivera, KHS (Chancellor) and Joseph Gumataotao, KHS (Lay Master of Ceremonies) – engaged in a substantive formation process designed to lead our hearts to the Holy Land. Deacon Martinez and Rodney Jacob led discussions on the ways of the Holy Father, and oversaw programming related to Catholic Social Teaching, tenets of the Order and lessons in prayer and piety.
Four candidates emerged from our process invigorated to serve the Order and its mission. The Investiture date itself was specially chosen: September 8, 2016 to coincide with the visit of the Grand Master. We were privileged to have the Grand Master celebrating the Investiture of our four candidates. We gathered at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagåtña, Guam for this historic occasion. His Eminence, imparted a beautiful homily orienting the congregation to the work of the Order. Our Delegation bestowed beautiful flowers upon our visitors during mass and gave the statue of our Island's patron Our Lady of Kamalen to each of our off-island guests. Following Mass, the members of Guam's Delegation hosted Cardinal O'Brien, Dr. Paul Bartley, a member of the Grand Magisterium, and Fr. John Bateman at one of Guam's loveliest venue's the Guam Dusit Thani Hotel. At the dinner reception, our members had the privilege to greet the Cardinal, Dr. Bartley and Fr. Bateman personally.
Our Delegation and its new members continue to be intently mindful of the urgency of the situation in the Holy Land and dedicate their prayers and service in unity with the mission of the Order and the Church in the Holy Land.
(Winter 2017)