Archbishop Michael J. Byrnes blesses his new flock at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagatna, Guam, on Nov. 30, his first Mass as coadjutor archbishop of the Archdiocese of Agana. (Robert Tenorio | Expressions Studio for the Archdiocese of Agana)Louella Losinio | For Umatuna Si Yu'os
AGANA, GUAM — Coadjutor Archbishop Michael J. Byrnes, in his homily during the beginning of the novena Masses honoring Santa Marian Kamalen, spoke about belonging to the Catholic Church of Guam and enjoining the community to make a conviction.
The former Detroit auxiliary bishop was appointed coadjutor archbishop of Agana by Pope Francis on Oct. 31, and celebrated his first Masses on the island Nov. 30.
Some 1,800 people attended the evening “Mass of Welcome” as the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagatna overflowed with Catholics and other guests who came to warmly receive him. Several bishops were in attendance, including Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Arturo Cepeda, who accompanied Archbishop Byrnes for the Mass.
Archbishop Byrnes recalled an experience that taught him that as a parish priest, he belongs to the Church. Translating this experience to Guam, he said, “I belong to you now. I’m your bishop. I belong to you.”
Just like when he uttered similar words in a morning celebration, the people responded with applause.
Referencing the Gospel on what it means to be Christian, he said, “As Pope Francis, quoting Pope Benedict, said so often, ‘to be a Christian is not just an ethical choice, and it is not just a lofty idea, but rather it is an encounter, an encounter with an event, a person, that gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.’”
He said Jesus is the Lord of a new world. “Not the world of sin and death, not the world of betrayal of trust, not a world of violence and hatred, division, envy, rivalry, but a new world,” Archbishop Byrnes said.
Earlier, the 58-year-old archbishop had been officially received by the Catholic Church on Guam during an equally uplifting Liturgy of the Word during which he recited the profession of faith and declared his oath of fidelity. More than 1,000 people attended that prayer service at the cathedral-basilica.
In his homily Wednesday evening, Archbishop Byrnes said “there is no distinction” among the people.
“I am Irish-American. There is no Irish-American and Italian. There is no longer Chamorro and Filipino. There is no longer Korean and Chinese,” he said. “If Jesus is Lord, he is Lord of all. He says all who confess with the mouth is saved.”
“Saved from what?” he asked. “Saved from sin. Saved from death.”
Archbishop Byrnes said a friend wrote to him after his appointment as archbishop and said, “Guam isn’t the end of the world. But you can see it from there.” For him, it meant that there is still more to go.
“Here on this island, we are predominantly Catholic but there is still so much pain. So much hate, problems with drugs, questioning among young people,” he said. “Does this even make sense anymore? Isn’t that something of the past?”
The Archdiocese of Agana has struggled with numerous difficulties in recent times such as division in the Church, lawsuits and multiple allegations of sexual abuse against Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron, OFM Cap. He is currently undergoing a canonical trial in Rome.
Archbishop Byrnes said Guam has much to proclaim not just by words but by deeds, inviting the community in the days ahead to rediscover Jesus.
“That we can say with Pope Francis something that he wrote a number of years ago, it’s become the conviction of his heart,” Archbishop Byrnes said. “And it is really the conviction of many hearts that had been set on fire by Jesus. He said, ‘knowing Jesus is the best gift that any person can receive. That we have encountered him is the best thing that has happened in our lives. And making him known by our words and deeds is our joy.’”
Members of Guam’s Catholic community who attended the Mass said they felt hopeful.
“One thing that I loved that he said was what closes the division between us is the fact that we are all sinners,” Felix Babauta said.
“That is powerful for me. Like he said, it is all old news. But to hear it reiterated and said, that what brings us back together, with all these divisions in the Church, is that we are all sinners — I feel that. I am actually very encouraged.”
This article is reprinted with permission from Umatuna Si Yu’os, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Agana.
