Historic Visit to the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa - SAIPAN
BY Fr. Celso Magbanua Jr.
The upcoming and first-ever visit of the IPVS to the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa started with the deep love and devotion of a simple lady, Patricia Guerrero, to the Blessed Mother. Patricia, who was cured of her eyes' illness, had been incessantly searching for prayer aids such as novena pamphlets as her way of expressing her gratitude to God, to whom she attributed her healing.
Four years ago, in 2007, Patricia found a prayer booklet on the IPVS and she has been praying to the Blessed Virgin Mary of Fatima since then. When she learned that it's possible to bring the IPVS to the CNMI, she looked for ways on how to do it. As early as 2007, Patricia inquired and communicated with Rose Marie Malburg, one of the custodians of the IPVS.
On Feb. 14, 2010, Patricia received a letter from Ms. Malburg. Attached to the letter were the guidelines and some other pertinent things for the visit of the IPVS. Ms. Malburg recommended Patricia to see Fr. Mike Crisostomo of the Archdiocese of Agana, Guam, the latter being the contact person of the Foundation in Guam. The IPVS visited Guam twice, in 2006 and 2010.
It was on Sept. 1, 2010, that Patricia, accompanied by Fr. Mike Crisostomo, had a meeting with the late Very Rev. Fr. Manuel Reyes Corcuera, then Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa. The purpose of the meeting was to ask the good Apostolic Administrator to allow the visit of the IPVS to the Diocese. Fr. Corcuera conceded and immediately ordered the necessary preparations to be made.
In order to assure the success of the first visit of IPVS, Fr. Corcuera assigned Sr. Estela Altea, SGBP, Religious Education Directress, to head the Steering Committee with the assistance of Rev. Fr. Ryan Jimenez, then Chancellor of the Diocese. Members of the Steering Committee were selected: Sonia and Jeffrey Camacho, Tony and Linda Yarobwemal, Patricia Guerrero, Rita Guerrero and Lourdes Leong. The committee had its first meeting on Nov. 12, 2010, at the Pastorelle Sisters' convent in San Antonio. Henceforth, they have been meeting every Friday night (later Tuesday night) in the same venue.
Purpose
When the Blessed Mother appeared to Francisco, Jacinta, and Lucia in Fatima, Portugal from May 13, 1917, to Oct. 13, 1917, she told them to tell the people to pray and do sacrifices for the conversion of sinners and pray the Holy Rosary for peace in the whole world. These will also be the primary intentions for the visit of the Blessed Mother to the whole Diocese.
In addition, it is also our prayer that through the intercession of the Blessed Mother, we would soon have a new bishop to shepherd and guide the Diocese to the path of holiness toward her Son, Jesus.
When asked what she would ask the Blessed Mother for, Sr. Estela Altea, SGBP, the committee chairperson for this event, said: “I would ask the Blessed Mother to pray for each one of us here in the Diocese, for us to be serious with our relationship with Jesus and not to be lazy with our religious life.”
SCHEDULE OF PARISH VISITS
Feb. 1: Mt. Carmel Cathedral; 5:30pm arrival; Holy Mass, 6pm; *Departure, 11am
Feb. 2: San Roque Parish; 5:45pm, arrival; Holy Mass, 6pm; *Departure, 9am
Feb 3: Saint Jude Parish; 5:30pm arrival; Holy Mass, 6pm; Departure, 11pm
Feb 4: Mercedarian Sisters (Maturana); 8am arrival; Holy Mass, 8am; Departure, 7pm
Feb. 5: San Vicente Parish; 5pm arrival; Holy Mass, 6pm; Departure, 11pm
Feb. 6: Santa Soledad Mission Parish; 3pm arrival; Holy Mass, 6pm; Departure, 11:30pm
Feb: 7: San Jose Parish - Saipan; 6pm arrival; Holy Mass, 8pm; *Departure, 7:30am
Feb. 8: San Antonio Parish; 5pm arrival; Holy Mass, 6pm; *Departure, 5pm
Feb. 9: Kristo Rai Parish; 5:30pm arrival; Holy Mass, 6pm; *Departure, 7am
Feb 11: Santa Remedios Parish; 5:30pm arrival; Holy Mass, 6pm; *Departure, 7pm
Feb 16: San Francisco De Borja; 10am arrival; Holy Mass, 6pm; *Departure, 7am
Feb. 17: San Isidro Parish (Rota); 3pm arrival; Holy Mass, 4pm; Departure, 9pm
Feb 18: San Jose Parish (Tinian); 2:30pm arrival; Holy Mass, 6pm; *Departure, 8am
Feb. 19: Pastorelle Sisters Convent/IPVS Steering Committee; 8:45am arrival; Adoration, 9am; *Departure, 7:45am
Feb 20: Mt. Carmel Cathedral; 8am arrival; Holy Mass, 9am; *Departure, 7am
Feb. 21: Bishop's House; Arrival, 7am; Departure, 3pm
Mt. Carmel Cathedral - Culmination; Holy Mass, 6pm, all priests; Departure, 8pm
