Friars from our Province first set foot in Guam nearly 85 years ago. They oversaw the postwar expansion of the Church throughout the Mariana Islands. A custody, Star of the Sea, was formed from Guam and Hawaii in 1982. 

Now, our mission to the Chamorro people is at a turning point.

Fr. José Ángel Torres Rivera, vicar general minister of the Capuchin Order, came to Guam Oct. 22-28 to conduct a visitation of the custody. During that week he met with each friar individually. He addressed the group about the transition of Star of the Sea from a provincial custody to a provincial delegation. He explained the nature of a delegation and what the transition to that juridical status involves. With the decrease in friars, governance of Guam will revert to the Province and a delegate of the provincial minister. Friars were given the opportunity to ask questions. Father José also toured the island, particularly to see the four parishes where our brothers minister.

The Capuchin Order has had a ministerial presence in Guam since the dawn of the 20th century. Friars from our Province took over from their Spanish missionary brothers beginning in 1939. After World War II, the friars constructed many churches and schools, organized the laity, and promoted vocations to priesthood and religious life among the Chamorro people.

The friars who live and minister in Guam today include Fr. Patrick Castro, the custodial minister, Br. Jason Chargualaf, Fr. Andre Eduvala, Fr. Joseph English, Fr. Eric Forbes, and Fr. Felixberto Leon-Guerrero. They also include our guest friars Fr. Anil Silvano Fernandes and Fr. Stephen Claud Mascarenhas from Holy Trinity Province, Karnataka, India. Fr. Michel Dalton and Fr. Paulo Kosaka minister in Hawaii. Fr. Marvin Bearis is pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Middletown, Conn. Fr. Michael Tenorio works overseas as a chaplain for the U.S. Air Force. Br. Austin Usar is in studies in the Philippines.