'We hurt you, we betrayed your trust'
By Pacific Island Times News Staff
The Archdiocese of Agana on Thursday officially installed Ryan Jimenez as the new archbishop at the installation rites attended by hundreds of faithful at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagatna.
Jimenez's homily was spiced up with candor, humor and a poignant introspection.
"So you see, we need to examine ourselves as people of God in this local church where we are. Do we thrive connecting to people because in life it's all about relationships?
"But maybe if I put an option in there, you thrive connecting to church leaders, no one would probably raise his or her hand. Why? Because we church leaders disappointed you, we've hurt you, we've betrayed your trust," he said.
Jimenez is inheriting the tasks to complete the implementation of the settlement agreement between the archdiocese and the more than 250 former altar servers who sued, alleging sex abuse by clergy members.
"But that's where we are. And yet, God embraces us for who we are, for where we are in our journey of faith," Jimenez said.
Jimenez, the archdiocese's fourth archbishop, succeeded Archbishop Michael Byrnes who resigned last year due to health reasons.
The two-hour ceremony was graced by local leaders who joined 37 visiting clergy, including 14 archbishops or bishops from the Philippines, and other Pacific islands.
Pope Francis was represented by Rev. Monsignor Giosuè Busti, the chargé d’affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See in New Zealand.
"Some thrive connecting to objects. Others thrive connecting to ideas. If I may ask you right now, how many of you thrive connecting to objects? Hey, you're just embarrassed?" Jimenez said in his homily.
"How about my brother, priest? How many of you thrive connecting to ideas? It's the same thing. All the better. Not because of AI, or artificial intelligence," he quipped.
"So you see, we need to examine ourselves as people of God in this local church where we are. Do we thrive connecting to people because in life it's all about relationships?
Before his appointment to his new post, Jimenez was the bishop of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa on Saipan.
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