Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agaña
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agaña is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese
of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States
. It comprises the overseas dependency of Guam
. The prelate
is an archbishop
which pastor
s the mother church
, Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica.
elevated the vicariate apostolic
; it became the Diocese of Agaña. In response to the growth of Catholicism in Guam and its vicinity, the diocese was elevated to become a metropolitan see. The Archdiocese and Metropolitan Province of Agaña were created on March 8, 1984. The metropolitan province consists of the Archdiocese of Agaña, its suffragan sees of Chalan Kanoa
and the Caroline Islands
, and the Prefecture Apostolic of the Marshall Islands
.
The leadership of the Archdiocese of Agaña and particularly Archbishop Anthony Apuron are the targets of criticism over a letter that was distributed by his archdiocese comparing gay rights activism to Islamic terrorism.
Schools previously operated by the archdiocese include:
High schools:
Elementary and middle schools:
Elementary schools:
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States
Roman Catholicism in the United States
The Catholic Church in the United States is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, the Christian Church in full communion with the Pope. With more than 68.5 registered million members, it is the largest single religious denomination in the United States, comprising about 22 percent of the population...
. It comprises the overseas dependency of Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
. The prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
is an archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
which pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
s the mother church
Mother Church
In Christianity, the term mother church or Mother Church may have one of the following meanings:# The first mission church in an area, or a pioneer cathedral# A basilica or cathedral# The main chapel of a province of a religious order...
, Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica.
History
The Vicariate Apostolic of Guam was canonically erected on March 1, 1911. On July 4, 1946, territory was added from what once was the Vicariate Apostolic of Marianne, Caroline, and Marshall Islands. On October 14, 1965, the VaticanHoly See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
elevated the vicariate apostolic
Apostolic vicariate
An apostolic vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries that do not have a diocese. It is essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more...
; it became the Diocese of Agaña. In response to the growth of Catholicism in Guam and its vicinity, the diocese was elevated to become a metropolitan see. The Archdiocese and Metropolitan Province of Agaña were created on March 8, 1984. The metropolitan province consists of the Archdiocese of Agaña, its suffragan sees of Chalan Kanoa
Roman Catholic Diocese of Chalan Kanoa
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Chalan Kanoa is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It comprises the Northern Mariana Islands and is a suffragan of the Metropolitan Province of Agaña...
and the Caroline Islands
Roman Catholic Diocese of Caroline Islands
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Caroline Islands is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Federated States of Micronesia and in the Republic of Palau. It is a suffragan diocese of the Ecclesiastical Province of Agaña...
, and the Prefecture Apostolic of the Marshall Islands
Roman Catholic Apostolic Prefecture of the Marshall Islands
The Roman Catholic Apostolic Prefecture of the Marshall Islands is an ecclesiastical territory below the rank of diocese, in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The prefecture is a suffragan of the Metropolitan Province of Agaña...
.
The leadership of the Archdiocese of Agaña and particularly Archbishop Anthony Apuron are the targets of criticism over a letter that was distributed by his archdiocese comparing gay rights activism to Islamic terrorism.
Ordinaries
- Francisco Xavier Ricardo Vilá y Mateu O.F.M. (1911–1913)
- Agustín José Bernaus y Serra O.F.M. (1913 - 1913)
- Joachin Felipe Oláiz y Zabalza O.F.M. (1914–1933)
- León (Miguel) Angel Olano y Urteaga O.F.M. (1934–1945)
- Apollinaris William Baumgartner O.F.M. (1945–1970)
- Felixberto Camacho Flores (1971–1985)
- Anthony Sablan ApuronAnthony Sablan ApuronAnthony Sablan Apuron has been archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agaña since 1986. Apuron was born in 1945 in Guam. He was educated at St. Anthony College in Hudson, New Hampshire, and at Capuchin Seminary in Garrison, New York. He then studied at Maryknoll Seminary in New York...
O.F.M. Cap. (1985 - )
Schools
Schools operated by the archdiocese include:- Academy of Our Lady of GuamAcademy of Our Lady of GuamAcademy of Our Lady of Guam is an all-girls Catholic high school located at 233 Archbishop Felixberto C. Flores Street in Hagåtña, Guam, United States. AOLG, Guam's sole all-girls high school, has an average yearly enrollment of 400 students....
(HagåtñaHagåtña, GuamHagåtña , formerly English Agana and in Spanish Agaña, is the capital of the United States island territory of Guam. It is the island's second smallest village in both area and population. From the 18th through mid 20th century, it was Guam's population center...
) - Secondary school for girls - Bishop Baumgartner Memorial School (SinajanaSinajana, GuamSinajana is smallest of the nineteen Villages of Guam. It is located in the hills south of Hagåtña . The village's name may have come from the word "china-jan," cookware used to cook wild yams that once grew in the area. Sinajana is one of a few villages that was urbanized as a result of a...
) - Saint Anthony Catholic SchoolSaint Anthony Catholic School (Guam)St. Anthony Catholic School is a Catholic, coeducational school in Tamuning, Guam . Operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agaña, the kindergarten to 8th grade school is located on the ground of St. Anthony Catholic Church at 529 Chalan San Antonio.-History:The school was founded in 1960 by...
(TamuningTamuning, GuamTamuning, also known as Tamuning-Tumon-Harmon is a municipality or "village" located on the western shore of the island of Guam. The village of Tamuning can be viewed as the economic center of Guam, containing Tumon , Harmon Industrial Park, and commercial districts in other parts of the...
) - Santa Barbara Catholic SchoolSanta Barbara Catholic SchoolSanta Barbara Catholic School is a private school in Dededo, Guam.-History:Santa Barbara Catholic School opened its doors in September 1950 under the leadership of Reverend Father Fulgence Petrie, pastor of Santa Barbara Parish. The school was supervised and administered by the Sisters of Mercy,...
(DededoDededo, GuamDededo is the most populated village of the United States territory of Guam. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Dededo's population was just under 45,000 in 2010. The village is located on the coral plateau of Northern Guam.- Etymology :...
)
Schools previously operated by the archdiocese include:
High schools:
- Father Dueñas Memorial SchoolFather Duenas Memorial SchoolFather Dueñas Memorial School is an all-boys Catholic high school located in Dededo, Guam, United States.It is within the territory of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agaña. The school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The Father Duenas Memorial School is now...
(MangilaoMangilao, GuamMangilao is a village on the eastern shore of the United States territory of Guam. The village's population has increased slightly following the island's 2000 census....
) - Boys - Notre Dame High SchoolNotre Dame High School (Guam)Notre Dame High School, Inc. is a coeducational Roman Catholic high school located in Merizo, in the United States territory of Guam....
(TalofofoTalofofo, GuamTalofofo is a village located in the southern part of the United States territory of Guam, on the east coast. The village center is located in the hills above the coast, while the smaller coastal community below the cliff is known as Ipan....
) - Coed
Elementary and middle schools:
- Mount Carmel School (AgatAgat, GuamAgat is a village on the island of Guam, an unincorporated territory of the United States. It is located south of Apra Harbor on the island's western shore. The village's population has decreased since the island's 2000 census....
) - St. Francis Catholic School (BarrigadaBarrigada, GuamBarrigada is a village in central Guam. A largely residential municipality, its main village is located south of the Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport near the intersections of Routes 8, 10, and 16...
) - San Vicente School (Barrigada)
Elementary schools:
- Dominican School (YigoYigo, GuamYigo is the northernmost village of the United States territory of Guam, and is the location of Andersen Air Force Base. The municipality of Yigo is larger than any other village on the island in terms of area....
)