Deacon Bill Hagen | For The Pacific Voice

Two professionals with experience in the area of group communication will assist Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron and his clergy as they begin their convocation on January 10, 2011.

Father Patrick Carrion, with the Archdiocese of Baltimore, has been involved in “Cultivating Unity” programs since 2004.  Cultivating unity is a program operated by the National Organization of Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy (NOCERCC).

Fr. Patrick, ordained in 1982, is a director of deacon formation as well as being pastor at several parishes in Baltimore.  In addition to being an ordained priest Fr. Patrick got his Masters in Administration in 1989 from Johns Hopkins University.

Working from a report developed from surveys of the clergy in the Archdiocese, and interviews conducted, the team will present to the members assembled at the Carmel Retreat Center challenges being faced by Guam’s Catholic priests.  Once challenges have been identified there will be open discussions on solutions and the development of stronger bonds between individual members of the clergy and the clergy and the Archbishop.

Joining in the three-day convocation in January will be Trish Sullivan Vanni a faculty member of Cultivating Unity.  Trish has been involved in various forms of Catholic Parish Ministries and has a Masters in Divinity from St. John’s University.  Prior to entering into ministry Trish was the president of Sullivan Communications, a marketing and communications firm, and consulted for various Fortune 500 companies.

The Archbishop and the clergy ask for the prayers of the faithful as they prepare for this very important gathering as they will be daily praying for the people of Guam during this three day convocation.