This statue of St. Patrick stands inside the Redemptoris Mater Seminary’s chapel in Yona.

By Fr. Pius Sammut, OCD
For The Pacific Voice

Guam is again celebrating the feast of Saint Patrick. This tradition, which started a few years ago at the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Yona, is now gaining momentum. A considerable number of people have flocked to the Seminary each year to celebrate the novena.

St. Patrick is one of the world’s most popular saints.  The Apostle of Ireland, Patrick was born in Scotland in the year 387 and died in Ireland in 461 at the age of 74.

As a 14 year old, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. When he was 20 he escaped. Soon he went back, having dreamt that the people of Ireland were calling out to him “We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more.”

Seminarians from the Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Mission Seminary of Guam carry the statue of St. Patrick during last year’s festal celebration. (Photos courtesy, Seminary)

He returned and started an intensive campaign of preaching, converting all Ireland during 40 years of concentrated ministry. When Guam’s major seminary was erected, a relic of Saint Patrick was given to the Rector. His protection from heaven has been constant in the ten years of existence of the Seminary.

The novena is taking place daily at 6 p.m. with daily Rosary and Novena Prayer followed by Mass.

The Feast Day itself will be celebrated Wednesday, March 17th. Rosary and Novena will begin at 6 p.m., then the Solemn Mass, presided by Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron, OFM Cap., D.D., will start at 6:30 p.m. in the Seminary Courtyard.

There will then be a short procession, veneration of the saint’s relic and a traditional na’ taotao tumano.  Everyone is invited.

Novena Schedule

Day 6 – 6 p.m. Sun., Mar. 14. Presider Msgr. David C. Quitugua, Vicar General Archdiocese of Agana

Day 7 – 6 p.m. Mon., Mar. 15. Presider Fr. Michael Klepacki, U.S. Navy chaplain

Day 8 – 6 p.m. Tues, Mar. 16. Presider Msgr. Brigido Arroyo, pastor San Anthony

Day 9 – 6 p.m. Wed, Mar. 17. Presider Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron, OFM Cap., D.D.