[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 125 (Monday, September 30, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1700-E1701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CELEBRATING THE FIESTA OF SAN DIMAS, PATRON SAINT OF THE VILLAGE OF 
                                MALESSO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 26, 2002

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the feast day 
of one of Guam's oldest patron saints. This Sunday, September, 29, 
2002, the residents of Guam will celebrate the feast day of San Dimas, 
the patron saint of Malesso, which is the island's southernmost 
village. For more than three centuries the San Dimas Catholic Church 
has stood as a center of faith and traditions for the community of 
Malesso. On the eve of the fiesta celebration, I would like to 
commemorate the rich history the San Dimas Church and the village of 
Malesso have brought to my district of Guam.
  The history of Catholic missionaries in Guam began on June 9, 1671, 
when the Spanish ship Buen Socorro docked in Umatac Bay with four new 
padres for the Marianas Mission. The four had come to relieve three 
Fathers already working in the Marianas under the guidance of Father 
San Vitores. Two of the new priests, Father Francisco Esquerra and 
Father Francisco Solano, had come from the Philippines by way of 
Mexico.
  The Padres worked hard in Hagatna, the capitol city of Guam, 
preaching to Spanish soldiers and lay workers, while maintaining 
carefully the devoted congregations formed by Father San Vitores. They 
rebuilt the Hagatna church, which had been destroyed in the typhoon of 
1671. Father Esquerra and the other Padres soon were not content to 
work only in Hagatna, and began to make various mission journeys 
covering more than half the island.
  Late in 1672, Father Esquerra became concerned at the great distance 
they had to travel to get to the usual anchorage of the ships, which 
was the port of San Antonio de Umatag (Umatac). He decided that it 
would be good to have a church in the southern part of the island which 
the Padres could settle. Father Esquerra decided upon the village of 
Malesso, and built a church there under the patronage of San Dimas. The 
Padre himself carefully attended the construction of the church. Two 
years later in 1674, Father Esquerra was martyred. However, the legacy 
of the San Dimas Church still lives today.
  Thirty-one pastors have served the people of San Dimas Parish for 330 
years. The Padres include:
  1672-1674 Fr. Francisco Esquerra, S. J.; 1674-1799 Fr. Raphael 
Canicia, S. J. & other Jesuits; 1800-1805 Fr. Cristobal Ibanez; 1836-
1848 Fr. Jose Ferrer; 1851-1860 Fr. Juan Fernandez; 1864-1869 Fr. 
Faustino Fernandez Del Corral; 1870-1886 Fr. Mariano Martinez; 1886-
1890 Fr. Juan Herrero; 1890-1891 Fr. Jose Lamban; 1891-1893 Fr. 
Ildefonso Cabanilla; 1893-1899 Fr. Crisogono Ortin; 1908-1923 Fr. 
Cristobal de Canals; 1923-1927 Fr. Bemabe de Caseda; 1930-1934 Fr. Gil 
de Lagana; 1935-1936 Fr. Narcelo de Vallava; 1937-1940 Fr. Pastro de 
Arrayoz; 1940-1942 Fr. Marcian Pellet; 1942-1945 Fr. Jesus Duenas & Fr. 
Oscar Calvo ministered to the people of Guam during the War Occupation; 
1945-1947 Fr. Marcian Pellet (Returns from a prison camp); 1947-1948 
Adelbert Donlon; 1948-1950 Fr. Julius Sullivan; 1950-1953 Fr. Alexander 
Feeley; 1954-1956 Fr. Antonine Zimmeran; 1956-1957 Fr. Sylvan Conover; 
1957-1967 Fr. Timothy Kavinaugh; 1967-1987 Fr. Lee Friel; 1987-1987 Fr. 
Felixberto Leon Guerrero; 1987-1988 Fr. Patrick Castro; 1988-1997 Fr. 
Jose Villagomez; 1997-1998 Fr. Eric Forbes; Archdiocesan Clergy; and 
1998-Present Fr. Mike Crisostomo.
  Nearly 80 percent of Guam's residents are Roman Catholics. This 
identity has profoundly shaped many of the island's culture and 
traditions. For more than three centuries, pastors and parishioners 
have given their time and skills with strong loyalty and devotion to 
the San Dimas Church. As a result, many others on the island have 
enjoyed the special traditions, particularly the San Dimas fiesta.
  This year is especially gratifying since the church reopened its 
doors after four years of being closed to rebuild the church structure. 
Hundreds of church volunteers led by San Dimas' Pastor, Pale Mike 
Crisostomo, devoted thousands of hours working on the church's Finance 
Council, Demolition Crew, Worship Space Volunteer Committee, Dedication 
Committee, Parish Council, Pastoral Planning Committee, Finance 
Committee, Solicitation Committee, Building Committee, Cemetery 
Committee, Confraternity of Christian Mothers, Angel Tree Project, 
Faith Formation or ``Eskuelan Pale'', Ministers of Liturgy, Sacristan, 
Eucharistic Ministers, Acolytes, Altar Servers, Music Ministry, Knights 
of Columbus, Maintenance and Landscaping, and Office Staff, to make the 
rebuilding and rededication of San Dimas Church a great success.
  The fiesta this weekend, a village-wide celebration of the patron 
saint San Dimas, promises to be Malesso's biggest and best celebration. 
I would like to recognize and commend

[[Page E1701]]

the many individuals who will prepare the food for the village feast, 
set up all of the palapalas and tents, decorate the church and 
surrounding areas and the celebrants who will all help to ring in 
biggest event of Malesso this year. Biba San Dimas! Biba Malesso! Biba 
Guam!

                          ____________________