[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 127 (Wednesday, October 2, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1714]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   CELEBRATING THE REDEDICATION OF THE SAN DIMAS CATHOLIC CHURCH OF 
                                MALESSO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 1, 2002

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
rededication of one of Guam's oldest churches, the San Dimas Catholic 
Church of Malesso. This Sunday, September, 29, 2002, the residents of 
Guam will celebrate and welcome the new church building, 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 rededication 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 Oitin;
  1908–1923 Fr. Cristobal de Canals;
  1923–1927 Fr. Bernabe 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.
  The reopening of the doors at the San Dimas Catholic Church of 
Malesso after four years of being closed to rebuild the church 
structure is especially meaningful to those who dedicated countless 
hours to coordinating its reconstruction. Hundreds of church volunteers 
led by San Dimas' Pastor, Pale Mike Crisostomo, devoted and sacrificed 
time 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.
  I would also like to recognize and commend the many individuals who 
spent tireless hours coordinating the celebration, from those 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 usher in the new San Dimas Catholic Church of Malesso 
this year. Biba San Dimas! Biba Malesso! Biba Guam!

                          ____________________