[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 16028-16029]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING FATHER ISAAC MASGA AYUYU

  (Mr. SABLAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, we recently celebrated an important 
anniversary in the Northern Mariana Islands for one of our longest-
serving spiritual leaders. Reverend Father Isaac Masga Ayuyu has led 
the island faithful for 25 years. Pale' Ike, as he's fondly known, is 
the first ordained priest from the island of Rota, and the fifth local 
person to join the priesthood. He serves today as Parochial Vicar of 
Mount Carmel Cathedral on Saipan, and as Director of Worship for the 
Diocese.
  Pale' Ike has had many mentors on his way to the priesthood, in 
particular, his parents, Francisca Masga Ayuyu and the late Corbiniano 
Songao Ayuyu, whose support he recalls each time he celebrates mass 
with the chalice that was a gift from them.
  In our faith-based community, priests are ever in demand. Pale' Ike 
baptizes the newly born and conducts funeral rights for the recently 
departed. He tends to the spirit of those who are homebound or in 
hospitals. And he conducts weddings, he hears confessions, he says 
mass.
  Outside of this tradition of priestly duties, he also has a lead role 
in community functions. Where there is a large family gathering, he is 
expected to attend. When someone builds a new home, Pale' Ike is called 
upon to bless it.
  For your 25 years in the priesthood and as part of our daily life, 
thank you, Pale' Ike.

[[Page 16029]]



                          ____________________