HAGATNA, Guam — The Catholic Church on Guam is urging its members
and all people on the island to be prayerful and stay centered in Christ amid
threats of missile attacks by North Korea.
Coadjutor Archbishop Michael J. Byrnes of Agana asked all priests
to promote prayers of peace at all Masses Aug. 13 as tensions continue,
following threats by North Korea dictator Kim Jong Un to attack this American
territory in the Marianas Islands.
"In your Masses this Sunday, especially in the prayer of the
faithful, please offer prayers for peace between our nations, just resolution
of differences, and prudence in both speech and action," Archbishop Byrnes
said in a message to all priests of the Archdiocese of Agana Aug. 11.
"Please also offer prayers for the men and women of our
military, especially those whom we host on Guam, that they might find grace for
diligence and courage as they execute their respective duties," he said.
Guam has long had a high strategic military importance to the
United States because of its location in the Marianas Islands and has been home
to several U.S. military bases for many decades. B-52 bombers were regularly
deployed from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam during the Vietnam War in the
1960s and '70s.
Residents of this predominantly Catholic island community first
woke up to the alarming news of North Korea threats to Guam Aug. 9. The
archdiocese issued a message to all Catholics and the community in general that
same day urging everyone to "stay grounded in the peace of Christ."
"Look to God during these difficult times when world peace
is threatened and pray always," the archdiocese said.
That message by Father Jeff San Nicolas, the coadjutor
archbishop's delegate general, cited the Gospel of John: "Peace I leave
with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid."
The archdiocese also echoed the message of Guam Gov. Eddie Calvo
asking everyone to remain calm and trust that the security of the island is in
good hands with local and national defense forces in place to address such threats.
In his Aug. 11 message, Archbishop Byrnes said, "Ever since
being appointed the Coadjutor Archbishop of Agana, I have been both struck and
encouraged by Isaiah 33:2-6. ... It speaks to our current situation very well:
"O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm
every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble. At the tumultuous noise
peoples flee; when you lift yourself up, nations are scattered, and your spoil
is gathered as the caterpillar gathers; as locusts leap, it is leapt upon. The
Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and
righteousness, and he will be the stability of your times, abundance of
salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is Zion's
treasure."
"We have strong encouragement from the Lord Jesus, to trust
that our Father is the source of our salvation both spiritually and
practically," the archbishop continued. "Jesus is still on the
throne, and we can be confident that He will work out his will in every situation,"
the archbishop also told the priests."
He added, "We do not 'put our trust in princes, in mortal
man in whom there is no help' (Psalm 146:3). The Lord himself is the source of
our stability in any time."
The archdiocese also encouraged people to join an Aug. 13 rosary
rally and pray for peace during a celebration of the 100th year anniversary of
Our Lady of Fatima in the capital of Hagatna.
The rally was organized by Catholic laypeople as part of a
worldwide call for praying the rosary in the public square.
The Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense planned to
make a presentation on emergency preparedness related to the North Korea threat
for clergy, Catholic school administrators and chancery staff Aug. 17.
The presentation had been scheduled even before the threat by
North Korea but the archdiocese asked that it be held sooner because of current
developments.