Archdiocese clergy send letters of gratitude to pope, Archbishop Byrnes

(Press release) Priests and deacons of the Catholic Church on Guam sent letters of gratitude to Pope Francis and his newly-appointed coadjutor archbishop for Agana this week.

Uniting with Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai, SDB in a gesture of appreciation and support, members of the clergy signed a letter to the pope and then to Archbishop Michael Jude Byrnes during a clergy meeting Monday, Nov. 7.

The letters were sent to the Holy Father and Archbishop Byrnes this week.

The letter to Pope Francis read in part: We, clergy of the Archdiocese of Agana, having met today, send this personal letter to you in a spirit of joy and peace. On behalf of the people of God on Guam, we would like to express to you our sincerest gratitude for sending to us Coadjutor Archbishop Michael Byrnes in a difficult time. We are tracing in trials and tribulations the path Christ trod in His lifetime, where divisions and hurts were wide spread.

Placing our trust in your care and concern, we will follow your guidance and pledge to work together for unity and reconciliation.”

In the letter to Archbishop Byrnes, Guam’s Catholic priests and deacons expressed their sincerest gratitude to the new coadjutor archbishop for his acceptance of the assignment to Guam.

They promised their support to Archbishop Byrnes. “Placing our trust in your care and concern, we will follow Christ through your guidance and pledge to work together for unity and reconciliation,” the clergymen said.

Archbishop Byrnes is scheduled to arrive on Guam on Nov. 28 for about two weeks. He will travel back to Michigan and the Archdiocese of Detroit to close out matters there and then return here in January.