A new archdeacon for ECIM

From left to right, Archdeacon Ben Helmer, Harold Parker, and Rev. Irene Maliaman

The missions of Episcopal Church in Micronesia (ECIM) were happy to welcome Archdeacon Ben Helmer as the vicar for the three missions: St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, St. Andrew by the Phillipne Sea Episcopal Church and St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church. A joint service of the three churches was held on June 17, 2007 with Archdeacon Hlmer celebrating and assisted by the Reverend ("Padi")Irene Maliaman from St. Paul's Epsicoal Church in Saipan, the neighboring island, which is part of the ECIM. The Bishop's Deputy Harold Parker led the congregation in prayer for the new vicar and passed along the greetings of the Bishop, the Right Reverend George E. Packard. The Archdeacon's wife, Jane Helmer, was also welcomed. After the ceremony all joined together for a a typical Guam-style fiesta. The Helmers got their first initiation to many Filipino treats, as well as the usual fare.
The Archdeacon had held a get aquainted workshop on Saturday, June 16, 2007, where memebrs of the three Guam churches, the church in Saipan and the St. John's School gathered to talk about the future of the Church in Guam and Saipan. The gathering broke into various work groups to try to do some initial planning for the ECIM over the next two months. Among other things it was decided that there would be a joint service of the three Guam congreagation at least one every quarter, that Padi irene would come to Guam every other month, and there would be an effort to get the youth groups moving again. In addition, some initial palnning was done for the Presiding Bishop's visit on Thanksgiving Day. A joint service will be held at St. John's together with brief visits to the other two churches and the school where it is hoped that she wil arrive in time to conduct a chapel. We are all looking forward to what the future holds for the church in Micronesia.

Temporary Coverage

The Episcopal Church in Micronesia (ECIM) will say goodbye to Father Manny Querido on May 13, 2007. On the Sunday after his departure Padi (the Rev.) Irene Maliaman from Saipan will help by conducting services at St. Michaels and All Angels (assisting Father Tony Gomowad) and at St. Johns. Then she will return to St. Pauls on Saipan that afternoon. Father Gomowad, who is on island visiting, will assist at servies on May 20, and 27 and on June 3. ECIM is grateful to these priests for their assistance in this period of change.

Saying Goodbye and Hello

On Mother's Day, May 13,2007, the missions of the Episcopal Church in Micronesia will be gathering together for a final service with the Reverend Manny Querido. Father Queriodo is going off later in the week to join the chaplain corps. He has asked the Rev. Tony Gomowad to preach that day, and The Rev. Irene Maliaman will be coming over from the island of Saipan and St. Paul's Church to joiin in the service. The service will be at St. Andrew's on the Phillipine Sea Church in Agat, Guam, where Father Manny has been vicar for more than ten years. Father Many's children are attending school in the mainland Unied States so this will give him an opportunity to be closer to them. Father Manny will be leaving island the week after the ceremony.
On Father's Day the same churches will gather together to greet Archdeacon Ben Helmer, who will be joining ECIM for the next year and a half. The Archdeacon has been asked by the Bishop in Charge (the Suffragan Bishop of Chaplaincies)to take on this responsiblity as ECIM has been looking for vicars for its churches. Father Helmer had visited Guam in 2005 and conducted programs on congregational developement. The churches are looking forward to his arrival and his ministry on Guam

Bishops to visit Guam

Thanksgiving may be very different on Guam this year. The Suffragan Bishop for Chaplaincies who is also the Bishop in Charge of the Episcopal Church In Micronesia has indicated that the Presiding Bishop and he are intending to come to Guam for Thanksgiving. It is not known yet whether they will be able to stay for the patronal fiesta for St Andrews On the Phillipine Sea on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Guam is really looking forward to this visit. ---Hank Parker, Episcopal Church in Micronesia