St. Ezekiel Province renews agreement with Chalan Kanoa

Provincial Curia, QUEZON CITY – The Recollect Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno renewed its Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa last Thursday, 4^th of July.

Fray Dionisio Selma, OAR, Prior Provincial, representing the St. Ezekiel Province and Most Rev. Ryan Jimenez, Local Ordinary of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) representing the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa, inked again their bilateral agreement “to foster and develop to the fullest extent possible the mutual cooperation between them” for another three years.

The Recoletos de Saipan community will continue to administer the pastoral needs of the parishes of San Roque (in San Roque Village), Kristo Rai (in Garapan), and Nuestra Señora Bithen de los Remedios (or simply Sta. Remedios, in Tanapag). (As an aside, the Marianas will celebrate the 250^th anniversary of the arrival of the pioneer Recoletos missionaries here on August 25, 2019.)

Moreover, the protection of the Recoletos friars’ religious consecration and priestly identity was also central to the agreement: “They are to live a common life in San Roque Parish while disposed to other tasks that may be given to them by the Local Ordinary after due coordination with the Recoletos de Saipan local community.”

Those who stood as witnesses to the signing were Fray Edgar Tubio, Provincial Councilor and Section Head for Mission Apostolate, and Fray Jose Ernil Almayo, Provincial Secretary.