During a solemn Requiem Mass held to honor the late Archbishop Michael Byrnes, a photograph of the former head of the Archdiocese of Agaña captured one of the many moments that he stood before the Guam Catholic community, which he first came to lead during a time when the church was in turmoil.
Parishioners who filled the pews of the Dulce Nombre De Maria Cathedral Basilica on Saturday listened quietly as fellow parishioner John Terlaje, a judge with the Superior Court of Guam fondly recalled Archbishop Byrnes’ time on Guam and the impact he made.
“Archbishop Byrnes was as different a man as we have ever had leading the archdiocese … yet he did so without hesitation when he was called to Guam,” Terlaje said. “He packed his bags, and, of course, his bike, and boarded the plane. When he arrived, he came alone – no family or friends to speak of, no one to turn to, and nowhere to hide. I would imagine, even with today’s technology, a person can feel lonely anywhere in this world. He had to meet and confer with new people, observe new ways of doing things, and come to understand the culture and beliefs of the people of Guam. But as everyone here can attest, when God calls, you answer.”…