Fr. Ryan concerned about health of Rota’s Antonelli

The Diocese of Chalan Kanoa is just concerned about the health of 97-year-old Rev. Monsignor Luis Antonelli, hence the decision to lighten his pastoral administrative duties effective Nov. 29, according to apostolic administrator Fr. Ryan Jimenez. However, he assured that Antonelli will continue to serve as the priest-in-residence on Rota.

Jimenez also tied Antonelli’s new role to the initiative that Pope Francis began with the declaration of the Jubilee Year of Mercy.

The parish council of San Isidro Church in Sinapalo, Rota earlier complained, saying there is “no just cause or evidence to remove [Antonelli’s] pastoral or administration duties as he has always fulfilled his obligation and responsibilities to the San Isidro Church and its parishioners. He has accomplished more for Rota’s parishioners than any person in Rota’s history.”

Jimenez said the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa will be receiving new pastoral appointments to their respective parishes and ministries that will begin Nov. 29, the first Sunday of Advent, to coincide with the beginning of the Jubilee Year of Mercy on Dec. 8.

In the Nov. 8 edition of the diocesan publication North Star, it stated that the new distribution of parish assignments is a response to continuing pastoral needs of every parish “and a result of prayerful discernment of Jimenez, who has been in close consultation with the clergy and the faithful from different parishes in discerning what is good for the people of the diocese.”

In his comment to the North Star, Jimenez highlighted important factors such as the need for every parish to have assigned priests and the welfare of elderly priests in the diocese.

Jimenez expressed concern for the health of Antonelli, who is now 97 years old and still faithfully serving the island of Rota.

He said the priority of the diocese is the health of Antonelli. He assured that Antonelli will continue to be the priest-in-residence but a new priest will take over administrative roles.

It further states that the decision is based on and in accordance with the provision of the Code of Canon Law 539, which mandates the local ordinary to designate as soon as possible a new pastor when a priest is prevented from exercising his pastoral function in the parish by reason of ill health.

The law also states that, “When a pastor has completed 75 years of age, he is requested to submit his resignation from office to the diocesan bishop who is to decide to accept or defer it after he has considered all the circumstances of the person and place. Attentive to the norms established by the conference of bishops, the diocesan bishop must provide suitable support and housing for a retired pastor.”

Antonelli will continue to remain in the parish to perform his pastoral duties as a priest without the administrative burden of a pastor and the island of Rota will have one priest assigned as pastor to two parishes, San Francisco de Borja and San Isidro.