Bishop Ryan plans to create board of consultants

Bishop Ryan P. Jimenez, fourth from left, receives a $500 check from officers of the United Filipino Organization last Sunday. (Jon Perez)

Bishop Ryan P. Jimenez is planning to create a board of consultants composed of his fellow priests in administering the affairs of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa. Jimenez is back on Saipan after a monthlong orientation and training with other newly ordained bishops in the Vatican City.

Now that he is officially installed as the diocese’s new bishop, he could begin his work in administering to the Catholic faithful. He was also on Rota last week for the celebration of the San Francisco de Borja fiesta.

Jimenez also recently installed Rev. Fr. Jesse Reyes as the pastor of the Santa Soledad Parish as among his first order of business as bishop. “I was for six years the apostolic administrator before I was ordained bishop and I can’t do some things back then.”

“Now, we can do a lot for the diocese and one of them is installing pastors in all the parishes. I also plan to have a board of consultants composed of a group of my fellow priests to help guide the faithful,” added Jimenez

He would also make his rounds to all the parishes to hold listening sessions so he could have an idea of what plans to implement to further grow the faith of God’s people in the CNMI.

“We are going to consult all sectors of our community especially the youth,” he said. “Our young people are the most important since they have a lot of questions about our faith. We need all the help from the people. We will also have a day of prayer with our priests, since with the spirit of prayer we will make the message of God and the Church relevant.”

Bishop orientation

Jimenez said he was among the four new bishops appointed by Pope Francis with the other two coming from Papua New Guinea and one from New Zealand. Kristo Rai Parish pastor Rev. Fr. Ken Hezel, SJ, being the vicar general, was the acting administrator when Jimenez was in the Vatican City.

Jimenez said the orientation of the new bishops in Vatican City is a new policy of the church. “Before I left, I even asked Bishop [Tomas A.] Camacho if they had this before and he told me they didn’t have it when he became bishop.”

“We have lectures and classes. It is like going to school. But it is a good way to start our ministry since we get to know the changes that were made and the different offices in our church. It is a good experience and it shows the universality of the church.”

UFO donation

Jimenez also received a $500 donation from the United Filipino Organization last Sunday with the money to be used for the different projects and programs of the diocese. The money was from UFO’s fundraising activities.

“I thank the UFO for all the help they do to us. They have helped in many ways that they can and respond to the needs of other people. The money will be a big help for the projects of the diocese,” said Jimenez.