Balajadia is ordained a deacon

James Balajadia was ordained a deacon last Saturday at Mt. Carmel Cathedral. The diaconate ordination was witnessed by local and Guam church officials, family and friends, and hundreds of community members.

The ordination was conferred by the imposition of hands and the prayer of ordination by Archbishop Anthony Apuron of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Agana, Guam.

“This is one more vocation coming from this diocese and I am happy to be a part of it,” Apuron told Saipan Tribune. “I am sure the people have worked hard and helped him along the way. I believe that Balajadia will be of good service to the people of Saipan.”

Balajadia was welcomed to the Holy Order as a transitional deacon after promising to respect and obey the rules of his ordination. After prostrating himself and promising obedience, hundreds of community members in attendance applauded as Balajadia was presented his deacon’s stole and dalmatic.

In his remarks, Balajadia expressed gratitude to his friends and family for guiding him through his seven-year journey in the seminary.

“The real works now begins,” he said. “Rejoicing in God is our strength and today we rejoice in the Lord God and no one else. With a joyful heart I give thanks to God for his grace and providence for the past seven years of my life.”

The newly vested deacon urged the community to think about why the islands haven’t had a local ordination in the past decade.

He said, “The good Lord, the master of the harvest, continues to call people for service to our local church. Let us pray and work to foster more vocations this year so that more young people hear the Lord’s call and answer Him.”

He added, “I offer each and everyone of you my prayers, and I ask you to pray for me as I begin this new life of service to the Lord and His people.”

Balajadia, a 2007 alumnus of Mount Carmel School, completed his graduate studies and formation to the priesthood at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome after transferring from Mount Angel Seminary in the fall of 2012, where he double majored in Philosophy and Literature.

In preparation for his ordination, Balajadia took part in a one-week retreat in Mount Angel Seminary in Portland, Oregon. The Saipan native has also been assisting in local Mass services and co-teaching theology classes at his alma mater.

The last ordination in the CNMI took place seven years ago when Fr. Jesse Reyes was ordained a priest. Reyes said that Saturday’s event “means a lot to me and the church.” He said the church is in dire need of local clergy to preach the good news.

Balajadia’s ordination was followed by a reception at the Joeten-Daidai Social Hall.

There, government officials, local clergy, and Guam clergy congratulated the seminarian for another milestone in his life.

His mother, Elizabeth, said that she and her husband, Victor, are proud to support their son in his vocation to the priesthood.

“We need to learn that our kids have different interests and even if we wanted him to be a doctor, this is what he truly desires,” she said. “The struggle that we faced when he left to be in the seminary right after high school was to try not to pressure him. We always supported him and reminded him that this was his calling.”

After seeing her son ordained a deacon, Elizabeth said she was “happy to see the people support him.” She added, “We thank them for that they have done throughout the year and for their prayers as well.”

Mount Carmel School social studies teacher Rosiky Camacho taught Balajadia during his high school years. Camacho said “it is more than joy” that he feels for his former student.

“He is a really worthy and respectful person,” he said.

Lt. Gov. Jude Hofschneider described the ordination as a “remarkable event for the CNMI community.” He explained that the islands experienced a long pause in vocations to the priesthood before Balajadia. “It has been awhile but I must say that I hope that there are young men out there hoping to follow his footsteps and become servers of God,” he said.

As a transitional deacon, Balajadia will be able to aid the bishop in worship, charity and pastoral preaching. He will also be able to baptize people, conduct funerals, and officiate marriages.

Balajadia is expected to be ordained a priest in December.