Fr Raymundo T. Sabio MSC worked for many years in South Korea where he was a chaplain in these fields: Apostleship of the Sea; the welfare of foreign workers; Incheon International Airport. His brother, Father Generoso, ‘Gene,’ is now based in the USA (San Bernardino California) after having worked for six years as Third Assistant General of the MSCs in Rome. Father Gene was unable to go to the Marshall Islands for his brother’s installation but their sister, Sr Fidelis PBVM, based in Scala Retreat House, Bacolod City, represented the family. Father Ray’s article about her vocation story, ‘Ichthys’ as a Way to the Lord, appeared in the March-April 2007 issue of Misyon. 


January 6 is the date of the Solemnity of Epiphany, one of the great feasts in the Roman Catholic Church. This year on that day the new Apostolic Prefect of the Marshall Islands, Fr Raymundo T. Sabio MSC from Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, was installed by His Grace, the Most Rev. Archbishop Charles Daniel Balvo, JCD, DD, Apostolic Nuncio. The nuncio, from Brooklyn, New York City, is based in New Zealand and is the Vatican’s envoy to that country and to ten other island nations in the South Pacific. The ceremony took place in the Cathedral Parish of Assumption in Uliga, Majuro. At the same time, the care of the Apostolic Prefecture of the Marshall Islands was transferred from the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC).

The presence of His Grace, Most Rev Anthony Apuron OFM Cap, DD, Archbishop of Agaña, Guam, was highly appreciated. He was present in his capacity as President of the Pacific Episcopal Conference (CEPAC) and Metropolitan Archbishop under whose jurisdiction the Prefecture of the Marshall Islands belongs. Also gracing the occasion were the Jesuit Fathers: Fr Ken Hesel SJ, Jesuit Superior of the Region of Micronesia, Fr James C. Gould SJ, the former Apostolic Prefect, Fr Richard McAuliff SJ, Fr Tom McGrath SJ and Fr Arthur Leger SJ.

The MSCs were represented by Fr Simon Mani, Superior of the MSC Pacific Union, Fr Tito Maratas, Provincial Superior of MSC Philippines, Fr Yohanes Sujono and Fr Ariel Galido. It was indeed a sight to behold with so many priests and two archbishops in the sanctuary of the parish church. Rev Alfred Capelle assisted in the Holy Mass in his capacity as deacon. The prayer leaders and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, in their white garb, were seated in the front pews of the church.

The ceremony commenced at 9:30am and ended at almost 11. Assumption Church was filled to capacity by both the local Marshallese Catholics and the Catholic members of the various foreign communities. Although the great majority were the Catholics of Assumption Cathedral Parish of Majuro and of St Francis Xavier Chapel of Laura, a good number of Catholics from Queen of Peace Parish, Kwajalein, came for the occasion. The sacred songs were sung beautifully in the Marshallese, English and Kiribati languages.

A big parish party took place at around noon. There were lots of food and drinks for all to partake of. A cultural and musical program followed, presented in honor of the many guests who came from afar: New Zealand, Guam, Fiji and the Philippines. A good number of beautiful songs and folk dances were offered by many various groups and nationalities. Indeed, it was a day to remember in the history of the Catholic Church in the Marshall Islands.

You may contact Father Sabio at: 
Prefecture Apostolic of the Marshall Islands,
PO Box 8, MAJURO, MH 96960, MARSHALL ISLANDS, or email him at haeyangrts@yahoo.com

He has two websites: www.geocities.com/haeyangrts/AoS.html and
http://m-jpic.tripod.com/raysabio.

Father Gene has a website at http://web.tiscali.it/gene.sabio

In 2004 there were 4,601 Catholics officially listed, 9.04 percent of the population of 50,874. The vast majority of the others are Protestants. The Prefecture was set up on 23 April 1993.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands consists of 1,152 islands grouped in 34 atolls and 870 reefs. The total land area is only 180 square kilometers but is spread over a million share kilometers in the pacific. There are 33 municipalities. 60 percent of the people live in the two islands of Majuro and Kwajalein. Majuro, the capital, has a population of 25,000. The USA handles security, defense and foreign affairs and the currency is the US dollar.

Sources: www.catholic-hierarchy.org and The World Guide, tenth edition, 2006, published by New Internationalist Publications

Prefecture Apostolic of the Marshall Islands
PO Box 8 
MAJURO, MH 96960
MARSHALL ISLANDS
Apostolic Prefect: Fr Raymundo T. Sabio, MSC
Email: haeyangrts@yahoo.com

11 February 2008, Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

Dear Fr Sean Coyle,

Aineman an Anji Jemed im yokwe an Mary Jined! (Marshallese for, ‘Peace of God our Father and love of Mary our Mother!’)

I am very pleased to note that Sister Fidelis made it for the day of my installation as Apostolic Prefect, representing the Sabio Family on 6 January. Before everything else, thanks for including her biography in your Misyon publication. Once again, thank your very much.

The Lord has led me to this place after a long journey that started in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental. Then to Cebu; and on to Manila. After 14 years of ministry in the Philippines as formator of college-level seminarians, vocation director, novice master and theology professor, I was transplanted to South Korea where I spent 19 fruitful years of priestly work, assisting the seafarers, the migrant/factory workers, the expatriate communities, the harbor workers as well as the airport employees and air-travelers. Indeed, it was a ministry to the sea, land and air people. And finally I departed for the third part of my life, arriving in the Marshall Islands (unheard of by many!) on 14 October 2005. It is not an easy mission area because the apostolic prefecture is spread over various atolls / tiny islands in the Pacific Ocean, located between Guam and Hawaii. My rough estimate is: the area covered by the prefecture apostolic would be equivalent to the whole of the Visayas. From Majuro, the seat of the Prefecture, to Ebeye, the second parish center, is a 40-minute flight by jet. But I trust the Lord who gives me the strength and courage I need to be His, serving His People. And I place my life in the arms of our Lady of the Sacred Heart who will intercede for me and lead me closer to the very Heart of the Incarnate Word.

May the Good Lord continue to guide and assist you and your staff in your publication/media ministry so that the ‘mission ad gentes’ will become more and more appealing and challenging to the young people.

Yours very sincerely and gratefully in the Heart of our Lord,

(Fr) Ray Sabio, MSC
Apostolic Prefect of the Marshall Islands