'Little bit more peace and calm': Guam readies for Santa Marian Kamalen procession

As people around the island get ready for the annual Santa Marian Kamalen Festal, one procession regular said she thinks this year’s event will be extremely well attended. Normally held Dec. 8, the procession was moved to Dec. 9.

“You know, unless something comes up, I believe that a lot of people will come. And there’s always concern that it’s on Dec. 9, not on Dec. 8,” said Lou Babauta, a longtime educator at the Academy of Our Lady of Guam. “But this way, we can give our total attention to Santa Maria, and instead of just dividing it between our focus on the Eucharist and Christ and then His mother.”

As for why she thinks this year will draw many people, she said she has a hunch.

“I think there’s a greater sense of normalcy, and so there’s a little bit more peace and calm. I think about just getting things organized and wanting to participate and just looking forward to it,” she said. “Whereas in the past, it was, ‘do we go? Do we not go? You know, is it gonna be safe? What are we gonna do?’”

Academy sophomore Crystal Aguon, 15, said she will also march in the procession. She’s been doing it as long as she can remember.

As Catholic schools will have no classes on Monday, Aguon said she understands her other obligations.

“I am going for my family. My parents have to work, so maybe they can’t go,” she said.

Santa Marian Kamalen, Guam’s patron saint, is believed to protect the island from typhoons, quakes, wars and other disasters. The procession draws thousands.

During the procession, a more than 300-year-old revered statue of Santa Marian Kamalen is placed on a cart or “karosa” adorned with fresh flowers and paraded through the streets of Hagåtña.

The Archdiocese of Agana on Sunday said the annual celebration, which is normally observed on Dec. 8, will be held on Dec. 9 this year “in adherence to the Catholic Church’s General Norms on the Liturgical Year & Calendar.”

“Because December 8 falls on a Sunday this year, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and Feast of Santa Marian Kamalen are observed the following day, Dec. 9 as Sunday is always reserved for Jesus Christ,” the archdiocese said.

At age 63, Ron Perez said that out of all of Guam’s colorful festivals, the procession is his favorite.

He has never missed a Santa Marian Kamalen birthday, and is looking forward to the once-a-year time when the Blessed Mother is removed from her alcove, cleaned, and brought to ground level for the procession.

It was a big change to see the statue of the Blessed Mother as it stayed in the car during those pandemic times. This year will not be one of those times.

“I was happy to see her, because we still got to venerate her and honor her. But the actual procession is more reverent. We get to show our devotion as the Catholic believers and as a Christian believers,” said Perez. “So here, we gather. We pray to her, we thank her, and we thank also her son, because it was through her that Jesus was born. And so we also thank her and her son for that special day. And so come Monday, I pray that it doesn’t rain, but if it does, just a light shower, please.”

Procession schedule

• 3:30 p.m., Rosary
• 3:45 p.m., Novena
• 4 p.m., Gospel reading, Homily by Archbishop Ryan Jimenez, procession, followed by Mass
• 6 p.m. festal Mass, veneration after