Ask questions

February 21, 2019

185. In any discussion about a proposed venture, a number of questions need to be asked in order to discern whether or not it will contribute to genuine integral development.

• What will it accomplish?
• Why?
• Where?
• When?
• How?
• For whom?
• What are the risks?
• What are the costs?
• Who will pay those costs and how?

In this discernment, some questions must have higher priority. For example, we know that water is a scarce and indispensable resource and a fundamental right which conditions the exercise of other human rights. This indisputable fact overrides any other assessment of environmental impact on a region.

Source : Laudato Si'

Fr. James Arriola

Our Lady of Lourdes Church

May the peace of the Risen Christ be with you all! As brief as this column may be, I wish to introduce myself to you all.

I am from Guam originally but I was born in Japan on November 17, 1988. My father was active in the Navy at this time and was stationed at an American Naval Base. When I was around 4 years of age my father retired and my family moved back to Guam where I was raised. I am the third of seven children and was raised to love God above all things and that to go to Church was the most important thing besides the family.

This was all good, but within the first year of graduation from high school, I found myself asking some pretty existential questions about life. I remember looking at what I had, which wasn’t much, and thinking is this it, is there more to life than this? I had a good job, no bills (of course I was still living with my parents), and a career path with many opportunities. But I was left with the urgency of wanting more, which was never satisfied by what I did.

It was in this moment God intervened concretely and spoke to me through a priest during a retreat. During his homily on vocations in the last day he said, “If you have nothing to lose, why not give God a try.” This was really profound because I really saw that I was missing something, and that I really had nothing to lose but everything to gain.

So, I joined the seminary and here I am today, grateful for all the things the Lord has done for me. Of course, I have left out many details in the interest of brevity, but please do not hesitate to ask me questions. I had many questions in my life, and God has answered them all, even the ones I didn’t ask!

May God bless you and may our Blessed Mother Keep you safe in your journey towards Heaven.

Pray for me!

Fr. James Arriola
Parochial Vicar