The Archdiocese of Agana says the protest that was held by dozens of frustrated Catholics at the Guam International Airport last week was "not the warm Hafa Adai Spirit that the Chamorro people are well known for".  The protestors shouted you're not a real Catholic" and "go home" to Professor Giuseppe Gennarini, Mrs. Claudia Gennarini and Fr. Angelo Poschetti as they arrived and walked out of the terminal.  Professor Gennarini is described as the head of the Neocatechumenal Way in the United States. He along with Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes are on Guam to conduct courses at the Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores Catholic Theological Institute for Oceania (“Theological Institute”) in Yona.  According to a press release issued last night by  the Archdiocese of Agana Professor Gennarini is also a member of the Board of Guarantors of the Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary of Guam.

Fr. Edivaldo da Silva Oliveira, who is now the acting spokesperson for the Archdiocese, has previously stated that  Archdiocese does not  believe that the actions of this angry mob represents the feelings of the vast majority of the Catholics of Guam.

Last week's protest at the airport was one of many held over the last several years by local Catholics frustrated with the actions of Archbishop Anthony Apuron who they believe has been influenced by the Neocatechumenal Way. Over the last several years they have been requesting to meet with him to discuss their concerns. "Some questions have been raised about the Archbishop’s unwillingness to address the concerns of the protestors. However, the Archbishop completed his pastoral visits of every parish (26 Catholic parishes) of the Archdiocese of Agana in 2015, and during this time, the Archbishop not only met with many of these protestors, but allowed the parishioners present to ask questions. Thus, while the Archbishop has not granted a private meeting to these protestors, the opportunity was given to all Catholics in the Archdiocese to directly communicate their concerns to the Archbishop," the press release stated.

The Archdiocese meanwhile is inviting the public to the Cathedral on Saturday as Cardinal Cordes will be celebrating a special mass at 7:30 pm.