San Roke - Patron Saint of the Sick

Celebrating San Roke, a Chamorro Fiesta .....

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Celebrating San Roke, a Chamorro Fiesta .....
Here we will tell the story of the beginnings of our San Roke Fiesta and how the celebration continues.......

Father Joseph P. Ternullo, Parish Priest
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Blessing the Healing Oil of San Roke.....

The inception of the San Roke Fiesta at Saint Lawrence Church in North Highlands, Sacramento in 1974 was the accomplishment of Ton Jaime Sablan and his late wife Rosa "Auntie Chai". With a dozen other chamorro families - whose names are too numerous to mention - they began celebrating San Roke and his power of healing the sick. The first Pastor of Saint Lawrence Parish, and later, Monsignor Virgil Gabrielli asked Ton Jaime and Auntie Chai to organize a prayer and devotional service for the Guamanian parishoners to share both in the celebration of their Faith, and Guam's fiesta tradition. The San Roke Fiesta Celebration has had many followers since it's inception. Distance is not a deterrent to those who desire to receive the anointing and healing oil distributed at the end of the procession and Mass. The celebration has growned enormously, it is not solely a Chamorro tradition but a fiesta enjoyed by North Highlands and it's surrounding communities. People travel from Guam, and from out-of-state to join in the festivities. We wish to thank Ton Jaime and the late Auntie Chai for bringing us together with San Roke, and allowing all to enjoy the fiesta tradition with our friends and families - from far and near. May God bless you both, your families, and your supporters for ALL you've done for the people of Guam! Dankulu Na Si Yuus Maase, Ton Jaime yan Auntie Chai - si Yuus en benen dise!!!