On May 31, 2014, the  Yap Catholic High School (YCHS), located on a small Micronesian island in the Western Pacific Ocean, celebrated its first graduating class. Jesuit missionaries first established a mission in Micronesia in the late seventeenth century. At the end of the World War II, the mission was placed in the hands of American Jesuits.  Now Jesuits serve in a number of ways on the islands of Pohnpei, Chuuk, Guam, Yap and Palau.

YCHS is the newest responsibility of the Jesuit mission on the islands. Frs Michael Corcoran SJ and John Mulreany SJ were missioned to the island of Yap in 2011 to start YCHS. Within five weeks, they, along with two volunteer teachers, welcomed 35 students into its first freshman and sophomore classes. This year, all members of the YCHS Class of 2014 were accepted into four-year colleges in the United States, with many receiving generous scholarship support.

YCHS and Xavier High School on the island of Chuuk are staffed by Jesuit priests, scholastics, local people and volunteers. The schools provide students with educational and spiritual enrichment and resources, such as a student centre and Internet access. Teachers at the schools encourage students to deepen their faith, help others, attend college and dream of a bright future in service of their local communities.

On Pohnpei, Jesuits celebrate the sacraments and support ongoing formation efforts for the local church. In Guam, Fr Tom McGrath SJ resides at the Catholic cathedral and works at a nearby Navy hospital. In Palau, three Jesuits work in a local Catholic high school and provide pastoral ministry in several community parishes.

“The people of Micronesia, and particularly the students there, are wonderfully faith-filled and incredibly hard-working,” said Fr Ciancimino, Provincial of the New York Jesuit Province, who has overall responsibility for the Micronesia Mission. “They are deeply grateful for the spiritual, emotional and educational support that Jesuits and our partners in ministry provide so well and with so much grace in that region.” [Jesuit Conference USA]

Main photo: (From left to right) Pat Nolan SJ, a Jesuit scholastic, Fr John Mulreany SJ, a teacher and co-founder of YCHS, the six YCHS graduates, Fr Michael Corcoran SJ, principal and co-founder, and V Rev David Ciancimino SJ, New York Province provincial.

To read about the history of the Jesuits in Micronesia, click here.