Father Daniel Swartz, a Columbus diocesan priest serving as a military chaplain on Guam, said the chapel on the U.S. Navy base where he is stationed suffered major damage from a typhoon that struck the island in late May. But he also said the people of the Pacific island, which is a U.S. territory, have taken the blow in stride because they are used to major storms.
Father Swartz sent the following email message to the people of the diocese through The Catholic Times:
“Communications have been spotty after Typhoon Mawar hit. Every day there are improvements, though. The storm was incredibly destructive; it unfortunately slowed down before approaching the island, which allowed it to gain strength. The eye of the storm moved just north of the island, which meant that the wall of the eye, the most intense and dangerous part, passed directly over the island.
“I took shelter with some friends from the Coast Guard. The approaching winds struck the house, making the walls vibrate with an eerie frequency. It was clear how destructive the typhoon was going to be when we could hear trees being toppled and even some of the storm guards being torn from the house.
“When the rains started, they crescendoed to such intensity that water was shooting from underneath the sills. One particular door that led to the roof was buckling from the wind and water as if someone was throwing their weight into it, attempting to break inside. We sacrificed a collection of wine corks to hammer them into the sills to halt the flow of water; it was a similar idea as if we were doing damage control on a ship.
“The initial days following the storm were surreal. People lined the streets for miles hoping to be able to get into a gasoline station, some waiting for 13 hours at a time. As desperation grew, fuel tankers were given armed escorts. Roads were blocked and flooded. Food began to spoil as the power went out, and ice could no longer be kept.
“The jungle was completely stripped of leaves and vegetation; I have never been able to look through the thick trees and see to the other side of the canopy. People endured and found a way to help one another. Resources were shared, compromises made and a spirit of cooperation pervades the island.
“Unfortunately, the chapel at Naval Base Guam, affectionately known by the Catholic community here as Mary Star of the Sea, sustained significant damage. The metal roof tiles were torn off in two different sections allowing large amounts of water into the supporting structure and the sanctuary.
“With the loss of electricity there was no means to attempt to remove the water or dry the space. With the humid environment persisting, mold set in, and large portions of the floor had to be cut out and removed, along with much of the sanctuary furniture.
“Thankfully, the Blessed Sacrament chapel, which doubles as a confessional, and the sacristy were unaffected. Pentecost was still celebrated, though we had to move outside. I saw it as symbolically important that we still gather as a community at the chapel, even though the building itself is usable.
“There was also a pleasant irony that just as the Apostles were cooped up in a room until Pentecost, so were we as a community until the storms had passed.
“The churches in Guam fared decently well. There was an architectural shift in the 1970s after Typhoon Pamela, when a lot of the traditional lofted wooden structures were replaced in favor of hardened concrete and steel structures. Nonetheless, churches had windows shattered, damage from debris, flooding and loss of utilities.
“As I drove through the damage following the storm, it was heartening to see that standing outside St. Anthony’s Church in the village of Tamuning, young people were lined up in their Sunday best ready to celebrate confirmation.
“I was able to meet with a number of the local priests here for a cookout (this is not uncommon after typhoons in Guam as it becomes necessary to cook all the meat in your freezer to prevent it from going bad). We talked into the evening about how their parishioners are doing, how relief efforts are going, and where they saw the greatest needs in each of their villages.
“The Church in Guam is resilient as storms and typhoons are part of life here. Many of the faithful here are offering novenas in thanksgiving that there was no loss of life during the storm, which in itself is an incredible miracle.
“There are many still without power or drinkable water or even water at all. Various military units have been helping clear debris and rebuild infrastructure. Navy divers working with the Coast Guard worked around the clock to clear Apra Harbor so additional personnel and aid could be brought in by sea. The Navy Seabees have been true to their legacy as builders and engineers, helping to bring water systems and power grids back online.
“A detachment of Marines from Camp Pendleton and Miramar who are here on ship wasted no time in volunteering their help as well. Families with working washing machines have opened their homes for others to wash and dry clothes. It has been quite incredible to see the compassion brought forth from people.”
Father Swartz said he hopes to return to Columbus on leave soon. The typhoon was not the first perilous situation in which he has been involved since becoming a Navy chaplain in 2019. He was the last priest out of Afghanistan when that nation fell to the Taliban in 2021.