HAGATNA, GUAM: The Catholic faithful in Guam led prayers for peace Sunday in the shadow of North Korean missile threat, with the western Pacific island鈥檚 archbishop appealing for 鈥減rudence鈥� amid an escalating war of words between the US and Pyongyang.
The largely Catholic territory should pray for a 鈥渏ust resolution of differences, and prudence in both speech and action,鈥� said Archbishop Michael Byrnes, echoing a flurry of international calls for US President Donald Trump to show greater rhetorical restraint.
A 鈥減rayers for peace鈥� lunchtime rally in the capital Hagatna drew around 100 people. But despite Guam having become the center of a threatened showdown between the US and nuclear-armed North Korea, many said they were unfazed.
鈥淚 am really not scared because if it鈥檚 our time to die it is our time to die,鈥� added Sita Manjaras, 62, a retired teacher from Tamuning.
Father Mike Crisostomo said their response to the threat was to have faith and pray.
鈥淭his goes to show to the other worlds, to the other nations and the countries, that Guam maybe small, our faith and our trust is big,鈥� he said.
Dora Salazar, 82, who made the 14 kilometer (nine mile) journey from the village of Mangilao for the peace rally, said she was praying for the North鈥檚 leader Kim Jong-Un.
鈥淲e pray that God will touch his heart,鈥� she said.
In response to Trump鈥檚 threat of 鈥渇ire and fury,鈥� North Korea has pledged to have plans ready in a matter of days to launch an 鈥渆nveloping fire鈥� of missiles toward Guam.
At the island鈥檚 main church, the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica, Father Paul Gofigan told the congregation to be prepared in case North Korea does launch its missiles.
鈥淲hat would you do if you have only 14 minutes left? The thing to do is pray and reflect,鈥� he said
鈥淧rioritise your life. This is a wake-up call, no matter what happens.鈥�
Trump has been engaged all week in verbal sparring with the North over its weapons and missile programs, declaring Friday that the US military is 鈥渓ocked and loaded.鈥�
He has told Guam Governor Eddie Calvo that US military was prepared to 鈥渆nsure the safety and security of the people of Guam.鈥�
While 85 percent of Guam鈥檚 162,000 residents are Catholic, with temperatures hovering around 31 degrees Celsius (88 Fahrenheit) many locals and tourists preferred to head to the beach rather than church.
鈥淣o one feels threatened. Should we? Definitely not,鈥� said Australian tourist Kirstie Bridgement.
鈥淕uam is the most protected island. We feel safer than ever.鈥�
The island houses two large US military bases and is home to more than 6,000 US military personnel.
American tourist Bryan Sanchez said it was difficult to understand the threat 鈥渆specially with the way culture is like with memes, anything is going to be turned into a joke.
鈥淧eople just aren鈥檛, I guess, as aggressive or too worried about that kind of stuff in our day and age.鈥�
Meanwhile, two community groups opposed to the presence of the US military in Guam, Independent Guahan and Prutehi Litekyan, have organized a 鈥淧eople for Peace鈥� rally in Hagatna on Monday.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 happening in Guam is a global issue, because if our island is attacked, it could be the catalyst for a global catastrophe,鈥� Kenneth Gofigan Kuper of the Independent Guahan movement said.
The rally organizers said in a statement that 鈥淕uam has been forced in the middle of other nations鈥� conflicts, particularly as an unincorporated territory of the United States.
鈥淎s a result, many of Guam鈥檚 people know the painful and horrific effects of war as World II survivors and as veterans.
鈥淭hus, the members of Independent Guahan and Prutehi Litekyan, both organizations dedicated to the decolonization and demilitarization of Guam, feel it is imperative for the community to stand together in a call for peace.鈥�