Familian San Jose: St. Joseph Church 340th Jubilee, 1680-2020

Familian San Jose tells the story of the parish of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Inalåhan, Guam and the larger story of how the church and village life have been interwoven for more than 340 years. It captures Indigenous oral histories that were passed down through generations, as well as stories that were written in the 1970s and interviews with elders. Anyone with connections to this timeless village will recognize the families and stories of the many who contributed to this publication. These stories include the most recent reconstruction of the gothic-style church in 1933 with hand tools and volunteer labor including from women and children who gathered rocks and washed sea salt from the beach sand, finishing the main structure in 7 years. The amazing faith and
resilience of the village parishioners through earthquakes, typhoons, and
two world wars illustrate how island history is also deeply personal.