Father Jesus Baza Dueñas was a Catholic Priest in Guam during the Second World War.
Dueñas studied for the priesthood in Manila. He was the second Chamorro Catholic priest.
During the Japanese occupation of Guam, Father Dueñas knew the movements of the American fugitives and the identities of the people who assisted and harbored them. He is said to have knowledge about the plans of Japanese search teams, who were after the fugitives and their helpers. His friends operated secret radio receivers, and he was well informed of the progress of war.
The Japanese government sent two Catholic Priests, Monsignor Fukahori and Father Peter Komatzu, to Guam as propagandists and diplomats. Fr. Dueñas refused to co-operate with them.
The Japanese suspected that Dueñas was harboring Americans. Dueñas was informed beforehand about the Japanese plans to arrest him, but he refused to run away. Later, he was taken captive by the Japanese and questioned about the whereabouts of six American sailors, who had fled into the jungles. Father Dueñas is said to have answered: "It is for me to know, and for you to find out." He maintained that he answered only to God and "the Japanese are not God." The Japanese beheaded him and his nephew, Eduardo Dueñas, on July 12, 1944 at Tai, Mangilao.
In early 1945, the body of Fr. Dueñas was exhumed from a crude grave. When his body was buried at St. Joseph's Church in Inarajan, hundreds of people and the island's highest officials attended the ceremony. The Father Duenas Memorial High School (FDMS), was established in his memory in 1948.
Dueñas studied for the priesthood in Manila. He was the second Chamorro Catholic priest.
During the Japanese occupation of Guam, Father Dueñas knew the movements of the American fugitives and the identities of the people who assisted and harbored them. He is said to have knowledge about the plans of Japanese search teams, who were after the fugitives and their helpers. His friends operated secret radio receivers, and he was well informed of the progress of war.
The Japanese government sent two Catholic Priests, Monsignor Fukahori and Father Peter Komatzu, to Guam as propagandists and diplomats. Fr. Dueñas refused to co-operate with them.
The Japanese suspected that Dueñas was harboring Americans. Dueñas was informed beforehand about the Japanese plans to arrest him, but he refused to run away. Later, he was taken captive by the Japanese and questioned about the whereabouts of six American sailors, who had fled into the jungles. Father Dueñas is said to have answered: "It is for me to know, and for you to find out." He maintained that he answered only to God and "the Japanese are not God." The Japanese beheaded him and his nephew, Eduardo Dueñas, on July 12, 1944 at Tai, Mangilao.
In early 1945, the body of Fr. Dueñas was exhumed from a crude grave. When his body was buried at St. Joseph's Church in Inarajan, hundreds of people and the island's highest officials attended the ceremony. The Father Duenas Memorial High School (FDMS), was established in his memory in 1948.
Father Jesus Baza Dueñas was a Catholic Priest in Guam during the Second World War.
Dueñas studied for the priesthood in Manila. He was the second Chamorro Catholic priest.
During the Japanese occupation of Guam, Father Dueñas knew the movements of the American fugitives and the identities of the people who assisted and harbored them. He is said to have knowledge about the plans of Japanese search teams, who were after the fugitives and their helpers. His friends operated secret radio receivers, and he was well informed of the progress of war.
The Japanese government sent two Catholic Priests, Monsignor Fukahori and Father Peter Komatzu, to Guam as propagandists and diplomats. Fr. Dueñas refused to co-operate with them.
The Japanese suspected that Dueñas was harboring Americans. Dueñas was informed beforehand about the Japanese plans to arrest him, but he refused to run away. Later, he was taken captive by the Japanese and questioned about the whereabouts of six American sailors, who had fled into the jungles. Father Dueñas is said to have answered: "It is for me to know, and for you to find out." He maintained that he answered only to God and "the Japanese are not God." The Japanese beheaded him and his nephew, Eduardo Dueñas, on July 12, 1944 at Tai, Mangilao.
In early 1945, the body of Fr. Dueñas was exhumed from a crude grave. When his body was buried at St. Joseph's Church in Inarajan, hundreds of people and the island's highest officials attended the ceremony. The Father Duenas Memorial High School (FDMS), was established in his memory in 1948.
Dueñas studied for the priesthood in Manila. He was the second Chamorro Catholic priest.
During the Japanese occupation of Guam, Father Dueñas knew the movements of the American fugitives and the identities of the people who assisted and harbored them. He is said to have knowledge about the plans of Japanese search teams, who were after the fugitives and their helpers. His friends operated secret radio receivers, and he was well informed of the progress of war.
The Japanese government sent two Catholic Priests, Monsignor Fukahori and Father Peter Komatzu, to Guam as propagandists and diplomats. Fr. Dueñas refused to co-operate with them.
The Japanese suspected that Dueñas was harboring Americans. Dueñas was informed beforehand about the Japanese plans to arrest him, but he refused to run away. Later, he was taken captive by the Japanese and questioned about the whereabouts of six American sailors, who had fled into the jungles. Father Dueñas is said to have answered: "It is for me to know, and for you to find out." He maintained that he answered only to God and "the Japanese are not God." The Japanese beheaded him and his nephew, Eduardo Dueñas, on July 12, 1944 at Tai, Mangilao.
In early 1945, the body of Fr. Dueñas was exhumed from a crude grave. When his body was buried at St. Joseph's Church in Inarajan, hundreds of people and the island's highest officials attended the ceremony. The Father Duenas Memorial High School (FDMS), was established in his memory in 1948.
Inscription
"In pace et honore hic jacet Rev. Dns. Jesus B. Dueñas tempore bello occisus die 12 a Julii 1944 hic inter suos sepulturam invenit die 21 a Martii 1945."
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