History

On October 1, 1948, Bishop Apollinaris Baumgartner, OFM Cap. established Father Dueñas Memorial School (FDMS) as a minor seminary and a high school for young men near the site of Fr. Duenas’ martyrdom. The first buildings were simple Quonset huts that were gradually replaced by more permanent structures with the help of the FD families and community volunteers.  The Stigmatine Fathers were the first administrators of FDMS and the school graduated its first batch of 12 young men in 1950.

Subsequently, FDMS was administered by the Capuchin Franciscan Friars (1959-1974), the Marist Brothers (1974-1989), the Canons Regular (1989-1991), the Catholic laity (1991-2009), the Salesians of Don Bosco (2009-2012), and in 2012, a local diocesan priest, Fr. Jeffrey C. San Nicolas, was appointed as head of the school until the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year. Mr. Tony Thompson has taken over the helm for this school year.  In 2018, with the passing of Mr. Thompson, Mr. Ismael Perez was selected as Principal and currently holds that position.

This school year, 2021-2022, marks the 73 ^th anniversary of the school. Through the years, many  young men that have passed through its halls have gone on to become prominent leaders and professionals in the Church, government, business community and various other sectors of society, both on Guam and abroad. To this day FDMS continues to distinguish itself as an all boys college-preparatory school that provides a well-rounded education of the mind, heart and spirit. 
                 

Father Jesus Baza Dueñas was born on March 19, 1911,the son of Luís Paulino Dueñas and Josefa Martínez Baza. He left Guam for the San Jose Seminary (Manila) in 1926, and became the first priest to be ordained at the Agaña Cathedral on June 11, 1938, by Bishop Miguel Angel Olano, OFM Cap.

When the Japanese invaded Guam in December 1941, Fr. Dueñas and the newly-ordained Fr. Oscar L. Calvo were left to pastor the Catholic Church on island. During these occupation years, Fr. Dueñas courageously spoke up against Japanese abuses. Accused of treason against the Japanese imperial regime, he was arrested in Inarajan on July 8, 1944 and brutally tortured, together with his nephew, Eduardo Camacho Dueñas. While in captivity, he refused to escape, saying that he had done no wrong and that God would look after him. Besides, he knew only too well that escaping would mean severe punishment of suspected conspirators and family members.

Finally, at the break of dawn, on July 12, 1944, Father Dueñas and his nephew were brought to Tai, Mangilao, where they were beheaded along with two other Chamorro men, Juan Pangelinan and an unidentified man. In March 1945, the body of Father Dueñas was exhumed and then solemnly reinterred in the sanctuary of his parish church in Inarajan.