December 1946 - Most Reverend Apollinaris W. Baumgartner, O. F. M., Cap., Vicar Apostolic of the Marianas Islands, planned of establishing primarily a preparatory seminary for boys who wish to study for the priesthood with the approval of Military Governor Charles Alan Pownall.

February 23, 1947 - Labor Day Picnic attended by more than 3,500 people from the 20 villages was the first island-wide picnic to clear the land for the school. Upon the invitation Most Rev. Apollinaris W. Baumgartner, O. F. M., Cap., Bishop of Guam, there were representatives from Holy Name Societies, the Sodality, the Nanan Kilyano Krisyano, Boys and Girl Scouts, and other groups from parish churches. Chairman was Mr. Frank Perez.

August 24, 1947 - Umatuna Si Yuus issue mentioned the fund-raising for the school for student scholarships.

September 1, 1947 - A Labor Day, approximately 2,700 people gathered together for a picnic and fellowship in response to the invitation of Most Reverend Apollinaris W. Baumgartner, O. F. M., Cap., Bishop of Guam. The gathering cleared the land where the school was built.

January 4, 1948 - Announcement of the scholarship burses for the studying of priesthood at $10,000 – Burse 1. The Father Duenas Burse; Burse 2. The Pale Palomo Burse; Burse 3. The Pale Manibusan Burse.

January 25, 1948 - Announcement of the scholarship burses. Burse 4. Santa Marian Camarin Burse.

February 29, 1948 - Umatuna Si Yuus issue mentioned the Monday “Labor Picnic” at the school site attended by more than 3,500 from the 20 towns.

March 7, 1948 - G. L., friend of the Bishop, from Brooklyn, New York, donated $5,000 for the Santa Marian Camarin Burse. Burse 5. Pale Luis Burse.

April 10, 1948 - The men of Yigo had a bonfire to clear the land of piles of grass and weeds. The campus used to be an agricultural camp during the Japanese period and after the war used to be Sea Bee camp.

May 30, 1948 - No title yet for the land. Burse 6. Corason Santos Burse donated by E. T. Calvo.

August 1, 1948 - Umatuna Si Yuus issue mentioned that the Stigmatine Fathers will serve as the nucleus of teaching staff.

August 14, 1948 - Saturday, men of the Holy Name Society helped in getting the grounds and buildings ready for school.

September 11, 1948 - Most Reverend Bishop Baumgartner appointed the following Stigmatine Fathers to FD: Rev. Charles Egan, Rev. Leo James Geraci, Rev. Gerald O. Goggin, Rev. Joseph R. Morgan and Rev. Ellsworth S. Fortman.

September 12, 1948 - Umatuna Si Yuus issue mentioned the early morning Friday arrival of the Stigmatine Fathers via Pan American Airways. The C.P.S. priests who arrived were Rev. Joseph Morgan, Father Superior; Rev. Charles Egan; Rev. Gerald O. Goggin; Rev. Leo James Geraci and Rev. Ellsworth Fortman.

September 1948 - Father Dueñas Memorial School (FDMS) was established in Tai between the villages of Mangilao and Chalan Pago to honor the martyrdom of Father Jesus Baza Dueñas. The school was built near the site of Father Dueñas' beheading and burial. through the initiative of Bishop Baumgartner. As the first Catholic school on the island, it was administered by the Stigmatine Fathers. Quonsets left by the Construction Battalions were used by the school. 

September 20, 1948 - Tuesday, 9:00 to 11:30 AM and 1:30 to 4:30 PM was first registration of the students, both seminarians and day-students. Tuition was $25.00 per quarter. A total of 36 students enrolled.

October 1, 1948 - Friday, the school officially opened as a school for young men and as a minor seminary with a Solemn High Mass celebrated by the new Superior, Rev. Joseph Morgan, C.P.S., with the presence of Bishop Baumgartner and Rev. Ellsworth Fortman, C.P.S., first principal. The school motto: Fortes in Fide=Strong in Faith was derived from the Epistle of St. Peter the Apostle. The school colors are maroon and gold.

October 2, 1948 - Opening of classes. First school on Guam to teach Greek, Latin, calculus and trigonometry.

On October 1, 2015, Father Dueñas Memorial School celebrated its 67th Anniversary of Opening Day. For 67 years in the spirit of the late Fr. Jesus Baza Dueñas, FDMS has been educating the island’s young men in pursuit of excellence and, as in its FD tradition, becoming “Strong in the Faith.”

To commemorate this special milestone, the Liturgy of the Eucharist was celebrated by Fr. Richard Kidd ‘96, Fr. Jeffrey C. San Nicolas ‘84 and Fr. Efren Adversario, FDMS Campus Minister and Chaplain.

Part of the ceremony was the honoring of the graduates from classes of 1950 to 1959 under the administration of the Stigmatine Fathers. Present were Manuel C. Paulino ’51; Juan U. Baza ’53; Jose R. San Agustin ’54; Edward R. Duenas ’55; Manuel Q. Cruz ’57; Juan C. Tenorio ’57; Seymour H. Payne, Sr. ’58; Albert H. Tsutsui ’58; Antonio C. Aguon ’59; and Gabriel T. Cruz ’59. A special presentation on the life of Fr. Jesus Baza Dueñas was done by Joaquin J. Pangelinan ‘05. Also in attendance, who were also honored, were the family members of Fr. Dueñas. Other alumni, relatives and guest graced the occasion.