Nearly 20 years ago a culturally relevant program was created on the island of Guam. Inspired by the Gheel, the Belgium colony's humanized treatment of the mentally ill, the program is based on the island's Spanish heritage and makes use of Roman Catholic ritual in communal assembly and in commemorating developmental attainments. Beginning as a festal celebration, the program has continued to flourish as an impetus to the growth of the mental health movement on Guam. This paper gives the historical background of the St. Dymphna fiesta, discusses the objectives of the fiesta program, variations in the notion of personhood and mental/emotional vitality across cultures, and the mechanism of integrating traditional cultural customs with innovations in mental health. (Contains 14 references.) (BT)