The Hawaiian Islands continue to be mission territory for foreign clergy. Here are brief profiles of priests and one religious sister who arrived in Hawaii over the last 12 months or so, mostly from other countries, to work in island parishes and other ministries. The information was compiled from brief surveys taken with the help of the Office of Clergy, the Office of the Bishop and Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP.
Blessed Sacrament Fathers
Father Francisco (Frankie) de los Reyes, SSS
Star of the Sea Parish, Kahala
The son of a carpenter from the town of Nueva Ecija in the Philippines, Father de los Reyes came to Hawaii from Davao City where he was a parish priest. He enjoys music and sports. He looks forward to becoming an effective servant-leader in the multi-ethnic parishes and schools of Hawaii.
Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
Father Yohanes (Yanto) Budiyanto, SS.CC.
Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Wahiawa
Father Budiyanto was born in Watuagung, Lampung Tengah, South Sumatra, the sixth of nine children. Ordained nine months ago, he looks forward to working with youth and the homebound. He enjoys volleyball, soccer and listening to music and is interested in canon law, especially marriage cases.
Father Michael (Mike) Kelly, SS.CC.
St. Damien Parish, Kaunakakai
Born in Ireland, Father Kelly was a missionary in the Bahamas for 39 years, ending his assignment in 2010. He quotes the Bahamian saying: “If you get sand in your toes you will return again.” Father Kelly enjoys photography in his new mission to the sands of Hawaii.
Father Patrick Killilea, SS.CC.
St. Francis Parish, Kalaupapa
Father Killilea was born in County Galway, Ireland, the son of a farmer who is more comfortable with a shovel in his hand than with a pen. His previous assignment was pastor of St. Mary Parish in Fairhaven, Mass. He looks forward to raising the spirits of the Kalaupapa community. He enjoys sports and bike riding.
Father Richard McNally, SS.CC.
Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Wahiawa
Originally from Fall River, Mass., Father McNally is 38 years ordained. He comes to Hawaii following his service as vicar general of his congregation in Rome. He enjoys most reading in a quiet place and looks forward to working with the people on evangelization.
Father Fransiskus Dedi Riberu, SS.CC.
St. Ann Parish, Kaneohe
Born in Indonesia, the eldest of five, Father Riberu comes to Hawaii from Sacred Hearts Seminary in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, where he accompanied those preparing for priesthood. In his spare time, he likes hiking and reading books. He looks forward to learning more about Hawaii.
Missionaries of Faith (MF)
Father Kuriakose Nadooparambil, MF
Maria Lanakila Parish, Lahaina
Father Nadooparambil was born in Kanjirapally, Kerala, India, into a family of four boys and four girls. He completed his theological studies in Rome. Before coming to Hawaii he served in India as a parish priest, formator and procurator of his congregation’s province. He enjoys reading.
Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette
Father Joseph Christian M. Pilotin, MS
Christ the King Parish, Kahului
Father Pilotin was born in Santiago, Isabela, Philippines, and educated by the La Salette Missionaries from kindergarten to college. His prior assignment was associate pastor in Caloocan City, Philippines. He enjoys reading, singing and watching movies. He looks forward to being enriched by Hawaii’s culture.
Oblates of St. Joseph
Father Arnold Ortiz, OSJ
St. Elizabeth Church, Aiea
Born in Sacramento, Father Ortiz was pastor at St. Joseph Marello Church, Granite Bay, in the Diocese of Sacramento. He enjoys martial arts (American kempo), walking, hiking and exercising. He looks forward to being a part of the excitement of expanding ministries in his parish.
Diocese of Daejeon, South Korea
Father Jong Ki Kim
Korean Catholic Community, St. Pius X Parish, Manoa
Korea-born Father Kim assigned first as a pastor in Korea. He also served in New Jersey and then back in Korea before coming to Hawaii. He enjoys singing karaoke and mountain hiking.
Diocese of Sorsogon, Philippines
Father Antonio (Tony) Bobis
Sacred Heart Parish, Waianae
Originally from Sorsogon City, Philippines, Father Bobis was in Hawaii, 2006-2008, in chaplaincy studies at Pacific Health Ministry. In 2008 he suffered a massive heart attack. He calls his recovery a miracle and looks forward to serving his parishioners. In his spare time he enjoys tennis and the visual arts.
Father Dionisio G. De Lota, Jr.
St. Ann Parish, Waihee
Born in Sorsogon City, Philippines, Father De Lota comes to Hawaii from St. Anthony Parish in Polot, Bulan, Sorsogon, where he served as parish priest. He looks forward to learning about the cultures of Hawaii’s ethnic groups. In his free time he enjoys basketball, swimming and reading spiritual books.
Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia, Philippines
Father Adviento Antonio (Tony) G. Reclusado
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Ewa Beach
Father Reclusado was born in Ilocos Sur, Philippines. He was attracted to the priesthood when he saw his hometown priests celebrating Mass, baptizing children and officiating at funerals. His last assignment was as a parish priest at St. Augustine Church, Tagudin, Ilocos Sur.
Father German Somera
St. Catherine Parish, Kapaa
Born in Santa Catalina, Ilocos Sur, Philippines, Father Somera came from a family whose life was centered on God. He comes to Hawaii from Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Lidlidda, Ilocos Sur, where he was a parish priest. He looks forward to serving the church in Hawaii. He enjoys playing guitar and singing.
Father Ronilo Ernesto G. Villa
St. Mary Parish, Hana
Father Villa was born in San Juan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. His assignment was at St. Joseph Parish in Salcedo, Ilocos Sur. He looks forward to discovering the beauty of God’s creation through the diverse cultures in Hawaii and sharing his gifts with them. For relaxation he enjoys running and all outdoor games.
Diocese of Puerto Carreno, Colombia
Father Pablo Enrique Bustamante
St. Michael Parish, Kailua-Kona
Born in Bogota, Colombia, Father Bustamante last served as a missionary in Samburu Land, Kenya. He loves his priesthood and living the gospel with joy. He seeks “To think like Jesus, speak like him, gaze like him and to love like him. In one word — to smell like Jesus. Mimi harufu ya Kristo (Swahili)”
Diocese of Butuan, Philippines
Father Francisco Nicomedes S. Sanchez
Diocesan Hospital Ministry
Born in Butuan City, Philippines, Father Sanchez comes to Hawaii from having last served as a parish priest in Birhen sa Kasilak Parish in his hometown of Butuan City. He looks forward to learning about the Hawaiian culture and of the variety of ministries here. He enjoys basketball and tennis.
Diocese of Bressanone, Italy
Msgr. Franco Luigi Troi
Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa, Honolulu
Msgr. Troi, 73, was born in the town of Belluno, Italy, about 62 miles north of Venice. Before coming to Hawaii, he served as a missionary in Sudan and as a chaplain for the Italian Army. Retired as a diocesan priest in 2002, he first came to Hawaii as a tourist. At the invitation of Bishop Larry Silva he procured a visa allowing him to take a parish assignment in Hawaii. He looks forward to helping out in ministry in Hawaii as long as his health permits. He enjoys skiing and biking.
Archdiocese of Kasama, Zambia
Father Martin Mwanshibula
Holy Rosary Parish, Pahala, Sacred Heart Parish, Naalehu
Father Mwanshibula was born in Zambia, Africa, the eldest of eight siblings. In Hawaii, he looks forward to meeting more people and learning more about the different cultures, which he says will help him in his future ministry. He enjoys reading and sight-seeing.
Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities
Sister Rosemarie Pelligra, OSF
St. Francis Convent, Manoa
Sister Rosemarie was born in Syracuse, N.Y., the oldest of four children. A registered nurse, she was a clinical instructor at the Syracuse City School District vocational school for nurses. She enjoys exercising, walking, biking, swimming and many forms of the arts. As a returnee to the islands she also looks forward to serving Hawaii people in health care.
