Sister Rochelle Liu, left, and Sister Joan Roddy, Hawaii’s Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia. (HCH photo | Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP)
Boxes have been mailed; a palette shipped. Hawaii’s only two Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia left this week for Tacoma, Wash., leaving the Diocese of Honolulu minus another religious order.
“You need to take your health records, paper work, social security, the computers, etc.,” said local-born Sister Rochelle Liu of the big move. “Of course, we are not taking the pots and pans,” she chuckled.
The other sister leaving is Sister Joan Roddy.
Their departure creates an emptiness as the Islands are left with one fewer religious order whose purpose was, as the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia’s directional statement says, “to be a hospitable face of our church, support its mission and challenge its failures.”
Dominican Sister Malia Dominica Wong spoke to the sisters before they left. Here are excerpts from their conversation.
Sister Malia Dominica: What brought the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia to the islands and how long have you been serving here?
Sister Rochelle Liu: I came home 26 years ago. My mom was ill and I stayed partially to be close to her and help my family caregive. I started ministry at St. George Church, Waimanalo. Later, I went circle island engaging in different places and services. These included working with the homeless at Sts. Peter and Paul; sponsoring a boat (refugee) family and opening an AmerAsian guest house; chaplaincy at the Women’s Correctional Center; religious education at St. Philomena Church, Salt Lake; overseeing the dormitory at St. Francis, Manoa, for students; working with the suffering children and families at Kapiolani Children’s Medical Center, and more.
Sister Francis Calhoun and Sister Joseph Grennion and others came over time to create community and join me in expanding the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia presence to include teaching at Chaminade University, ministry to the homebound, art work and parish outreach. As religious members of the OSF Philadelphia, we answered the call: “With Jesus Christ as Brother, we live as sister with one another, with the entire human family, and with all creation … We respond with diverse gifts in a spirit of collaboration and of mutual service to the needs of others, especially the economically poor, the marginal and the oppressed.” (mission statement)
Sister Joan Roddy: Sister Rochelle and I entered the convent at the same time and belong to the same group. Before coming to Hawaii five years ago, I served as a chaplain in Tacoma, Wash. After retirement I came to Hawaii to volunteer my services.
Sister Malia Dominica: What would be one of the highlights, or greatest memories, you have of being here?
Sister Joan: The most real and impressive experience I have revolves around Mother Marianne Cope and her ministry with the patients in Kalaupapa, Molokai. I had heard about Father Damien and the patients and knew the sisters were out there somewhat vaguely. But being here with the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, who were once a part of our own Franciscan community, was amazing.
There is another impression I will carry with me. When I ride the bus I can never tell who I will be sitting next to. I might be rubbing shoulders with a Japanese, Chinese, Samoan or someone of mixed blend. In Tacoma, we had only Caucasians and African Americans in small doses. This was very exciting to me. I think this patterns how America should be.
Sister Rochelle: It is difficult to express the gratitude I have for just being able to be home, to minister in my birthplace. It was a time to get in touch with who I was on another level, and to be close to family and friends. I left the islands in 1957 to enter the convent. I only really returned, came home shortly after my 25th jubilee. I was able to celebrate my 50th anniversary of religious life here.
Sister Joan: One of the things Sister Rochelle often talks about is the experience of blending a brand new ministry for her, massage, with helping the hospice patients and staff to bring a soothing comfort to them.
Sister Rochelle: My mother knew the art of Hawaiian massage, lomilomi. We grew up with it. Ten years ago I ended up in the healing ministry of St. Francis Healthcare Systems offering massage to those in hospice care. It is like no other ministry that I have ever had. You become in touch with the people that you are serving. There aren’t many words exchanged, but there is deep communication and a bonding that lasts a long time. I feel like I have now come full circle.
Sister Malia Dominica: You have truly braided a beautiful lei around the people of Hawaii through your diverse ministries in the Franciscan tradition. Where will you be going from here?
Sister Joan: We are going to St. Anne’s convent in Tacoma, Wash., where I was in hospital ministry for 18 years prior. It is a little like returning home. The surroundings are lovely. It is in a beautiful, simple setting. We find that many of our sisters are aging, sick and dying, and we want to be closer to them to help them.
Sister Rochelle: The complex of St. Anne’s consists of three cottages for the semi-retired and one for those in need of skilled care. I will still be able to do massages there.
Sister Malia Dominica: As you go forth, is there anything else you would like to say to the people of Hawaii?
Sister Joan: We are grateful to the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities. They are our closest “cousins” and have been very accepting of us. I will also miss this unity of different cultures and backgrounds, people accepting you just as you are. I will also miss the yearly Marianist gathering on Kalaepohaku and BILAC. Aloha to all the people of Hawaii. Thank you for this nice experience to walk among you.
Sister Rochelle: As a graduate from St. Francis School, Manoa, I have always been close to the Franciscan Sisters. They helped to nurture my vocation. Their friendships and including of us in their mission and outreach to the people of Hawaii have been tremendous. I am also grateful to all those I have met serving on various committees. How do you say thank you to our Bishop Larry (Silva) and to the family of all of the religious sisters and brothers here? We are choosing to leave while we can. I have witnessed many births and deaths. I will … (Sister Rochelle chokes up and tears begin to roll down her face) miss our island, the people and family. We will come back again. Mahalo and ahui hou.
