Father David Barfknecht
Father Michael Sawyer and Father David Barfknecht of the Benedictine Monastery in Waialua have been incardinated into the Diocese of Honolulu, Bishop Larry Silva announced in the official notices in this issue of the Hawaii Catholic Herald (See page 2).
This change in association follows the monastery’s split last year from the Italy-based Olivetan Benedictine order and its acceptance on May 13 as a “public association of the faithful of diocesan right” in the Diocese of Honolulu.
What this means, according to diocesan judicial vicar Father Mark Gantley, is that “they are diocesan priests but they are technically no longer members of a religious order.”
Rather, “they are members of an association of the faithful rooted in Benedictine traditions.”
While Father Sawyer and Father Barfknecht are now diocesan priests, Father Gantley said, they may still be called “Benedictines” and will keep the initials “O.S.B.” after their names.
It is the Benedictines’ hope that, at some point and with sufficient members, they will gain the status of a Benedictine religious order.
The Waialua community also has four sisters: Sister Celeste Cabral, Sister Ann Cic, Sister Mary Jo McEnany and Sister Geralyn Spaulding.
Incardination “is required for all priests and deacons,” Father Gantley said, “to bind them to a specific diocese, religious order, society of apostolic life, or personal prelature.”
“Incardination establishes a binding relationship between the priest or deacon and his bishop or other superior,” he said.
Father Michael Sawyer
“Incardination gives the priest or deacon rights and obligations,” he said. “For example, if a priest becomes physically incapacitated, his diocese or entity of incardination is responsible for his support.”
Incardination also determines to whom the priest or deacon owes obedience or from whom he takes assignments, the judicial vicar said.
According to Bishop Silva, the Vatican confirmed the two priests’ departure from the Olivetan Benedictines and their incardination into the Diocese of Honolulu on two different dates, Father Sawyer on Oct. 1 and Father Barfknecht on Oct. 2. He does not know why two different dates were recorded.
Father Gantley said he is not personally familiar with any other situation like what the Diocese of Honolulu has arranged for the Benedictines.
“Apparently, there are a couple of similar arrangements on the mainland, but I don’t know anything about them,” he said.
