Bishop Larry Silva poses with deacon candidates and their wives after the rite of candidacy, Jan. 12, at St. Ann Church in Kaneohe. (HCH photo by Darlene Dela Cruz)
Fourteen Hawaii men publicly declared their willingness to be candidates for the permanent diaconate in a special liturgical ceremony 1:30 p.m., Jan. 12, at St. Ann Church in Kaneohe.
Bishop Larry Silva presided over the Rite of Candidacy for the eighth and newest formation class of deacons for the Diocese of Honolulu.
The men range in age from 46 to 63, with the majority in their 50s. They live on Oahu, the Big Island, Kauai and Maui. Seven were born in Hawaii. Their occupations include a medical doctor, a heavy equipment mechanic, government workers and a cook. A few are retired.
The candidates began their path to ordination in January 2013 as aspirants, and have spent the past year discerning their decision to pursue the diaconate.
According to the Vatican’s “Basic Norms for the Formation of Permanent Deacons,” in the Rite for Candidacy, the deacon aspirant “manifests his will to offer himself to God and the church, so that he may exercise sacred orders.”
The norms continue, “The church, accepting this offering, chooses and calls him to prepare himself to receive a sacred order, and in this way he is rightly numbered among candidates for the diaconate.”
As candidates, the men will enter into formal preparation for ordination which includes academic study and pastoral work until 2017.
The wives of married candidates will participate in the formation process although church law does not allow women to be ordained deacons.
The diocese’s new deacon class
Glenn (Mike) M. Brown
- Age: 59
- Birthplace: Wharton, W. Va.
- Wife: Michelle
- Children: 2
- Occupation: Officer/civilian U.S. Air Force
- Parish: St. Jude, Kapolei
Ricardo M. Burgos
- Age: 46
- Birthplace: Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Wife: Danielle
- Children: 3
- Occupation: Physician
- Parish: St. John the Baptist, Kalihi
Craig S. Camello
- Age: 50
- Birthplace: Honolulu
- Wife: Pamela
- Children: 3
- Occupation: Business development manager, Finance Factors
- Parish: St. John the Baptist, Kealakekua
Andres (Bambi) Emayo Jr.
- Age: 48
- Birthplace: Waimea, Kauai
- Wife: Clarissa
- Children: 3
- Occupation: Planning inspector, County of Kauai
- Parish: Holy Cross, Kalaheo
Raymond L. Lamb
- Age: 55
- Birthplace: Colorado Springs, Co.
- Wife: Tyra
- Children: 3
- Occupation: Department of Defense contractor
- Parish: St. John the Baptist, Kalihi
Rafael A. Mendoza
- Age: 56
- Birthplace: Manila
- Wife: Maria Sofia
- Children: 3
- Occupation: Director of international training, Haggai Institute
- Parish: St. Theresa, Kihei
Randall P. Naholowaa
- Age: 54
- Birthplace: Honolulu
- Wife: Krystyna
- Children: 2
- Occupation: Heavy equipment mechanic
- Parish: Sacred Heart, Waianae
Alfredo Nebre Jr.
- Age: 55
- Birthplace: Lihue
- Wife: Evelyn
- Children: 3
- Occupation: Youth service director
- Parish: St. Catherine, Kapaa
Jonathan R. Ocampo
- Age: 51
- Birthplace: Whitter, Calif.
- Wife: Miriam
- Occupation: Control technician
- Parish: Immaculate Conception, Ewa
Gerald P. Quintana
- Age: 64
- Birthplace: Honolulu
- Occupation: Semi-retired
- Parish: Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Ewa Beach
Christopher S. Ribucan
- Age: 43
- Birthplace: Wailuku
- Wife: Dawn
- Children: 2
- Occupation: Postal clerk
- Parish: Holy Rosary, Paia
Valdyn M. Sakai
- Age: 55
- Birthplace: Honolulu
- Wife: Aurora
- Children: 2
- Occupation: Lead cook
- Parish: Christ the King, Kahului
Gerald (Gary) E. Streff
- Age: 63
- Birthplace: Holdrege, Neb.
- Wife: Valerie
- Children: 8
- Occupation: Retired U.S. Air Force
- Parish: St. Jude, Kapolei
David W. Watson
- Age: 55
- Birthplace: Washington, Iowa
- Wife: Gloria
- Occupation: Accountant
- Parish: St. Joseph, Hilo
