The other ways I pray
It’s really nice being at Annunciation Parish in Waimea. It is a really beautiful area of the state and island of Hawaii. The parishioners are very good and helpful. There is a lot of active involvement in our religious education and faith formation programs as well as in our social ministries. Our parish district includes Ascension Mission in Puako and Waikoloa, where we hold Sunday Mass every second Saturday of the month in one of the meeting rooms of the Waikoloa Village Association. Ours is a praying community, which makes it a strong community.
I grew up on a farm in California. My grandparents had a dairy and my mom and dad raised almonds, peaches and grapes. In college, I majored in agriculture. As I got involved in the parish at San Luis Obispo near the college, I saw they did a lot of social justice work and outreach to seniors. I then changed my major to theology. It was later during my time at Queen’s Hospital, Oahu, when I took a CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) course that I fell in love with the ethnic and cultural mix here in Hawaii. Thus, I left the family farmlands and moved over here.
My days begin about 6 a.m. when I arise. I then join the parish community for morning prayers before the 7 a.m. Mass. I really enjoy this special prayer time with the community. Toward the end of the day, I say evening prayers before I retire for sleep. At that time I also pause to make a spiritual review of the day.
When I first arrived in Waimea, I painted the inside of my house. I also built a fence around it for my two little dogs. I like to do things, to be active. So, during the day, one of the other ways I pray is to do so as I am working. I like to do mindless work which has a beginning point and an end — like mowing the yard or clipping the bushes. The other day I needed to put up a sign, so I enjoyed digging a hole.
During this generally mindless and peaceful time I pretty much give thanks to God for everything. It may be for the perfect weather that isn’t too hot or muggy, just usually comfortably breezy; or for just the beautiful greenness and vast open pastures all around Waimea. There is so much stuff in my life to give thanks to God for. We are really so blessed. So if I cannot be found in the church, on home visits, or ministering in our other programs or outreach, you may find me in the yard.
Father Stephen Macedo is a diocesan priest and the pastor at Annunciation Parish in Waimea since July 1, 2013.
