Bishop Larry Silva incardinated Father Arnold Ortiz, administrator of St. Elizabeth Parish, Aiea, into the Diocese of Honolulu on June 12, the day the priest was issued an indult of departure from the Oblates of St. Joseph, the religious order to which he had belonged.
Father Ortiz’ status changed from administrator of the Aiea church to pastor on July 1.
A native of Sacramento, Calif., Father Ortiz was ordained for the California Province of the Oblates of St. Joseph on Dec. 16, 1972, and has served in a number of California parishes.
In 2004, he became the founding pastor of St. Joseph Marello Parish in Granite Bay, Calif.
Father Ortiz has worked in Hawaii for 19 months. Bishop Silva first assigned him as parochial vicar of St. Elizabeth on Jan. 23, 2013, and as administrator on Aug. 5, 2013.
