Priests commemorating their ordination anniversaries concelebrate Mass at St. Theresa Co-Cathedral April 25. From left to right are Father Joseph Carroll, Father Patrick Freitas, Sacred Hearts Father Christopher Keahi, Marianist Father Paul Fitzpatrick and Father Emerson Delos Reyes. (HCH photos | Darlene Dela Cruz)
The Mass in the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa on the bright, warm morning of April 25 was appropriately jubilant. The music-saturated liturgy celebrated the jubilees — significant anniversaries of religious commitment ranging from 25 to 75 years — of 11 priests, seven sisters and one brother.
Bishop Larry Silva presided over the ceremony joined by 18 priests and 11 deacons vested in red for the feast of St. Mark, evangelist and martyr.
Five jubilee priests celebrated the Mass in the sanctuary, while the honored religious sisters and brother, wearing layers of leis, took the first pew. The rest of the church was three-quarters filled with family members, friends, parishioners and former students of the jubilarians, and religious sisters and brothers, including a group of young male novices of the Sacred Hearts Congregation who stood out in their full white habits.
In his homily, Bishop Silva, in reference to St. Mark’s feastday, called the jubilarians “evangelists.”
“Mark, Matthew, Luke and John … told the same story in different ways, with different perspectives,” he said.
“There are many more evangelists because of that great commission ‘Go preach the good news,’” he said. “The jubilarians have taken the mission to heart, very generously dedicating their lives. For that we are very grateful.”
“All have a different way of speaking of Jesus,” the bishop said.
“We don’t make up our own gospel,” he said, but speak as people who have “encountered Jesus alive, living with us.”
“We have exactly the same experiences” as the first evangelists “because Jesus is no longer dead, but alive,” Bishop Silva said.
“Our jubilarians have been beautiful evangelists over the years,” he said. “Because they have done so much to bring the good news to others.”
Following the homily, the anniversary priests and religious together recited a “renewal of commitment” to their religious calling.
“Gracious God,” they said, “we thank you for your call and for having brought us to this moment. … We are resolved, by your grace, to live out the Gospel every day of our lives.”
Celebrating anniversaries of religious profession were Sacred Hearts Sister Julie Louise Thevenin, 75 years; Maryknoll Sister Maria Rosario Daley, 70 years; Sister Mary Josephine Araki, 60 years; Sister of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities Laura June Abat, 60 years; Sister of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities Miriam Dionise Cabacungan, 60 years; Marianist Brother Gary Morris, 50 years; Dominican Sister of the Most Holy Rosary Viviana Parnoncillon, 50 years; and Maryknoll Sister Rosalinda Sevilla Barrozo, 50 years.
Marking anniversaries of priestly ordination were Marianist Father Lawrence Mann, now retired on the Mainland, 70 years; Father Joseph Carroll, 60 years; the late Msgr. Franco Troi, who died this year shortly before his 50th anniversary; Father Patrick Freitas, 50 years; Sacred Hearts Father Michael Kelly, 50 years; Sacred Hearts Father Christopher Keahi, 50 years; Marianist Father Paul Fitzpatrick, 50 years; La Salette Father Manuel dela Cruz, 25 years; Father Emerson Delos Reyes, 25 years; Father Joseph Grimaldi, 25 years; and Sacred Hearts Father Edward Popish, 25 years.
Jubiliarians not present at the Mass were Father Mann, Father Kelly, Father dela Cruz, Father Grimaldi and Father Popish.
After communion, Bishop Silva presented each honoree with a token of appreciation. The final recipient, Honolulu-born Sister Julie Louise received a long, standing ovation in recognition of her 75 years.
Composer and cantor Robert Mondoy led the Mass music, a vibrant blend of Gregorian chant, contemporary hymns, and locally written responses with Hawaiian elements.
A lunch reception with local food followed in the parish hall.
