Seven seminarians and two priests are commissioned Aug. 1 in St. Patrick Church in Kaimuki for a new mission in Fiji. (Photos courtesy of Steve Tagupa)
The United States Province of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts on Aug. 1 witnessed the first vows of its two newest members, one who is from the South Pacific island of Futuna, the other from Tonga.
Family and guests gathered at St. Patrick Church in Kaimuki as provincial superior Father Johnathan Hurrell received the profession of Brother Esitio Niuliki and Brother Semisi Pulotu, members of the first pre-novitiate class of the Sacred Hearts congregation’s Tonga mission established in November 2012.
Brother Esitio is a native of Futuna; Brother Semisi is from the Vava’u District in Tonga.
The two newly professed brothers will begin studies this fall at the Pacific Regional Seminary in Fiji where they and five other temporary professed brothers are establishing a new mission community with their formators, Sacred Hearts Fathers Dedi Riberu and Brian Guerrini.
The other brothers are Soane Ulutaufonua, Daniel Estrada, John Sawchenko, Jeremy Sabugo and Michael Kamauoha.
All nine Fiji-bound congregational members were commissioned at the same Aug. 1 profession ceremony.
Eighty-six priests and brothers of the U.S. Province of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts serve parishes and chaplaincies in Hawaii, Massachusetts and Texas, and missions in India, Tonga and Fiji.