Sacred Hearts Sister Anne Marie Tamanaha was among several educators honored for milestone anniversaries. Sister Anne Marie marked 60 years of teaching. (HCH photos | Darlene Dela Cruz)
By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Sacred Hearts Sister Anne Marie Tamanaha, herself confined to a wheelchair, received a standing ovation from 700 fellow teachers and school administrators for her six-decade career in education at the Annual Conference for Catholic School Educators Mass Feb. 5 in the Sacred Hearts Academy gym.
At left, Bishop Larry Silva gives the homily for the morning Mass at the Annual Conference for Catholic Educators on Oahu at Sacred Hearts Academy Feb. 5.
The Island-born sister was one of 22 honorees at the event. The others were recognized for 20-, 30- and 40-year career anniversaries.
Currently a piano teacher at St. Patrick School in Kaimuki, Sister Anne Marie has taught at every grade level, kindergarten through 12, at Sacred Hearts Academy and also served as principal of the lower school.
Marking 40 years was Dennis Almodova of Saint Louis School.
Celebrating 30 years were Deborah Kula of Sacred Hearts Academy, Lucille Kern and Milton Makishi of Maryknoll School, and Caren Demeo of St. John Vianney.
Recognized for 20 years of service were Jean Ota of Damien Memorial School; Lorna DeLeon of Holy Family Early Learning Center; Kalei DeMello of Holy Family Catholic Academy; Lori Carlos, Jonathan Hermosura and Darcie Kawamura of Maryknoll School; Edlin Won and Deanna Rasmussen of Mary, Star of the Sea School; and Margaret O’Kelly of Sacred Hearts Academy.
Also celebrating 20 years were Cynthia Achong of St. Ann’s Model School Early Learning Center; Maria Corazon Aczon of St. Anthony, Kalihi; Nancy Jove-Laciste of St. John the Baptist; Annie Chee and Linda Opie of St. John Vianney; and Tom Nguyen of Saint Louis.
A 20-year certificate was also presented to Tisa Koki for her husband Bradley Koki, a Maryknoll School art teacher who died on Jan. 18.
Bishop Larry Silva celebrated the Mass with 10 priests, most of them pastors of Catholic schools in Hawaii.
In his homily, the bishop praised the educators for their dedication and generosity.
Referencing the diocese’s new strategic plan of outreach and evangelization, Bishop Silva said, “I cannot think of an infrastructure better suited to achieve this plan as our Catholic schools.”
“The good news calls us to be missionaries of mercy,” he said. “We cannot be satisfied by serving those who come to us.”
“Jesus commanded us to go beyond ourselves,” the bishop said.
“We live in dark ages,” he said. “It is the church that brings light to the darkness.”
After the Mass, the participants attended 27 sessions by local Catholic school educators on ways to engage students in learning.
The conference was held on the last day of Catholic Schools Week, Jan. 31-Feb. 5, during which the approximately 8,900 Catholic school students in Hawaii participated in a wide range of extra-curricular activities.
The theme for Catholic Schools Week is “communities of faith, knowledge and service.”
