Maui mechanic turned lay brother served his community 59 years
Maui-born Sacred Hearts Brother George Apo, who, nearly 60 years ago, left a life as a cowhand, a mechanic and a deckhand for the Merchant Marines to join a
Sacred Hearts Brother George (Francis) Apo
religious community, died May 6, at Straub Clinic and Hospital in Honolulu. He was 90.
For 59 years, Brother Apo was a lay brother of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
Describing the role of the community’s brothers, Sacred Hearts Father Herman Gomes said, “Traditionally with the men of the Sacred Hearts, the brothers were trained to do whatever was necessary to maintain the mission.”
In 2007, on the 50th anniversary of his profession of vows, Brother Apo described his change of vocation.
“Religious life was an entirely new way for one who was a cowhand, mechanic, merchant marine deckhand, and a rigger for a construction company,” he said.
As a religious brother he said he “spent most of my years doing maintenance work and landscaping.”
Then five decades into his vocation he was not retired, he said, but “still beautifying our property while communing with the Lord.”
Brother Apo was born Francis Apo in Waihee, Maui, on Nov. 22, 1925, to Edward Apio Apo and Henrietta Anna Akuna.
He graduated from St. Anthony High School in Wailuku, Maui, and studied auto mechanics at Maui Vocational School. He was also a U.S. Coast Guard veteran.
Brother Apo attended Sacred Hearts Seminary in Hauula on Oahu’s windward side. He professed his temporary vows on March 19, 1957, and his final vows on March 21, 1960, at Sacred Hearts Center-Bethany in Kaneohe.
Brother Apo served as a maintenance man at Sacred Hearts Seminary; St. Patrick Church, Honolulu; St. Anthony Home, Honolulu; Sacred Hearts Center-Bethany; Pahoa Community House, Honolulu; and St. Mary Church in Ararongi, Cook Islands.
His funeral was May 24 at St. Patrick Church. He is buried at Valley of the Temples Memorial Park in Kaneohe.
Brother Apo is survived by his sister Josephine Yip, nephews and nieces. His death leaves three local-born lay brothers in Hawaii’s Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
