Maui-born Marianist Father Francis T. Nakagawa this year celebrates his 60 anniversary of ordination. He lives at the Cupertino Marianist Community in Cupertino, Calif, where he retired in June 2015.
Father Nakagawa worked as a teacher and chaplain in Marianist schools in Hawaii, Japan, Texas and California.
He taught at St. Anthony School, Wailuku, and Saint Louis School, Honolulu and at St. Joseph’s International School in Yokohama, Japan. He also served as a parish priest at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace Cathedral in Honolulu and Our Lady of Good Counsel in Pearl City.
Father Nakagawa was also chaplain for Honolulu’s Japanese Catholic Community and served as liaison and host to religious peace delegations from Japan.
Father Nakagawa, 89, grew up in Wailuku, Maui, one of nine children. His encounters with the Marianists at St. Anthony High School encouraged him to join the order. He made his first profession in 1948.
He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio, his bachelor of sacred theology from Angelicum, Rome, and his licentiate of sacred theology from the University of Fribourg in Fribourg, Switzerland.
He was ordained a priest on July 14, 1957, in Fribourg.
