VIRIDITAS: SOUL GREENING
By Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP Hawaii Catholic Herald
“Whrrr …” sounded the elevator before coming to a stop. “Thump … shuffle … thump … shuffle.” The cane coursed the polished wooden floor toward the kitchen with stiffened leg in tow. After a pause, for a cup of coffee perhaps, the thump and shuffle continued toward the chapel door. A slight tug, a gust of wind stirred as if awaiting entrance into the sanctuary. Brother then inspected the candles giving each oil tube a slight shake before lighting the tapers in anticipation of the eucharistic celebration. Each drop of oil is precious, good to the last drop. Like the retired Franciscan Capuchins who have served in Hawaii.
Have you ever wondered how and why it came to be that priests such as Fathers George Maddock, Jack Niland, Bob Maher, Paul Minchak and Gordon Combs would give up their families, the beauty of the Hudson River, the excitement of New York City with its Broadway shows, Grand Central Station and Times Square to accept mission work in Hawaii? Or that we are still blessed in the islands with Fathers Michel Dalton and Paulo Kosaka in active parish ministry? Was it by administrative obedience or by selfless offertory? As I gazed into the bright eyes of these friars, some in wheelchairs, others with canes, I heard cherished tales of serving in Nicaragua and Guam, Okinawa for 19 years and Hawaii for 28. They had all volunteered for the missions.
Mission ministry has been a part of the Capuchin tradition since the order’s beginnings. The Swiss founders John Frey and Gregory Haas were diocesan priests in a German-speaking area of Switzerland. Recognizing a need for more German speaking priests in pioneering America, they felt the Capuchin charism of simplicity and contemplation in service would best meet the physical and spiritual needs of the people there. In 1856, after 26 years of working hard to build up the church and finally taking Capuchin vows, they established St. Joseph Province in America.
What is the oil that keeps these Capuchins aglow? Life at St. Clare Friary in Yonkers, New York, revolves around a Capuchin Franciscan lifestyle in common. In the fully-equipped, personal-care facility and friary for senior brethren, priests and brothers gather daily for community prayer — morning praise, evening thanksgiving and the Eucharist. Individually, they also spend an hour each day in personal prayer, meditation and contemplation. They also take time to celebrate their brotherhood by remembering special occasions and feasts of the order.
Still adapting to being back home, Father Gordon shared stories of how, as a youngster, he and his friends would play hide-and-seek in the cemetery, or lie low in the bushes watching the friars at outdoor recreation playing bocce ball or cards. He noticed how happy they were and he wanted to share in that happiness.
Today, he takes his cup of coffee in hand, and as a kind of daily ritual, walks among those Sister Death has called to heaven.
The Capuchins are also looking forward to another big celebration on Nov. 18 when their brother, Venerable Father Solanus Casey, will be beatified in Detroit.
