VIRIDITAS: SOUL GREENING
Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
One year, I noticed a lot of caterpillars crawling about on a tree outside. Unfortunately, I also saw a number of birds entering into their space and eating them. Being a lover of nature, I got the idea to move the caterpillars to a safer place. Gently I plucked them from the branches and transported them into my office placing them on an artificial tree. I was intrigued when they kept wiggling around; they were turning into chrysalises. What a wonder of nature I saw! Several days after, my office was full of butterflies. It was so amazing. This too, was a eucharistic moment for me as Eucharist is definitely beyond everything. And, everything is in existence because of Christ himself.
My love for the Eucharist, my vocation, actually began in grade school when I told my classmates and my teacher, “I want to become a priest.” At that time, I did not really know what that meant, but the following year I became an altar server in our parish with two of my cousins. The desire did not leave me. I even finished college, went to work in a company. But, one day as I went to confession, I decided to share my desire. It so happened that the vocation director of the Blessed Sacrament Congregation was the confessor.
I fell in love with the charism of our founder, St. Peter Julian Eymard, and his love of the Eucharist. In formation, we were guided by our formators in the development of our prayer life, and in the mission of the congregation “to respond to the hungers of the human family with the riches of God’s love manifested in the Eucharist.”
The living, breathing Christ is in everything, because he is Lord of all as St. Paul said. Here, at Star of the Sea Parish and School, we try to help others in our own small ways, be they Catholic or not, to experience Christ, even if it is in offering them a place to sit, relax and be at peace, for it is the Lord that gives the experience, we only help provide the environment.
For example, we had a water main break by the flagpole. In digging to repair the pipe, a lot of rocks were brought up. I pondered what we could do with them, and the thought of making a Japanese garden arose. Then, another water main broke and there were more rocks to be moved. Once again, I pondered and the thought to add a small waterfall in the garden area materialized. The water is even regulated automatically by timer. With the help of one of the seniors in our parish who has a green thumb, the plants have taken root and all are happy. I can see how God was working through the water main breaks.
Our founder wanted the mystery of the Eucharist to be loved and lived in its fullness. Through our efforts in ecology here at Star of the Sea, we hope to plant the seeds of the Gospel and Catholic values. For, as the Gospel tells us in the parable of the sower, a harvest is always assured.
Father Frankie C. de los Reyes is a Blessed Sacrament Father. He is the pastor of Mary, Star of the Sea Church in Waialae-Kahala. He is 33 years professed as a religious and 27 years ordained. Aside from gardening, he enjoys playing the guitar and sports.
