Deacon Dan and Rita Guinaugh (Photo courtesy of Charlotte White)
By Bob and Charlotte White
Special to the Herald
After more than 30 years of service to the Diocese of Honolulu and to Holy Trinity Church, it has come time to say “Aloha” to Deacon Dan Guinaugh and his wife Rita. After his recent retirement from active ministry, Deacon Dan announced his retirement from Holy Trinity and the couple’s move to the mainland to be nearer to family and grandchildren.
Best described as the “Dynamic Duo” of Holy Trinity Church, Deacon Dan and Rita have been there for our parish. They have shared their faith both by prayer and example. For more than three decades, the two have assisted in welcoming new pastors, coordinating and easing their transition to East Oahu.
Deacon Dan was seen in every aspect of Catholic life and formation at Holy Trinity. He and Rita either organized or improved countless ministries and committees, from RCIA to Bible study, from ministry training to writing job descriptions. He was in the forefront of the development of Holy Trinity’s website, one of the first to be up and running in the Diocese of Honolulu.
Deacon Dan developed our adult faith formation team to include his “Tour of the Church,” which explained the history, architecture, sacramental vestments and vessels of Holy Trinity Parish. Also under Dan’s purview, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament was established on a regular basis. He initiated and directed “Catholics for Christmas” and celebrated funerals, weddings and baptisms. Parishioners looked forward to his homilies which were down to earth and meaningful. Mostly Holy Trinity will miss his warm smile and willingness to be there for the people of God.
Our pastor, Capuchin Franciscan Father Michel Dalton wrote in the parish bulletin, “The many ways that they touched our lives has hopefully been returned to them, through our appreciation of all that they have done and shared with us.”
While Holy Trinity Church wishes that Deacon Dan and Rita’s departure “weren’t so,” the family of Holy Trinity, its parishioners, staff and pastor wish Deacon Dan and Rita “Godspeed and aloha.”
