Above, Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary sing and dance at the fundraiser for the Carmelite sisters, Jan. 12 in the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa parish hall. (HCH photos | Patrick Downes)
By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Being cloistered, Hawaii’s Carmelite Sisters did not attend their own fundraising event this month. But they did prepare a mahalo video.
Five sisters — one Chinese nun, one local novice, and three newcomers from the Philippines — together sang a song and individually expressed thanks to the nearly 400 people gathered Jan. 12 in the parish hall of the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa in Honolulu to raise money for the Carmelite monastery’s re-founding. A sixth sister, a local postulant, was not in the video because of illness.
“Thank you for helping us today and always,” said Sister Agnella Iu, the group’s de facto prioress. “We in the cloister always pray for you. You and your families are very dear to our hearts.”
Bishop Larry Silva introduces the Carmelites “oldest” supporter and neighbor, 106-year-old Ida Freitas.
The sisters’ greetings came at the end of a longer video telling the history of the Carmelite order and their 46-year presence in Hawaii, a presence that was nearly extinguished when the deaths of six original members over the years left only one surviving nun and two local Carmelite hopefuls. The two newer sisters could not proceed with their vows in such a tiny community. Six professed nuns are needed for a Carmelite convent to properly function.
The Hawaii monastery, called Carmel of the Holy Trinity and founded in 1973 by seven Chinese nuns from Hong Kong, has been brought back from the brink with the infusion of five Carmelite sisters from the Philippines, the result of international negotiations. The new sisters, whose ages range from 37 to 46, all come from different Philippine monasteries. Three arrived in November; the remaining two plan to be here by March.
After all five Filipino nuns have settled in, the community, which resides on the grounds of St. Stephen Diocesan Center in Kaneohe, will be re-founded and begin anew.
Money is needed for the re-founding — for transportation, visa fees, living expenses, medical insurance and more — which prompted the fundraiser, an ad hoc effort of love quickly pulled together by Carmelite friends and supporters.
Bishop Larry Silva, a long-time supporter of the Carmelites, spoke to the gathering about the sisters.
“We do not always think of the Carmelite Sisters,” he said. “They are hidden away, cloistered.”
However, “they are such a powerhouse of prayer for us,” the bishop said. “They are constantly interceding for us.”
“What a great gift it is to have them with us,” he said, calling them a “hidden ministry.”
Bishop Silva explained the situation with the Hawaii monastery and its rescue by the Filipino sisters.
“We are very grateful for the Carmelites of the Philippines,” he said. “We are very, very grateful that the Lord has moved in this way.”
“They do need support financially,” he said. “Re-founding is a huge expense.”
He also said prayer was needed to promote vocations for the Carmelites.
“Yet this is not our work, it is God’s work and God is the key,” he said.
Attendance at the fundraiser, a $100-a-ticket luncheon party, reflected the reach, influence and prayer power of the hidden sisters. Chinese Catholics, Filipino Catholics, members of religious congregations, secular Carmelites (lay persons who live Carmelite spirituality), and others filled the hall.
A delightful slate of homegrown talent filled the stage with dancing doctors, singing Dominican Sisters, classical Chinese music, classy hula and more. The food was a catered buffet of familiar local fare. Generous bunches of flowers donated by Watanabe Floral brightened the tables.
A silent auction in the St. Theresa School library offered floral china plates hand-painted by the Carmelite Sisters, potted plants, honey from monastery hives and more.
Another demographic well in attendance at the fundraiser were kupuna. Emcee Sister William Marie Eleniki, a Sister of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, dispensed with dozens of door prizes by calling up all those over 75.
The oldest person there was 106-year-old Ida Freitas who lives across the road from the Carmelite convent and who attends Mass in the convent chapel.
If you would like to make a direct contribution to the Sisters, please send donations to: Carmelite Monastery, 6301 Pali Highway, Kaneohe, HI 96744-5224. Make checks payable to: Carmelite Monastery.
