VIRIDITAS: SOUL GREENING
Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
You can find me everywhere. Some days I say Mass here at the cathedral basilica. On Fridays and Sundays, I say Mass at the Carmelite Monastery. Sometimes on Sundays, I also say Mass at Queen’s Medical Center, or at various parishes. Not only am I a hospital chaplain, but I am also chaplain to the Samoan Catholic Community. I am all around and all the above. And, I know it is the prayers of the people that keep me going.
Many of the Samoan community knew me before I became a priest as my family is from here. Studying on the mainland, led me along a journey that took me to the Diocese of Samoa Pago Pago where I was ordained. Amidst different assignments, I remember returning to Hawaii for a month and helping another diocesan priest, Father Etuale Etuale, in his work of gathering Samoans together. He was instrumental in helping eight communities to grow in their faith and as a real united community as one. But now, those communities are no more.
Last December, as I was passing through Hawaii again, Bishop Larry Silva invited me to stay. I really thank the Bishop for the invitation and allowing me to work here and be close to my family. It is like coming back home.
In my vision for the Samoan community, it is to bring them together as one again. Samoa is a very religious country. When people leave the country however, and live in a different culture, the supports that kept them together in the faith are often not there. I understand that there is a need to earn money. The spiritual life can be balanced with work once they learn to program their time.
Last New Year’s Eve, for example, I was all over the island visiting here and there. We have a tradition in Samoa to go to church on New Year’s Eve. Participating in Mass on that particular day before the Solemnity of Mary is a way of thanking God for the past year and asking God’s blessings for the next. As I was visiting around, it saddened me that most of the people I met were busy enjoying the fireworks without going to Mass.
I would like to reintroduce the tradition that we have in Samoa of keeping Sundays special. Sundays are a holiday for us. You can hardly hear any noise as no one can be found mowing their lawns or doing heavy work. By visiting the different parishes where there is a Samoan choir and asking the pastor if I can celebrate Mass with them, I gently invite them to join the Samoan Catholic Community.
I love what I am doing. I never want to miss daily Mass or morning and evening prayers as I love the practices too. When challenges arise, there is nothing that sleep cannot make go away. Music is also one of those things that solves any problems that arise. Nowadays, it is so easy that when things go rough to just YouTube some beautiful Samoan songs and entertainment. I sing with them, watch them or even join them, and if it is a good dancing group, dance with them.
Father Atonio ‘Niko’ Falaniko is a chaplain for hospital ministry of the Diocese of Honolulu. He is 26 years ordained and resides at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace.
