VIRIDITAS: SOUL GREENING
Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Every time I am assigned to a new place, there are different challenges to learn from. In my case, most of the moves I have made were to places where the culture was one I was not familiar with. Imagine going from Ohio to Australia, then to Texas and now being here in Hawaii. In many cases, you learn what to say and what not to say as even among the states, counties and islands there are slight variations of meanings to certain words used. With each new adventure, what I have learned to do is to just take things a step at a time and hope nothing serious goes wrong too often.
When I arrived in Australia, I remember being given a textbook and being told, “Start reading. You start teaching in four weeks.” Australian geography was different from teaching United States geography. U.S. geography generally centers around places and locations. Australian geography included map reading, weather, rock formation and more. Irish geography focused on similar aspects. It has been intriguing teaching cross-culturally where I have also taught American history to American kids; Australian history to Australian kids and Irish history to Irish kids. There were times I was corrected, but because people knew I was an outsider trying to teach, I never got into trouble.
In Australia, some of the boys took me to the local football game, the local cricket match and introduced me to other sports and the rules. After they found out that I liked hiking and camping, they arranged a seven-night wilderness trip which we enjoyed together.
On another occasion, there was going to be 50 of us going out into the wilderness for eight days. The group was composed of 42 high schoolers, six college students as supervisors, and two teachers. As we needed to do some shopping, we headed to the local butcher shop. Now, imagine needing to purchase enough supplies for 50, for eight days, and to carry it to the van. The kids in the back of the van said to me, “Brother, where are you going to park?” I said, “Don’t worry, the Lord will provide.” Two doors down, a car pulled out, and I pulled in. The kids said, “Brother, you are unbelievable.”
The story continues. We entered the shop around noon. The lady owner, who had seen me before, said, “It’s time for lunch.” She took some cold cuts and packed them into the sliced rolls making lunch for us.
I have been in Hawaii now for four years. The lessons I have learned from the past keep me going. First, do not panic. Learn to say, “Okay, Lord, where are we going with this one? Give me a hand.” Then, start going. When times might get really tough, I like to read and pause on the words of 1 Corinthians 1:4 making St. Paul’s prayer my own. “Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, is not pompous. It is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests …”
Brother Dave Quigley is a Marianist Brother, 57 years professed. Hailing from Ohio, he is older than his twin brother and has a younger sister. He resides at St. Anthony Parish rectory in Wailuku, Maui. He describes himself as the shopper and cook. He can also be found helping out with the parish thrift store, the craft group, and running all kinds of errands.
