Bishop Silva presides over the Rite of Acolyte for the deacon class at St. Stephen Diocesan Center’s chapel in 2017. Photo: Dann Ebina
Twelve island men, who have just finished their “aspirancy year” exploring a possible call to the permanent diaconate, will take the next step and declare their willingness to be candidates for that holy order at a Rite of Candidacy Mass, 2 p.m., Jan. 12, at St. Ann Church, Kaneohe. Bishop Larry Silva will preside.
Three of the aspirants are from Maui. The rest are from Oahu. They form the diocese’s cohort 10, the tenth class to prepare for the diaconate.
The men are:
- Michael Merle Browning, St. John Apostle and Evangelist Church, Mililani
- David G. Bruce, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Ewa Beach
- Damien D. Dang, St. Joseph Church, Waipahu
- Jason F. Jacinto, St. Joseph Church, Makawao
- Grant Lam, Vietnamese Catholic Community, Honolulu
- John Robert Metz, St. Joseph Church, Makawao
- Avelino O. Ollero, St. Anthony Church, Wailuku
- Garrett C. Russell, St. John the Baptist Church, Kalihi
- Marlowe G. Sabater, Resurrection of the Lord Church, Waipio
- Darryl Stephen Salvador, Resurrection of the Lord Church, Waipio
- John Kalani Thomas, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Ewa Beach
- Derek Gee Hoy Wong, St. Jude Church, Kapolei
The men are looking forward to four years of candidacy, which includes academic studies and spiritual and pastoral preparation, with ordinations in 2024.
The diocese’s cohort 9 is concurrently in formation, having just completed four years. Their ordinations are set for 2021.