VIRIDITAS: SOUL GREENING
Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
“Father, can you teach me how to write this properly?” asked one of the afterschool care kids. Next, however, kids being kids, came the question “Father, do you have any candy or anything to eat?” Ha! I responded with a laugh, “Finish your assignment first.”
As the administrator of St. Michael Parish and School, I usually work in the parish office until about 3 p.m. on school days. Around 4 p.m., I walk over to the school and check on the afterschool care kids staying with them until the last one leaves. I enjoy helping them with their homework when asked. Sometimes, I feel badly when teachers tell me that the kids were looking for me if something came up and I couldn’t be there. As many parishioners give me gifts of candy, cookies and other snacks, I pass these on to the afterschool care teacher so that she can in turn share them with the students. Everybody is happy.
Last summer, when Bishop Larry Silva told me that I was to be assigned as the administrator of St. Michael’s along with the parish mission of Sts. Peter and Paul, I was okay with that. When he told me that St. Michael’s had a school, I said, “I am not into academia, bishop. I am more pastorally oriented.” He responded, “Don’t worry about that. Someone else will take care of the school.” I then said, “OK, bishop, send me.”
The school is fortunate to have Kainoa Fukumoto as its principal. We have a good chemistry and work well together for the school. Every Wednesday, a school Mass is celebrated. I usually incorporate action songs within the Mass. The students love singing with their whole being. I also visit the classrooms during school time and teach catechism.
Being at St. Michael’s has been a whole new challenge for me, but a fun one. Since arriving in Hawaii in 2016, I was always assisting parish administrators never having to be one myself. My earlier assignments included: St. Anthony Church in Kailua; Sacred Heart Church in Pahoa (during the eruption of the volcano); Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Ewa Beach and Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Pearl City.
Moving around from parish to parish can also be challenging. Just as you feel that you are adjusting to a new environment, people and ministry, then you find yourself being moved again. As a diocesan priest however, I have promised my obedience to the bishop. Thus, I trust him and the work of the Holy Spirit. Without a strong prayer life, adjusting could have been much harder.
The key here is one’s prayer life. My prayer life sustains my vocation. Each day, I say my morning and evening prayers. During the Misa de Gallo, novena of early Masses, I would even wake up at 3 a.m. in order to say my morning prayers. However, at night before I sleep, I always remember the quote of Pope John XXIII, “I have done my part, Lord. This is your church. I am now going to bed. You take care of it.” I do trust in God.
Father Ernesto Juarez Jr. is a priest of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia in the Philippines. He is 14 years ordained. He was appointed administrator of St. Michael Church in Waialua in July 2019.
