VIRIDITAS: SOUL GREENING
“Hawaii? No. Why should I go to Hawaii?” I remember responding to two Big Islanders I met while working in the Vatican. They asked me, “What are you going to do after you retire?” In a month’s time, I got an invitation from Bishop Larry Silva. Sabbatical became a convince-to-stay in the diocese. That was Jan. 1, 2007.
Three years ago, I spoke with Bishop Larry. “Bishop, I have been six years serving as pastor. It is about time for me to retire (again). But I have just started a project — the parish center. It may be better that I see the project through and then retire to leave the parish to younger priests to carry on the work that is so wonderful here.”
The project did not come without its challenges. However, there were more successes than failures. Some of the failures included being too ambitious, wanting to construct a two-story hall. The realism of finances had us scale back the plan. Then, there was the other ambition to buy a piece of neighboring property in order to expand the parish campus. That never materialized either.
One Community Center was dedicated on Dec. 21, 2019. Through the generous investment of all and, in particular, a very generous contribution from an anonymous donor, the One Community Center is a magnificent facility for our use now and for future generations.
With its completion, and as I reflect over my discernment to retire, being here has been my best pastoral experience as a priest. I had very little pastoral experience when I first arrived in Hawaii. Working in the Vatican for 20 years was administrative work. The need to interact with the people and to develop a parish according to the vision and mission of the parish takes so much more. I had no idea what I was being called to do here, but by the grace of God, many have found a home in our parish.
In preparing for such pastoral work, I am grateful for the mentoring of Father Lio Faletoi at St. Michael’s in Kona after I first arrived in Hawaii. Learning of cultural ways outside of my own was important. Bishop Larry’s asking me to work a semester as a hospital chaplain, also touched my priestly life deeply and was transformational. In the ministering to people who are really in need, in seeing their response — whether they die in peace, or recover — you know that it is the effectiveness of the sacrament working through the grace of God.
What will I do in retirement? My idea of retirement is that it is better to retire when you are in good health than to keep on going and when you are weak, then to think about retirement. For me, I am so blessed with good health. I plan first to go to Maryland to reunite with my brother and sister and their families. Then I would like to fly to Nairobi, Kenya, where I have the idea to construct a home where I can retire and write my memoirs from the Vatican, as well as work on other projects. The home shall be open for visitors from Hawaii visiting Kenya. And as St. John Apostle and Evangelist Catholic Church is celebrating its 50th anniversary next year, who knows? I might be back.
Msgr. John S. Mbinda is a diocesan priest. Originally from Kenya, Africa, he was incardinated into the Diocese of Honolulu in 2011. In the same year, he was appointed pastor of St. John Apostle and Evangelist Church in Mililani. He has been ordained 52 years.
