THE ELECT
In Rites of Election, Hawaii’s parishes and Catholic communities to welcome those to be baptized at Easter
By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
The coronavirus pandemic has altered another Lenten practice, the Rite of Election. That is the event at which catechumens, also called the elect, make public their intention to receive in their parishes at the Easter Vigil the three sacraments of initiation — baptism, confirmation and first Eucharist — by signing their names in their parish’s Book of the Elect.
On Maui, Molokai and the Big Island, instead of the customary single event per vicariate, the rite will be held at each parish on Feb. 21, the first Sunday in Lent. Lanai has no catechumens this year.
Kauai will have a single Rite of Election during the 5 p.m. Saturday vigil Mass Feb. 20 at St. Catherine Church in Kapaa. Oahu will have two on Feb. 21, the first at noon at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, the other at 6 p.m. at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa. Oahu usually has one. Bishop Larry Silva will preside at the Kauai and Oahu ceremonies.
Hawaii has a total of 150 catechumens, according to the diocesan Office of Worship. Last year, the office recorded 189 catechumens and 196 in 2019.
In addition to Hawaii’s 66 parishes, the diocese counts catechumens in three ethnic communities and four military base chapels. Thirty-four parishes and Catholic communities reported no catechumens this year.
The parish reporting the most catechumens is St. Joseph, Waipahu, with 14. St. John Apostle and Evangelist in Mililani with 13 had the second-largest number.
In a Jan. 6 memo to pastors and RCIA coordinators, Deacon Modesto Cordero, director of the Office of Worship, explained that it was because of the pandemic that the bishop decided to delegate each pastor or parochial vicar to conduct the Rite of Election.
According to Deacon Cordero, the Rite of Election is celebrated as part of the Liturgy of the Word at Sunday Mass. After the rite, the elect are dismissed before the recitation of the creed to further reflect on the Scripture readings.
The Rite of Election does not include those who will be received into “full communion” in the Catholic Church. Those are persons who are already baptized and are preparing to receive the one or two remaining sacraments of initiation. This is preferably done at a time other than the Easter Vigil.
The diocesan Office of Worship invites candidates for full communion to attend the Rite of Election “as part of the baptized assembly and to support those preparing for baptism.”
West Honolulu
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace
- Justin Nguyen
Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa
- Kayla Agustin Liwag
- Brannagan-Ashley Keimiko Mukaisu
- Steven Palma Gumera
- Elijah Makana O Keakua Caraang-Kokualani
- Zhaylyn Amiyah Caraang-Kokualani
- Keina Kenty
- K-Fine Marseleen Kenty
- Kifson Michael Kerly
- Jermic Nayden Ruda
- Messiah Amni-Karter Valdez
- Milan-Jaide Alize Valdez
- Dikasped Kasedy Weito
Blessed Sacrament, Pauoa Valley
- NONE
Holy Family, Honolulu
- Jade Victor Ignasio
- Vanita Ignasio
- Jenviann Fidel
- Heather Martinez
- Zachery Allen Corner
Our Lady of the Mount, Kalihi Valley
- NONE
St. Anthony, Kalihi
- Jordan Pele Poti
St. John the Baptist, Kalihi
- Justin Delp
- Erica Lee
- Amson A. Moses
- Amanin A. Moses
- Ace A. Moses
- A Junior Moses
- Angel Estrada
- Ashley Estrada
St. Philomena, Salt Lake
- NONE
St. Stephen, Nuuanu
- NONE
East Honolulu
Holy Trinity, Kuliouou
- Kirk Enomoto
Mary, Star of the Sea, Waialae-Kahala
- Mia Fagaragan
- Emma Aigein Wong
- Hope Onizuka
Newman Center/Holy Spirit, Manoa
- Curtis Lauricella
- Anna Wu
Sacred Heart, Punahou
- Brian Yoshio Iwasaki
- Taylor Calles
- Patrick Lee
- Marcus Naito
- Daphne Snitker
- Kailey Thoren-Moniz
- Kaleb Thoren-Moniz
- Kamryn Thoren-Moniz
- Kayden Thoren-Moniz
St. Augustine, Waikiki
- Mizue Pastore-Braden
- Makiko Sato
St. Patrick, Kaimuki
- NONE
St. Pius X, Manoa
- NONE
Sts. Peter and Paul, Ala Moana
- NONE
Mystical Rose Oratory, St. Louis/Chaminade
- Jason Delgado
Windward Oahu
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Waikane
- NONE
St. Ann, Kaneohe
- Jodie Lee
- Jayson Matsuda
- Tara Oshiro
- John-William Duarte
- St. Anthony, Kailua
- Makaila Lum
- Christie Souza
- Delylah McIlroy
- Lachlan Medeiros
- Charlize Flores
- Allie Duncan
St. George, Waimanalo
- Keanu Jordan Yoshida
- Jaime Chong
- Brandi Young
St. John Vianney, Enchanted Lake
- NONE
St. Roch, Kahuku
- NONE
Leeward Oahu
Immaculate Conception, Ewa
- Tara Chun
- Mekiafa Asoau
- Shysteen Cambria-Padilla
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Ewa Beach
- Kaley Erica Carvalho
- Trevon A. E. Baigorria
Sacred Heart, Waianae
- Lilianna Colburn-Wisner
- Jaysha Hanamaika’i
- Analongo Palepale
- Kayla Palepale
- B-Oleen Robert
St. Joseph, Waipahu
- Ryder Asuncion
- Justine Balon
- Gianna Mae Delaga
- Chancezen-Riley Delaga
- Matthew Delos Santos
- Brandon Kekahuna
- Angelina Laulualo
- Christopher Paulsen
- Steven James Suga
- Anthony Fernando
- Rey Fernando
- Arnold Fernando
- Christyn Nicolas
- Caelan Fernando
St. Jude, Kapolei
- Jeffrey Haneman Bouma
- Kaylee-Aralyn Guieb
- Aiden Snyder
- Clarynz Kuroiwa
St. Rita, Nanakuli
- Mikaela Bland-Lessary
Central Oahu
Our Lady of Good Counsel, Pearl City
- NONE
Our Lady of Sorrows, Wahiawa
- NONE
Resurrection of the Lord, Waipio
- Stacey Taylor
St. Elizabeth, Aiea
- Andrew Nojiri
St. John Apostle and Evangelist, Mililani
- Jennifer Cabael
- Shaun Peterson
- Thalia Va’apu’u
- Isabel Villanueva
- Kimberly Lopes
- Kaimana Mandawe
- Nathalan Marker
- Nicholas Marker
- Sebastian Marker
- Sylviane Marker
- Karly Sapolu
- Jacob Solomon
- Alexa Taniguchi
St. Michael, Waialua
- NONE
St. Damien (Molokai Catholic Community), Kaunakakai
- Eriko Takeuchi
St. Francis, Kalaupapa
- NONE
Kauai
Holy Cross, Kalaheo
- NONE
Immaculate Conception, Lihue
- NONE
St. Catherine, Kapaa
- NONE
St. Raphael, Koloa
- NONE
St. Theresa, Kekaha
- Alana Wilson
- Kaikoa Miyashiro
- Kekai Miyashiro
- Isabella Pasion
- Jack Costales
- Charlie Costales
Maui
Christ the King, Kahlui
- Alyssa-Jhazmin Galinato Ternora
Holy Rosary, Paia
- Kekuhaupio Akana
- Kenneth Garee
Maria Lanakila, Lahaina
- NONE
Our Lady Queen of Angels, Kula
- Leighton-Wyatt N. Dudoit Naeole
- Breara-Lee P. Naeole
St. Ann, Waihee
- NONE
St. Anthony of Padua, Wailuku
- Justin Serrano
- Parker Almeida
- Thomas Whelchel
St. Joseph, Makawao
- Robin Sibley
St. Mary, Hana
- Kalei Kapu Laborte
- James Kaua Laborte
- Karsyn Hiialo Laborte
St. Rita, Haiku
- NONE
St. Theresa, Kihei
- Dane Nagoso Kaneshina
- Santiago Fernandez Roman
- Cruz Nunez Roman
- Ruby Nunez Roman
- Kanani Johnsen-Victorino
Sacred Hearts, Lanai City
- NONE
West Hawaii Island
Annunciation, Waimea
- Derek Okabayashi
Our Lady of Lourdes, Honokaa
- Kyle Hawkins
Sacred Heart, Hawi
- NONE
St. Benedict, Honaunau
- NONE
St. Michael, Kailua-Kona
- Ryan Foster
- Kiersten Peralta
- Michayla Niihau
- Joshua Niihau
- Elijah Niihau
- Keoni Jhovanny Duran Ruiz
- Jaden Javier Duran Ruiz
- Evelyn Ramirez Malagon
East Hawaii Island
Holy Rosary, Pahala
- NONE
Immaculate Heart of Mary, Papaikou
- NONE
St. Anthony, Laupahoehoe
- NONE
Malia Puka O Kalani, Hilo
- NONE
Sacred Heart, Naalehu
- NONE
Sacred Heart, Pahoa
- NONE
St. Joseph, Hilo
- Cortney Arruda
- Mark Farias, Jr.
- Dhebbie-Bhone Sy
- Jacob Kumiji
- Emma Kumiji
- Nathlynda Alee
- Angellina Tunufai
- Banyan Alapai-Crouse
- Koamalu Merrit
St. Theresa, Mountain View
- NONE
Ethnic Communities
Chinese Catholic Community (Mary, Star of the Sea)
- Gui Rong (Peter) Lin
Korean Catholic Community (St. Andrew Kim Taegon Oratory Chapel)
- NONE
Vietnamese Catholic Community (Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa)
- NONE
Military Catholic Communities
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (Prince of Peace Chapel)
- NONE
Schofield Barracks
- Jamie Davalos
- Seth Carr
- Jerry Tucker
- William Veit
Aliamanu Military Reservation
- NONE
Marine Corps Base Hawaii
- DID NOT REPORT
