VIRIDITAS: SOUL GREENING
Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
“New Zealand … hmmm.”
After my third year of ordination, I dreamt of going abroad for a mission. I had heard of an opening in New Zealand where one of my brother priests was returning to the Philippines and a replacement was needed. So I asked my bishop for his permission to go on a mission. But he said that since I was new in the Diocese of Tagum, it would be better for me to stay. He did not allow me to go. After 11 years of serving in different positions and parishes in my diocese, I asked the new bishop if I could go for mission. He said, “Yes, you can go.”
Why did I dream of going abroad to serve? There are a lot of things I have now realized about my ministry in the Philippines. If I was not allowed to go abroad, I could have easily grown more comfortable in my ministry in my hometown and diocese. There are certainly a lot of privileges that come with the familiar. In the Philippines, if you are a priest or a religious, you can be pampered, being regarded in the same light as very important people in society.
Hawaii is my first mission. I was actually asked to go to Pennsylvania, but I chose Hawaii as I figured that I might not be able to survive the cold weather in Pittsburgh. It is a great challenge being here, but I really enjoy my ministry. Here, you can really walk like the rest of the people in society and live the essence of being a servant as Jesus was. Jesus came to serve and not to be served. This is the very essence of the priesthood. This is what I want in my life — to be able to see my ministry through another perspective. I have no regrets.
St. Anthony’s is a busy parish. On the Windward side of the island, we care for a hospital, a hospice, and have many households that call us for anointings or blessings. At St. Anthony School, sometimes I say Mass with the children, or take care of other spiritual needs. On different occasions, I am invited to offer prayer and join them in whatever program they may be hosting.
The pandemic is a very challenging, tough situation. But, looking back at my past experiences, I feel that they have been similar to the challenges faced now during COVID-19. As I survived other things because of God’s grace, I continue to go back to God even now. Why? It is because l trust Him. “Lord, you own me. And, you know more than what I know in my life.” I truly can only trust him. “It is up to you, Lord.” That is my mantra.
I always offer everything to God. I know I cannot handle all things on my own. Thus, I have reached the stage in life where I accept that it is not because of my effort, but because God has called me unto this path of life. He brought me here. That is my philosophy of life. Trust God.
Father Roel delos Reyes is from the Diocese of Tagum in the Philippines. He was born in Makilala, North Cotabato, and is the eldest of three siblings. He is 12 years ordained. He arrived in Hawaii in 2019 and serves as the parochial vicar at St. Anthony Church in Kailua. In his free time he enjoys playing tennis.