11 island parishes assigned new pastors, administrators

By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald

Eleven Hawaii parishes were introduced to new pastors or administrators as this year’s new slate of clergy appointments took effect. Four priests were also named as parochial vicars (formerly called associate pastors).

The assignments, made by Bishop Larry Silva and published in the Hawaii Catholic Herald in the official notices, all took effect on July 1, except where noted.

Msgr. Terrence Watanabe, 70, was appointed pastor of St. Anthony Parish and School, Wailuku. Msgr. Watanabe, who was born and raised on Maui, had been the pastor of St. Theresa Parish, Kihei.

Father Romple Emwalu, 39, was named pastor of St. Michael Parish and School, Waialua. Ordained only two years ago, he had been parochial vicar of St. Elizabeth Parish in Aiea.

Father Emwalu admitted to a “feeling of fear” when accepting the assignment. It was the second time Bishop Silva had asked him if he was “ready to move on” from his position at St. Elizabeth.

The first time the priest told his bishop he wasn’t ready.

At the second request, Father Emwalu said he still wasn’t ready but that he would go wherever he was sent.

“I have been praying about it and would say I am at peace,” he said. “I know it’s going to be a tough and fun parish at the same time. I know some great people who are working with the school and the parish. This helps ease my worries.”

“I am looking forward to this new community that is going to be my family, who knows for how long,” he said.

Changing islands

Father Stephen Macedo is the new pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Papaikou, and St. Anthony Parish, Papaaloa, two neighboring parishes north of Hilo on the Big Island. He returns to the island after a short time as parochial vicar in Mililani at St. John Apostle and Evangelist Church. He had earlier been pastor of Annunciation Parish in Kamuela.

Father Anthony Rapozo is the new pastor of St. John Apostle and Evangelist Parish, Mililani. Born and raised on Kauai, Father Rapozo leaves his post as pastor of St. Catherine Parish on that island for Oahu.

La Salette pastors

Bishop Silva accepted three pastor appointments proposed by Father Rosanno Soriano, provincial of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, Ina ng Pag-asa Province, Philippines:

• 

  Father Arlan Intal, MS

  La Salette Father Rizal Costa, pastor of St. Raphael Parish, Koloa.

• La Salette Father Arlan Intal, pastor of St. Anthony Parish, Honolulu.
• La Salette Father Arnel Soriano, pastor of St. Theresa Parish, Kihei.

The appointments bring the number of Missionaries of La Salette-run parishes in Hawaii to nine.

Bishop Silva also appointed three parish administrators, priests with the authority of pastors but not the title, usually because they belong to other dioceses.

• Father Nicholas Apetorgbor, administrator of St. Catherine Parish, Kapaa.
• Augustinian Father Norlito Concepcion, administrator of St. Pius X Parish, Manoa.
• Father Rico Bernadez, interim administrator of Sacred Hearts Church, Lanai City.

Parochial vicars

Also appointed were Father Bruce Roby of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut, as parochial vicar of St. Elizabeth Parish, Aiea; Father Ese’ese “Ace” Tui as parochial vicar of St. Anthony Parish, Wailuku; Father Boniface Sakala as parochial vicar of St. John Apostle and Evangelist Church; and Father Jaroslaw Skrzypek of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Missouri, assigned May 1 as parochial vicar of St. Michael Parish, Kailua-Kona.

Born in Krakow, Poland, Father Skrzypek, 45, was a seminarian for the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette when he was sent to Missouri. He left the La Salettes and joined the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau where he was ordained a priest on May 20, 2004.

He met the pastor of St. Michael Parish, Kailua-Kona, Father Konelio Faletoi, in Guadalajara, Mexico in 2004 where both were studying Spanish. He has been a regular visitor to Hawaii since 2006. Early this year, Father Faletoi invited him to assist at the Kona parish.

With the approval of his bishop and Bishop Silva, he arrived in Hawaii May 6.

Other appointments

In other recent appointments, the bishop named Father Emwalu as chaplain of the Micronesian Community in the Diocese of Honolulu, including the Chuukese Catholic Community of Hawaii, effective May 10.

Earlier, Bishop Silva changed the status of Father Sebastian Soosai, from administrator to pastor of St. Roch Church, Kahuku, on May 24, 2021, the day he was incardinated into the Diocese of Honolulu. He had been a member of the Missionaries of Faith, a religious congregation.