VIRIDITAS: SOUL GREENING
Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
My favorite Scripture passage is the call of Jeremiah found in Jeremiah 1:4-5. The passage states: “The word of the Lord came to me: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.” This text is so important to me that I had it printed on my ordination card.
The call of Jeremiah speaks to me on so many levels. My parents were childless for 11 years. They prayed that if they would ever be blessed to have a daughter, she would become a nun. If they were blessed with a son, he would become a priest. It seems as if before I was born, my path was already set. On Nov. 8, 1965, a cute baby boy came into this world. In December 1991, this handsome baby boy became a priest. And is still a priest.
As I don’t have a big family being the only child, it is my joy to serve in different parishes. Since coming to Hawaii to work with the ethnic Filipino communities in 2002, my family has grown across the island chain. I am grateful to have been assigned to, helped out at, or taken residence at many parishes due to the ministry’s calling. This included time with the communities at Immaculate Conception Parish in Ewa; Sacred Hearts Parish on Lanai; St. Theresa Parish in Kihei, Maui; Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Honokaa, Hawaii; St. John Vianney Parish in Enchanted Lake and St. John the Baptist Parish in Kalihi.
I have now been at St. George Parish in Waimanalo for four years now. The parishioners are all my family; they call me “Father.”
Being assigned to Waimanalo has been an answered prayer. As I was working at St. Francis Hospice for four years, I grew in relationship with the Franciscan sister St. Marianne Cope. This relationship began while I was helping out at St. John Vianney Parish. They had a picture of St. Marianne in the church. I would pray through the intercession of St. Marianne for the patients and my own needs. One year, on her feast day, I submitted a letter to Bishop Larry to make it known that I was ready to be in a parish. I was later given a positive response by the bishop and assigned to St. George’s.
I love St. Marianne Cope. As my father has passed away, my mom has been alone at home in the Philippines. Due to the COVID-19 situation, I have not been able to visit her. St. Marianne is a nun and a nurse who has taken care of the sick and elderly. Thus, I have asked her to help my mom and she does. That is why I have the image of St. Marianne in my church, to remind me of her presence. Of course, St. Damien is always there too.
Father Raymund Ellorin is a diocesan priest. He is originally from Santiago, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. He is 30 years ordained and was installed as the pastor at St. George Church in Waimanalo in 2017.
