By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Bishop Larry Silva on Oct. 1 granted Father Marvin Jason Samiano, a diocesan priest for 29 years, an early retirement “for medical reasons.” He announced this in the Official Notices of this issue of the Hawaii Catholic Herald.
Father Marvin Samiano (HCH file photo)
The Kauai-born, California-raised Father Samiano has served mostly as a parish priest in his nearly three decades of ministry in Hawaii. He was also the diocese’s judicial vicar for three years, a staff member of the Office for Social Ministry and a hospital minister.
“I was on medical leave since early 2021 and medically retired Oct. 1 because of tremors and weakness in my limbs following a medical procedure in February,” Father Samiano told the Hawaii Catholic Herald by email.
The priest is 58 years old. The normal age of retirement for priests in Hawaii is 70.
“I am very thankful to Bishop and the Office of Clergy for helping me through my health issues,” he said. “They have been very supportive of me while on medical leave.”
Father Samiano is living at Hale O Meleana, a St. Francis Healthcare facility in Liliha. It is a place “where there are no real physical barriers” like stairs, he said.
“While I am in retirement, I hope to continue to serve by celebrating various sacraments as best as I can to the residents here at Hale O Meleana. I am thankful that my retirement from priestly ministry gives me still an opportunity to witness to Jesus in another way,” he said.
Father Samiano was ordained on June 6, 1992.
Since then, he has served as administrator of St. Theresa Parish, Mountain View, and parochial vicar at St. Joseph, Hilo; St. Anthony, Kailua; the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, Honolulu; and St. Elizabeth Parish, Aiea.
He also served on the Bishop’s Advisory Board for Persons with Disabilities; in hospital ministry at St. Francis West/Hospice and Queen’s Medical Center; as spiritual director of Worldwide Marriage Encounter, and on the staff of the diocesan Office for Social Ministry.
In 2009 he earned a Licentiate of Canon Law degree or JCL (Juris Canonici Licentiata) from the Catholic University of America and served as judicial vicar and the director of canonical affairs for the Diocese of Honolulu from 2009 to 2012.