Sister Joane Caritas Gepitulan at the 2018 Diocesan Youth Day. Left, Sister Joane and Sister Diane Leonard Kraus, at the display table. (Photos courtesy of Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP)
By Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
“Since many people do not go to church, the church needs to go to the people.” (Blessed James Alberione, founder of the Pauline Family)
Since 1974, the Daughters of St. Paul have been ministering to the spiritual needs of Hawaii and the Pacific islands of Guam, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Chuuk, Yap, Pohnpei, Nauru, Saipan, New Zealand and more from their base on Bishop Street in downtown Honolulu.
On June 16, the doors to the Honolulu Pauline Books and Media will shutter forever as the media nuns move on to other missions and newer ways of spreading the Gospel. A Mass of Thanksgiving for the sisters’ contribution to the Diocese of Honolulu will be celebrated by Bishop Larry Silva at 6:30 p.m. June 2 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa of Honolulu.
What is it about the life, spirit and charism of these sisters that touched young and old, the faithful and unchurched, people from all walks of life, and drew them to discover or rediscover the Word of God made flesh and dwelt among us? Whether it was your one-stop religious goods store, a place to share your faith journey, or a spiritual oasis from the city’s hustle and bustle in the quiet Queen of the Isles chapel, the Pauline presence will be missed.
Frequent book center guest Esther C. Gefroh of Honolulu remembers the special charisma of the sisters. “When I arrived in Honolulu in 1993, I was very lonely and homesick,” she said. “The only other person I knew was my husband. On one of my walks downtown, I found a little Catholic bookstore. It was a little oasis and a Godsend. The sisters made me feel very welcomed.
“I really liked Sister Thecla and found her ‘salesman’ technique very funny and very effective. One day, I went in for a holy card and came out with an after-Christmas sale ‘Kneeling Santa.’ It is still one of my treasured Catholic statues.”
Janet Anchita of Pearl City considers the sisters as family. “Pauline Books and Media has been a part of my spiritual life for the past 25 years! I have collected many books, videos, statues, rosaries, crucifixes, and more which all have helped me grow in my spiritual life. I loved visiting and ‘talking story’ with the sisters, who became a part of my ohana.”
Local vocations
Inspired by the same warm-hearted charisma, a number of local vocations found their calling in the fold of the Daughters of St. Paul. They are:
- Sister Mary Damien Vieira, from Kaneohe, first local member
- Sister Madonna Janet Kuhlman, from Kailua
- Sister Margaret Timothy Sato, from Salt Lake
- Sister Lily Remedias Duhaylonsod, from Ewa Beach
- Sister Joan Paula Arruda, from Kailua
- Sister Lusia Yvonne Ielonimo, from Samoa; entered from Hawaii
- Sister Noel Macabulos, from Pearl City
- Sister Fay Josephine Pele, from Samoa; entered from Hawaii
- Sister Mary Joane Caritas Gepitulan, from Waipahu
- Sister An Mei Marie Lam, from Kalihi
“Hawaii has been a second home to me since my family came to Oahu many years ago,” said Sister Joane. “It is here that I met and joined the Daughters of St. Paul.”
Master, Way, Truth, Life
At the heart of the Pauline spirituality lies the short prayer: “Jesus, Master, Way, Truth and Life.” As Blessed James Alberione explained, “It means doing everything through Christ, with Christ and in Christ.”
That’s what the sisters do.
Justin Rivera, a book center guest from Ewa Beach said, “The Daughters of St. Paul and their beautifully unassuming presence in the heart of Honolulu has been a deep well of resources for me during my journey back to the faith.”
“From the time I was a young man preparing for and newly living the sacrament of matrimony, until I became a father, sharing and encouraging the faith in my three children, the sisters have always been there for me,” he said.
Stephen Ziadie from Kapolei said, “The Daughters of St Paul saved my life by giving me hope in the midst of tremendous inner turmoil. They graciously showed me a path to God through sacred books, spiritual media and allowing me to pray in the Blessed Sacrament chapel, a microcosm of heaven. My faith was strengthened.”
The Daughters of St. Paul draw strength and support for their multi-faceted apostolate from the Eucharist, the Word of God, daily prayer and fraternal communion; also through the modeling of Mary as the Queen of the Apostles, and their apostolate.
Jocelyn Dumlao Agustin of Aiea would seldom leave the store without buying gifts or material for her religious education class.
“It’s always the first place for me to look for any religious products,” she said. “If there’s anything I may need and it was not available, the sisters were always ready to find a way to get it for me.”
“I will miss the presence of Pauline Books and Media store and the Daughters of St. Paul Sisters very much,” she said.
For Angelica Dabu of Honolulu, the center filled many needs. “This place became my Barnes and Nobles, my Ben Franklin, my source for healing and maturity,” she said. “It was my one-stop shop nurturing my spirituality with a bonus package of beautiful and joyous Sisters in Christ.”
Continuing the local mission
As Jesus prepared the Apostles to lead the church forth, so have the Daughters of St. Paul prepared media apostles to continue their mission locally. Pauline Cooperators is a lay branch of the Pauline family. Using various means of communication technology, they will continue to take the Gospel and the Pauline charism out into the world by their presence and prayers. To stay in contact with the Daughters of St. Paul visit: connect.pauline.org.
At the Pauline Books & Media counter, from left, Sister Diane Leonard Kraus, Sister Maria Joseph Petrill, Sister Mary Joane Caritas Gepitulan. (Photo courtesy of Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP)
Journeys in faith
The three remaining sisters serving Hawaii will continue their own journeys in faith this summer. They leave these words of farewell.
Sister Maria Joseph Petrill
“I have really enjoyed my eight-and-a-half years in beautiful Hawaii! The wonderful people here are my favorite thing about the islands! They are totally welcoming, friendly, supportive and very generous. I will certainly miss all our great friends, benefactors and patrons immensely. But I will always remember them all in prayer in our daily Holy Hour of Adoration before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. I have much aloha, love and gratitude for you all!”
Sister Mary Joane Caritas Gepitulan
“Aloha everyone! I could write a note just filled with the words ‘thank you’ over and over. It seems that it would not be enough of them to truly express how I feel about my 11 years that I’ve been assigned to this beautiful Island. The church has been very supportive of our mission. The community support and the love of God have been a source of great strength and joy, but I believe that God has a plan for all of us and that we will continue to serve that plan faithfully, wherever we will go. I will truly miss you all, and I’ll carry in my heart the church with much affection and prayer. United in Jesus! Always. Thank you. Maraming salamat. Mahalo ia ‘oe! Love and prayers.”
Sister Diane Leonard Kraus
“I am so grateful to have spent seven years here in Honolulu carrying out our mission of evangelization through our Pauline Books & Media center and outreach. As I move on to my new mission field, please know that I have been inspired by the faith, goodness, and hospitality of so many people. Mahalo! I will miss everyone but will continue to remember everyone in prayer. I ask God to provide for all your needs — spiritual and material. Please pray for me too. Aloha! United in Jesus our Divine Master and Teacher.”
