By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Father Arnel Soriano
Father Arnel Soriano, pastor of St. Theresa Parish, Kihei, Maui, has joined the Diocese of Honolulu. The former member of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette was incardinated on Oct. 28. Bishop Larry Silva made the announcement by email Oct. 29.
Father Soriano, 50, has already spent 16 of his 18 years of priesthood serving in parishes on Oahu, Kauai and Maui.
“Almost all my life as a priest, I’ve been serving and ministering in the Diocese of Honolulu,” said Father Soriano in an email to the Hawaii Catholic Herald. “It is my desire to continue and complete my ministry as a priest in the beautiful islands of Hawaii.”
Father Soriano was born and raised in Ramon, Isabela, Philippines.
He was ordained a priest May 4, 2004, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, Biga Silang Cavite, Philippines. He has been a La Salette priest for 18 years.
In Hawaii, he has worked at St. Joseph Parish, Waipahu; St. Theresa Parish, Kekaha; St. Anthony Parish, Kalihi; and St. Theresa Parish, Kihei.
According to the vicar for clergy, Father Gregorio Honorio, Father Soriano is the second La Salette priest to be incardinated into the Diocese of Honolulu. Father Honorio was the first.