Participants in the first Maui Stewardship Day, March 4, sign in. (Photos courtesy of St. Anthony Parish, Wailuku)
Maui vicariate Stewardship Day: ‘It is right and just’
Submitted by St. Anthony Parish, Wailuku
Special to the Herald
The Maui/Lanai vicariate held its first Maui Stewardship Day on Saturday, March 4, at St. Anthony Church in Wailuku, highlighting the relevance of “It Is Right and Just,” its theme taken from the Eucharistic Prayer at Mass.
About 160 people from parishes throughout the island began this special day with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Larry Silva. Commenting on the phrase “Practice makes perfect,” the bishop in his homily noted that, just as Olympians spend years vigorously preparing for the next Olympic games, so too should we Catholics actively focus on the four pillars of stewardship: hospitality, prayer, formation and service.
Stewardship Day speakers included the Father Ese`ese “Ace” Tui, parochial vicar of St. Anthony Church, and seminarian Larry Denis, who is in his pastoral year of formation at St. Elizabeth Church in Aiea.
Father Tui was born and raised in American Samoa. He moved to Hawaii in 2006 to live with his extended family and to work with The Arc in Hawaii before entering the seminary. It is no coincidence that he draws on his Samoan perspective, specifically the cultural emphasis of service to others, which draws us closer to God. In our daily life, prayer should be our first and last conscious actions. Give God the best that we have, and God will overflow us with his blessings.
Denis wore many hats before he entered the seminary. Born and raised on the Big Island, he was a first-grade teacher, worked in the hotel industry, and served in various parish ministries. These experiences led him to appreciate the significance of “good hospitality,” which leads to active parishioners who are enthusiastic about their church and willing to give of their time, talent and treasure.
Mahalo to our Maui/Lanai Vicariate for a successful 2023 Stewardship Day!
