Lawrence “Larry” Denis III lay prostrate during his ordination Mass June 9 at St. Elizabeth Church in Aiea. (Courtesy Dann Ebina)
By Jennifer Rector
Hawaii Catholic Herald
After years of discernment and preparation, Lawrence “Larry” Denis III is one step closer to becoming a priest.
Bishop Larry Silva ordained Denis as a transitional deacon June 9 at St. Elizabeth Church in Aiea, during a Mass rich with symbolism and meaningful touches chosen by Deacon Denis.
Before the big day, Deacon Denis made sure to spend time with Jesus in adoration to prepare his heart.
“My four seminarian brothers from California and I did a holy hour at the perpetual adoration chapel at Our Lady of Good Counsel a couple of hours before my ordination,” Deacon Denis told the Hawaii Catholic Herald. “It was so beautiful to spend time with Jesus together as I prepared spiritually for my ordination. After getting ready and praying a rosary, I went to the sacristy where I tried to stay focused on what was about to happen.”
He said the image will forever be engraved in his mind of the church filled with his loved ones.
“Five minutes before Mass I went out to hear Shanita Akana sing the beautiful ‘Ave Maria.’ I was overwhelmed with joy at the beautiful flowers and seeing all my friends and family present. As I walked down the aisle, I was so happy to see people travel from all over to be there,” said Deacon Denis.
His sister, Colleen Carr, traveled from California to witness her older brother become a deacon. She said it was a day she will never forget.
“I’m so proud of him. Gosh, when he was saying his ‘I dos,’ I just was overfilled with joy, happy tears just dripping down my face,” she said.
Deacon Denis was born and raised in Hilo and received all his sacraments at St. Joseph Church.
“My parents would take my sister and me to Mass every single Sunday. We were blessed to have many good priests at St. Joseph, but one in particular was very special to us, Father Scott Bush. He recently went home to our Lord, but his model of being a good pastor has stuck with me,” Deacon Denis said.
Answering the call
The call to the priesthood came right out of high school. Deacon Denis said he heard God say, “you should be a priest,” but he quickly dismissed it because he wanted to be a teacher or a pilot instead.
In college, Deacon Denis heard God say it again, and again he dismissed it as he was on his way to becoming an elementary school teacher.
“Then on Nov. 7, 2017, Father Steve (Macedo) and I were on the top road driving to Kona to pick up some friends who were visiting from Atlanta. I told him that I wanted to go on a discernment weekend to become a deacon. That way I could still teach but be of service. He said, ‘No boss, you aren’t married, you don’t have any kids. Discern the priesthood instead.’
“That day, he texted Bishop Larry (Silva) saying I was thinking of becoming a priest. That started the process,” Deacon Denis said.
In December of that year, he visited his sister in California and spent hours in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
“It was in that chapel that I heard Jesus say, ‘Come and follow me.’ I later told Jesus I would do so. Many friends and family encouraged me, and I began the application process,” he said.
“When I met with Bishop Larry, who I had known for a while (we went on a pilgrimage to Rome together for the canonization of St. Marianne Cope), Bishop told me, ‘I have often thought you would become a priest,’” Deacon Denis said. “I wanted to teach one more year with the DOE so that I would reach 15 years of teaching, but the discernment continued during that time.
“Jesus and Mother Mary have been with me every step of the way. It is only through their intercession and blessings that I am where I am today.”
According to Carr, “I always knew that he belonged there in church because when he would go up to lector, I could just feel it. … He proclaimed his voice in a way that it just grabs everybody’s attention.”
Ordination day
Deacon Denis was involved with every aspect of his ordination day. From choosing the readings to the music, he wanted to make every moment intentionally thought out.
“The highlight of the ordination was the Samoan choir from St. Elizabeth. I had asked them long ago if they would sing at my diaconate ordination. Without hesitation, they agreed. I chose all of the music, and they only knew one of the songs. They had to learn all the rest. They worked extremely hard over the last several months, and I am so very grateful that they sang for my ordination,” Deacon Denis said.
Aside from the music, there were many parts that stood out.
“When Bishop gave his homily, I was moved to tears at how beautiful his words were. So very meaningful and moving,” he said. “(And) the Litany of Saints was sung so beautifully by our Samoan choir. While I lay prostrate on the ground, I could see and feel all of these saints coming down from heaven.
“When they sang St. Lawrence and St. Agnes, I could see my grandparents there with me. I was crying like a baby, but it was tears of joy. It was so beautiful and hard to explain.”
What’s next
Deacon Denis was surprised with a grand dinner and celebration after Mass. There was music, food and a line of people waiting to greet him with leis and hugs of aloha.
“I spent the entire party greeting people up near the stage. It was such a blessing to see my former elementary and high school teachers, classmates, former parishioners, friends and family from all over,” he said. “I am still trying to process all of it. I am so very blessed.”
This summer Deacon Denis will serve at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in downtown Honolulu, then return to St. Patrick Seminary in Menlo Park, California, to finish his last year of formation.
Aside from studying, he is focused on spending some time with the one who called him to the priesthood.
“My prayer time with Jesus is where I put most of my time and effort. If I want to be a priest of Jesus Christ, I need a deep relationship with him so that I can share that love with those I serve,” he said.
Deacon Denis is on track to be ordained a priest next year. The date has not been determined.
