Gloria Aqui has been a parishioner at St. Catherine Church in Kapaa for decades. (Courtesy Catholic Stewardship Consultants)
By Catholic Stewardship Consultants
www.CatholicSteward.com
Meet Gloria Aqui — 82 years young and a very active volunteer for the parish community at St. Catherine Church in Kapaa, Kauai.
You might see her in the parish office, the parish gift shop or the food bank; decorating the church with flowers; or participating in various ministry committee meetings, including those for stewardship and hospitality.
A former public school teacher, Aqui attributes her willingness to serve to her mother, who often prayed novenas for others and gave a lending hand to her neighbors when they needed it.
“I was brought up to serve him,” Aqui says. “Everything we have is a gift from God. He provides us with talents to serve in various ministries. I guess I inherited my mother’s genes!”
Aqui has been a parishioner at St. Catherine for over 25 years. She described her whole family as being involved in parish activities when her children were young, including as lectors and altar servers. They even volunteered to pick up trash and keep the church grounds looking neat and clean.
“It was a family affair,” she says.
For Aqui, the time she spends serving others is very meaningful and makes her feel more connected to the community. Nevertheless, the good feelings she experiences come second to the primary purpose — doing God’s work.
“At the food bank on Saturdays, you can see the smiles of people in need,” Aqui says. “Then you know you are making a difference. You are helping to put food on their table! You are making God smile.”
Aqui served as a sacristan for many years. This involved opening up the church one hour before daily Mass, preparing the sacred vessels and linens, and taking inventory of the hosts. When the religious sisters took over that role, Aqui was the one to train them. Even though she is no longer fully responsible for all the sacristan duties, Aqui still enjoys helping the sisters when needed.
“I still feel I need to be here, so my mind is sharp and I stay healthy,” she says.
Aqui also has her hand in many technological aspects of parish life. She was on the committee that put together the church’s first webpage. She helped implement the livestream of the Mass during the COVID-19 pandemic, and she continues to update the site with announcements and other information.
Fortunately, she knows some people she can call for any troubleshooting.
“My resources are my children,” she says. “My son and daughter both work in the tech industry.”
Aqui is passionate about staying involved in parish life not only because of her newfound skills, but also for the opportunity to meet and relate more deeply with others.
“It has made me feel more connected to the Mass,” she says. “It has given me a sense of belonging, of living within the community.”
