Wheelchairs are affixed with Knights of Columbus logos before they are distributed to recipients in the Philippines. (Courtesy photo)
By Jennifer Rector
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Several Knights of Columbus councils in Hawaii conducted a medical mission earlier this year that helped hundreds of people in the Philippines.
Nine councils raised more than $30,000 for the American Wheelchair Mission, a nonprofit organization that brings new, free wheelchairs and mobility aids to physically disabled people across the globe. It works with a number of affiliate agencies including the Knights of Columbus.
“We brought God’s light and love to many mobile-impaired brothers and sisters, young and elderly,” said Patrick Guzman, Grand Knight in the Knights of Columbus’ Hawaii State Council. “Last year we provided 30 wheelchairs. This year, we provided 300.”
On top of that, Lorenzo Magana and his wife Ermie of the Knights of Columbus council at Maria Lanakila Church in Lahaina provided 300 walking canes for the mission.
Guzman said it was truly a community effort that made this possible.
“(The) St. John Apostle and Evangelist Council achieved over $15,000 total,” he said. “I attribute that to Father Anthony Rapozo’s zealous support and Deacon Mike Browning’s testimony. His father was in a wheelchair as he was growing up. Imagine the excitement when he was introduced to the wheelchair program.”
In January, a group of Knights traveled to the Philippines to make Hawaii’s special delivery to about 13 Philippine council parishes in Pampanga, Bataan, Ilocos and Nueva Ecija.
The initial mission delivering 30 wheelchairs also targeted Nueva Ecija. A mahalo letter from the Knights of Columbus after this year’s journey stated: “Last year we executed a medical mission in Nueva Ecija. We brought 30 wheelchairs.
“We noticed the profound joy in the recipients, children and elderly alike, as they adjusted to their new wheelchairs and walking canes … that feeling of just being a part of that profound joy was surreal.
“That profound joy, that surreal feeling,” the letter continued, “is the light we read and learn of throughout the Gospel and church — that same light Jesus wants us to bring to his people.”
According to Guzman, “Many of our brothers and sisters in the Philippines are in isolated locations and bluntly, the poverty levels are simply atrocious. You don’t have to look too hard to attest to those conditions.”
“I don’t aspire to run for office or anything, but I am reminded of the serenity prayer — ‘courage to change the things I can’ rang clear,” he added. “So, if you’re wondering and you have that prayer in memory or on your wall, focus on that ‘courage’ part.”
Guzman said doing this work is a part of the Knights of Columbus charism.
“Ultimately, we are disciples of Jesus first,” Guzman said. “Catholicism and our faith motivated us.
“(The) Knights of Columbus is a tremendous resource. Quite frankly we need to do a better job maximizing this incredible resource.”
As with any large project, the wheelchair mission had its hiccups. Guzman said the “project was not immune from hurdles, heartaches, disappointments and discouragements,” along the way, but it was still something worth working toward.
It’s a project in which he encourages everyone to partake.
“Placing money in an envelope and dropping it in a basket; (or) paying your membership dues or making an online giving donation to your parish, diocese, or even to Catholic Charities Hawaii, is one thing. … But to physically experience and to feel the joy emanating from a wheelchair recipient and their families is nothing short of amazing,” Guzman said. “That’s where you truly experience God’s love and see that light in those you affect.”
Plans for a 2026 wheelchair mission are already in the works, this time with the goal of 500 wheelchairs. Guzman said he hopes to make the project part of a pilgrimage.
“Our distribution events are actually prayer services. Msgr. Gary Formoso, in Ilocos Norte, said perfectly (in a paraphrase): ‘… God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. Hawaii brought us light!”
