Viriditas2: Soul Greening
Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
For Good Friday’s liturgy, Father Jarek Skrzypek asked parishioners to bring fresh flower leis for the veneration of the cross. You could hear the popping sound of plastic containers being opened as folks unwrapped their store-bought offerings. My leis were just tucked in my bag.
That evening, the cross looked like a graduation celebration, with leis piled up over the arms. When the arms were full, people began laying their leis at the base.
After the service, Father asked if I could make three more leis, as Msgr. Gary Secor would be joining him for the Easter Vigil with those receiving their first holy Communion and confirmation.
With perfect timing, my neighbor Mr. Paoa emailed me: “Please come — there are a lot of flowers on the tree.” He must’ve seen me at church Friday night. He didn’t want the blossoms to spoil.
Although I’d recently had shoulder surgery, on Saturday morning I met him and we picked puakenikeni — “10-cent” flowers. Their colors reminded me of the three days of Easter, changing from white to yellow to orange. As I gathered them, I spoke to the tree: “You know you’re going to be in a lei.”
As I strung each lei, I offered an intention. From a young age, while studying hula under Aunty Maiki Aiu, I was taught to put love and intention into everything — especially when making fragrant drape leis.
When giving a lei with a ribbon, don’t let the ribbon just fall to the back. Hold it in your hand and offer it with care, as if your hand is touching the recipient’s heart. Then embrace them and say, “Congratulations!” or “Happy birthday!,” etc.
The ribbon belongs near the heart — it carries your intention. These are the lessons I learned from hula and from my mom.
For the Good Friday leis, I held intentions for: my nephew who is ill, my injured brother, my mom and dad, two of my friends, and my grandparents. For Saturday’s leis, I said, “This one is for Father. This one is for Monsignor. This one is for the cross.”
Sewing leis and putting so much love and intention into them makes me happy. Sometimes life gets really difficult.
For example, I’m still trying to understand Father Jarek’s message on forgiveness from the other week. Forgiveness is hard. Sometimes I feel like, since I’m not getting it, I’m not giving it. That’s not a good place to be at — when you’re so exhausted that you just don’t care anymore.
Aunty Maiki always said, “Whenever you do something, don’t be angry. Don’t be sad. Put all your love and intention into sewing your lei.” Making lei lifts me up. I hope God hears me, to correct whatever needs to be.
Even when I spin the flower to check if it has a ding or a blemish, I cut that off — because I want to put the best part forward. So, when preparing the ones for church, it’s like giving my best to God.
Ann Frances Guerrero is a parishioner at St. John the Baptist Church in Kalihi. Father Skrzypek is parish administrator of St. John the Baptist.
