Derek and Lyn Salis settled at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Ewa Beach after returning home to Hawaii in the 1990s. (Courtesy Catholic Stewardship Consultants)
By Catholic Stewardship Consultants
www.CatholicSteward.com
Derek Salis is very involved at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Ewa Beach and loves his Catholic faith — but he admits it hasn’t always been that way. Previously, Sundays were for sleeping in, golfing and whatever else he wanted to do.
Salis is retired from the U.S. Air Force — he and his wife, Lyn, lived in Colorado Springs in the early 1990s. It was there, at Holy Apostles Church, where things started to change.
“I’d go to Mass sometimes to keep Lyn happy, but I wasn’t going regularly,” Salis said.
Some friends invited Salis to attend Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults classes. He surprised Lyn at the last minute by attending.
“I’ll never forget the look on her face,” Salis said. “I went that night and had such a great time — it was amazing.”
The rest is history. Salis entered into the Catholic faith at the Easter Vigil in 1992. To this day, Easter Vigil is still his favorite Mass.
The Salises have been back in Hawaii, where they grew up, since 1993. They eventually settled at Our Lady of Perpetual Help so their daughter, Nicole, could participate in the youth choir.
Salis’ first area of involvement in his parish was as an extraordinary minister of holy Communion. He jumped at the chance to share Jesus’ body and blood with parishioners. He said he feels blessed by the opportunity to serve, and most enjoys his role coordinating the lectors and commentators — another ministry in which he also serves.
“I truly love proclaiming the Word of God,” Salis said.
In addition, Salis contributes his time and talents to the Liturgy and Stewardship committees. He is the current chair of the Stewardship Committee and previously served on the Pastoral Advisory Council.
“If Father needs me, I am here to help in whatever ways I can,” Salis said. “I want to make our parish the best it can be.”
Salis recognizes that all the ways he has served have helped him grow in his faith.
“Serving helps always keep God in front of me,” he said.
Salis encourages others to serve their parish in whatever ways that speak to their gifts and interests.
“We are there for each other,” he said. “Everyone has a purpose in life. Everyone has something they are good at. There are many ministries for them to use their talents.”
Salis enjoys contributing the different set of stewardship quotes for each month that are displayed at all weekend Masses. A favorite is, “Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will, in return, be measured out to you” (Lk 6:38).
In his free time, Salis loves to golf and walk. The couple also enjoys time with Nicole and her family.
