Paulist Father Chris Malano began the Eucharistic prayer as La Salette Father Jiju Abraham, left, Deacon David Bruce, second from left, La Salette Father Geronimo “Eric” Castro, second from right, and La Salette Father Valentine Sun Tun looked on.
Paulist Father Chris Malano congratulates graduates as he celebrates Mass at St. Joseph Church in Waipahu
Hawaii Catholic Herald
A special Mass honoring graduates from the class of 2025 took on greater meaning June 29 when St. Joseph Church in Waipahu welcomed back one of its native sons — who celebrated the liturgy as a brand-new priest.
The baccalaureate Mass was Paulist Father Chris Malano’s first Mass at his home parish. He was ordained May 17 in New York City.
(A week earlier, Father Malano also celebrated Mass at the Newman Center/Holy Spirit Parish at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he worked as parish administrator from 2015-2019 before entering the Paulist novitiate in Washington, D.C.)
Father Malano, too, is a 2025 graduate; as he noted in his homily, he completed his theology degree at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., prior to his ordination.
“While I won’t be serving here in Hawaii, I wanted to return home — to this island, to this community, to this church to give thanks not just for what has happened in my life but for what this community has been and continues to be,” said Father Malano, who grew up attending St. Joseph and has seen the property and community transform over the years.
“This church is woven into my story,” he said.
Speaking about the huge renovation project that modernized St. Joseph Church years ago, Father Malano said he was reminded that “the church isn’t just the walls; the church is the people who show up even in the middle of transformation.”
“That’s what today is, the celebration of transformation — of stepping into what’s next even when it’s incomplete and even when we’re not even totally ready,” he said to the graduates seated in the front rows of the church.
Eighteen graduates ranging from eighth grade to college were honored at the Mass. Concelebrating with Father Malano were St. Joseph’s La Salette priests: Father Geronimo “Eric” Castro, St. Joseph’s pastor, and parochial vicars Father Valentine Sun Tun and Father Jiju Abraham.
Near the end of Mass, the graduates received a blessing from Father Castro and the congregation.
Father Malano also touched on faithfulness, telling the graduates that God calls all his children to be faithful, not perfect, despite what society might say.
“God sees greatness in your willingness to live the truth, to be your authentic self, to journey forward as a beloved child of God,” he said in his homily.
Top, the 5 p.m. baccalaureate Mass at St. Joseph Church in Waipahu was filled with parishioners. Above, the congregation joined Father Castro in blessing the 18 graduates who were honored during the Mass. (Photos by Celia K. Downes / Hawaii Catholic Herald)