East Hawaii community celebrates Akau’s ordination

Hawaii Catholic Herald

HILO — Before a full congregation of family, friends and faithful from across the state, John Jacob Akau took another step toward becoming a priest in the Diocese of Honolulu.

Bishop Larry Silva ordained the Hawaii island native to the diaconate July 12 at St. Joseph Church in Hilo, with two dozen priests and deacons also participating in the liturgy.

Among the priests in attendance were Father Stephen Macedo, who was pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Pahala when Akau attended as a child; Father William “Pila”
Tulua, the current pastor of Holy Rosary as well as Sacred Heart Church in Naalehu; and Father Apolinario “Poli” Ty, pastor of St. Joseph, who helped now-Deacon Akau first discern his path toward priesthood.

Bishop Silva acknowledged Deacon Akau’s slow and steady growth in his journey, comparing it to the burbling Kilauea volcano that’s been erupting for decades.

“God is growing the land on this island, precisely in the Kau district where you, John, grew up in the town of Pahala,” Bishop Silva said in his homily. “Sometimes the growth is breathtaking to watch, and sometimes it is slow and steady without much drama. But in all of this, God’s loving hand continues to create.

“And now God has called you, John, to be an instrument of his creativity so that you may grow the number of his beloved people who know the Lord Jesus as their savior, their Lord and their intimate friend.

“There may be moments of drama when your words or actions will spectacularly melt a heart of stone,” Bishop Silva continued. “Knowing you, however, I suspect that God will use you in that slow, undramatic but very real growth that he wants to achieve among his people.”

Hearty cheers rose from the pews as the rite of ordination came to an end, with Deacon Akau — draped in maile lei bestowed by his family — acknowledging the many people who came to witness the next milestone in his journey.