Most of the newly installed state officers: first row, left to right, former state deputy Randy Tom, state chaplain Father Peter Miti and state deputy Lito Alvarez. Second row, left to right: state secretary Lawrence Gonzales, state warden Galo Camacho and state advocate William “Will” Castillo. (Courtesy Philip Mulno)
By Robert Camilleri
Special to the Herald
On June 14 at St. Jude Church in Kapolei, Knights of Columbus state deputy Lito Alvarez installed the organization’s 2025-26 state council officers and district deputies.
Alvarez was previously installed on June 6 by Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly at St. Mary Church in New Haven, Connecticut, the birthplace of the Knights of Columbus.
At St. Jude, the day began with an installation Mass celebrated by newly appointed state chaplain Father Peter Miti, pastor of Resurrection of the Lord Church in Waipio.
During his homily to the state officers, district deputies, wives and families, Father Miti spoke about leadership. Father Miti referred to the Gospel passage in Matthew 5:37 — “Let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no’” — as an essential part of being a leader. He also said that a leader must be a “man of prayer.”
After the Mass, Father Miti blessed the jewels of office for the state officers and district deputies with holy water. Alvarez then installed Father Miti as state chaplain and invested him with his jewel of office.
Alvarez followed Father Miti’s installation with those of the following state officers and district deputies:
- State secretary Larry Gonzales
- State advocate William “Will” Castillo
- State warden Galo Camacho
- District deputy 1 Mo Morales
- District deputy 2 Melvin Cervantes
- District deputy 3 Galo Camacho
- District deputy 4 Herman Monico
- District deputy 5 Paul Maple
- District deputy 6 Richard Lacuesta
- District deputy 7 Marc Tumacder
- District deputy 8 Lorenzo Magana
Each Knight was invested with his individual jewel of office by his wife or Alvarez’ wife, Amy Alvarez.
Due to his attendance at a deacon formation weekend with his wife Jesica, state treasurer Joshua Kapika was not installed.
After the installation ceremony, the Hawaii State Council held its first quarterly organizational meeting of the fraternal year at St. Jude.
Father Miti began the meeting with an inspiring talk on serving as Knights of Columbus leaders. He pointed out to the newly installed state officers and district deputies that “unless we surrender to the Holy Spirit, there is very little he can do for us. Surrendering to the Holy Spirit is not a one-time shot. It has to be a daily practice.”
The Hawaii State Council later held a gala dinner in Waipahu to honor the newly installed state officers, district deputies, their wives and their families.
A week after the installation Mass and quarterly organizational meeting, fourth (patriotic) degree Knights Mel Tom and Lyle Apo of Bishop Louis Maigret Assembly 1577 presented a $500 check to Robin Moag-May, executive director of the Institute for Human Services’ homeless veterans shelter. The annual donation is used for the upkeep and purchase of needed items to furnish an Assembly-named room inside IHS’ shelter for veterans in Kalihi Valley.
The Institute for Human Services’ Robin Moag-May, center, accepted the Knight of Columbus’ $500 donation to the agency’s homeless veterans center from Knights Mel Tom, left, and Lyle Apo. (Courtesy Mel Tom)