Martin Costales has been an active participant in church ministries since he was a child. (Courtesy Catholic Stewardship Consultants)
By Catholic Stewardship Consultants
www.CatholicSteward.com
Martin Costales, a parishioner at St. Theresa Church in Kekaha, Kauai, is a living image of a faithful steward.
In Luke’s Gospel, we are told what it means to be a wise and faithful steward of God. Through the parable of the faithful steward, Jesus teaches us that we ought to live our lives with integrity, faithfully following God’s will no matter what the circumstances are.
Costales developed a strong sense of duty to serve God and his church in his grade school years. Raised in the Catholic faith by his grandpa, he went to Mass every Sunday and was taught the importance of helping those in need and giving back to the church through his time, talent and treasure.
In 1952, Costales’ grandfather passed away, and Costales served as an altar server at the funeral Mass. Since then, Costales has put the lessons his grandpa taught him into practice and has served the church faithfully.
“I never stopped serving,” Costales said. “I try to help the church as much as I can. I altar served throughout grade school and high school, and continued as an adult. I now serve as a sacristan and teach others how to altar serve.
“I am happy to help,” he added.
Serving the church has enriched Costales’ faith tremendously. Even as a young boy, Costales learned how to pray through serving on the altar. Being close to Christ in the Eucharist as he served at Mass became the foundation of his relationship with Jesus.
Now, as a sacristan, the time he takes to prepare for Mass is a special time of prayer for him.
“I pray while I set up for Mass, and talk to God,” Costales said. “Being in the sanctuary makes me feel close to God.”
Costales’ offering of his talents kept him close to the Lord when life brought challenges. When he was a young man, he got divorced and knew that it wasn’t right for him to receive holy Communion at that time. Even amid this suffering, Costales remained faithful to serving the church and going to daily Mass.
“I never gave up,” Costales said.
While others may have turned away from the faith, Costales shows us that through service we can find purpose and peace in painful times.
“Stewardship is about serving God and helping others,” he said. “It is fulfilling and makes me happy.”
Costales serves in other capacities as well. He is an extraordinary minister of holy Communion, and he takes Christ in the Eucharist to those who are homebound and in assisted-living facilities. The church is his community.
Through his acts of service he meets many people and shares the joy of Christ with them.
Costales’ hope in serving the church is to inspire others to come back to Mass and pursue holiness.
“I pray the rosary and pray for people to come back to church,” he said. “I hope that when people see me serving, they are inspired to serve Jesus too.”
Costales’ life demonstrates that faithful stewardship isn’t about grand gestures, but about consistent, loving service over decades. For Costales, stewardship remains a source of strength and a pathway to holiness — one small act of service at a time. His example challenges all of us to ask, “How is God calling me to serve?”