Hawaii Catholic Herald
Maryknoll Grade School hosted a special visitor last month as students prepared for Christmas and the birth of Jesus.
It wasn’t Santa Claus — Father Ese’ese “Ace” Tui, pastor of Maryknoll School, made sure of that.
Instead, the saint who inspired the modern-day holiday figure stopped by the Honolulu campus Dec. 11 to meet students and answer their questions.
St. Nicholas — better known as Phil Mulno, a member of the Knights of Columbus Bishop Louis Maigret Assembly 1577 and St. Joseph the Worker Council 15124 — visited classrooms, spoke to students about his life, answered their questions and also posed for photos.
Father Tui explained that he initially was approached by Gwen Sagapolutele, dean of the Maryknoll Grade School, about the school hosting a “Breakfast with Santa” event. He agreed to the event, but not to the guest of honor — suggesting instead an appearance by St. Nicholas.
Father Tui, who is also pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Honolulu, said he spoke with Mulno, a parishioner at Sacred Heart who dresses up as Santa during the holiday season (growing out a jolly beard to embrace the look), and asked if he would like to appear at Maryknoll as St. Nicholas.
“Phil agreed with a smile,” Father Tui said.
“It turned out to be a method of evangelization,” he said, adding that the kids enjoyed taking photos with Mulno/St. Nicholas and asking him questions.
Above: St. Nicholas, aka Phil Mulno, met with Maryknoll Grade School fifth graders last month for a special visit coordinated by Father Ese’ese “Ace” Tui, standing next to Mulno. (Courtesy Gwen Sagapolutele)