Hawaii Catholic Herald
The solemnity of the Immaculate Conception Dec. 8 took on extra meaning as six Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians renewed their vows on Oahu and Kauai.
At St. Elizabeth Church in Aiea, four sisters who serve at St. Elizabeth and at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Pearl City renewed their vows during Mass. Father Sebastian Soosai, pastor of St. Elizabeth, celebrated the liturgy, joined by parochial vicar Father Renato Maliwat and Sacred Hearts Father Santhosh Thottankara, pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel.
Father Soosai exhorted the faithful to look to Mary’s fiat and to model their lives in imitation of her. After the homily, Sister Meristella Umdor, Sister Madonna Shylla, Sister Marykutty Mathew Kottuppallil and Sister Philisita Jyrwa renewed their vows and also welcomed five new members to their lay ministry, the Women’s Apostles for Catechesis.
At St. Catherine Church in Kapaa, Kauai, two MSMHC sisters who are assigned there also renewed their vows on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Father EJ Resinto, pastor of St. Catherine, celebrated the Mass at which Sister Rachel Marius and Sister Lucinda Salboro recommitted themselves to their vocation.
“It was something to witness as this was a first for our parish community,” Father Resinto said, adding that it is the practice of MSMHC sisters to renew their vows on the feast of the Immaculate Conception.
After Mass, the St. Catherine community celebrated with a simple meal.
Val Streff and Father EJ Resinto contributed to this story.
Above: First photo, from left, are Sister Marykutty Mathew Kottuppallil, Sister Philisita Jyrwa, Sister Madonna Shylla and Sister Meristella Umdor at St. Elizabeth Church in Aiea. Second photo, from left, are Father EJ Resinto, Sister Rachel Marius, Sister Lucinda Salboro and Deacon Andy Ragasa at St. Catherine Church in Kapaa. (Photos courtesy Dann Ebina [first] and Centa Ragasa [second])