By Catholic Stewardship Consultants
www.CatholicSteward.com
Rita and Galo Camacho Jr. are deeply involved at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Honolulu. Their work in the parish is their way of giving thanks to God for their blessings as they endeavor to help not only fellow parishioners, but the community as well.
Although there are other parishes the Camachos could have chosen, it was the people and environment at Sts. Peter and Paul that drew them in.
Galo was brought into parish service when an usher asked if he would help with the collection.
“From then on, I was helping with the collection at every Mass we attended,” he said.
“The Knights of Columbus noticed and invited me to join. The Knights are an apostolate and an integral part of all the ministries of the church.”
Galo also serves on the building committee and is an usher, greeter, parking attendant, tech for streaming services and handyman for small projects around the property.
Rita is a volunteer in the social ministry that assists members of the community through the parish’s Olakino food distribution program, Catholic Care Project and financial assistance. Community members in need are also referred to different government agencies for assistance. In addition, Rita is an usher, greeter and extraordinary minister of holy Communion.
With the older population near the parish, the couple has found fulfilling work in volunteering with Olakino and Catholic Care, which provides bags of food to parishioners and non-parishioners. The bags are filled by volunteers on the third Saturday of the month.
“The Lord provides and answers our prayers,” Rita said. “We’re giving back, and we’re thankful and count our blessings each day.”
Sts. Peter and Paul also welcomes many visitors staying in Waikiki.
“We get between 10 to 20 visitors at each of our five Masses,” Rita said. “At the end of each Mass, our priest (asks) the visitors to stand and gives them a blessing, and a shell lei. He also (asks) those celebrating birthdays and wedding anniversaries to stand and gives them a blessing.”
If anyone is interested in becoming more involved in parish life, Rita suggested that they look into different ministries or activities, such as Bible study, Scripture reading or Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. There are also young adult activities and continuing prayer groups.
“Come, see the different ministries we have,” Rita said. “Ask how we can help you and ask yourself how much you want to get involved. It is a welcoming and very spiritual feeling.”
“If someone is considering getting involved, I would tell them how fulfilling it is for us, tell them what we do, and how we appreciate all we have,” Galo added.
For more information about Sts. Peter and Paul, call the parish office at (808) 941-0675.