By Anthony Selvanathan
Special to the Herald
For as long as I can remember, I simply knew him as “the Maestro.”
My first memory of Robert Mondoy dates back to 2005. I had just turned 12 years old and was serving as an altar server at my aunt and uncle’s wedding at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace. At that age, I knew little about liturgy or sacred music. I only knew that whenever the Maestro was present, something beautiful was about to happen.
Later, as a 16-year-old involved in the Cathedral Basilica’s youth ministry, I attended a concert by the Damien Canonization Choir. I sat mesmerized as Robert conducted.
Every gesture had purpose. Every note seemed to transform music into prayer. It was one of the first moments I realized that sacred music does more than accompany the liturgy — it opens our hearts to the mysteries we celebrate.
As the years passed and I became more involved in diocesan ministry, I came to know Robert beyond the conductor’s stand. Through a close friend, Calvin Liu — one of my greatest mentors in liturgy and ministry — I was introduced not simply to the Maestro, but to the man behind the music.
On several occasions, the three of us had dinner together. As a newly minted theologian, I found myself listening far more than speaking, always eager to hear Robert’s manao (thoughts and reflections) on the church, the liturgy and how we could become a better church for the people of Hawaii.
One memory has remained with me in a particular way.
When Robert was first hospitalized in February 2025, Calvin invited me to visit him. Because I help manage the Cathedral Basilica’s Facebook page, I asked whether he would be willing to record a brief greeting for our parish and the wider diocesan community. Ever generous, he gladly agreed.
The message was quintessentially Robert. He did not dwell on himself. Instead, he spoke about gratitude, friendship and caring for one another.
Perhaps that is how I will remember Robert most: Not only as the Maestro, but as a man whose life was marked by gratitude, faith and genuine love for the people he served.
Anthony Selvanathan is a Honolulu resident who serves as an episcopal master of ceremonies for diocesan liturgies, presents on Catholic theology and faith, and is among the many younger Catholics whose faith and ministry were shaped by Robert Mondoy.