By the Sisters of the Holy Family
Special to the Herald
Congratulations are in order for Sister of the Holy Family Mary Lange, who ministered in Hawaii island parishes and with the Diocese of Honolulu for many years, on the occasion of her 60th jubilee of religious life, which she celebrated Aug. 1.
Sister Lange is joyful for the privilege she has had to share life and faith with so many people, especially those from other cultures.
Before arriving in Hawaii, she took care of young children in California, in San Francisco and Oakland, and in Nevada, in Reno and Las Vegas. Her ministry then took her to parishes in Utah and Hawaii.
After serving in parishes on Hawaii island, she was appointed to lead the diocesan Office of Worship.
At each of these places Sister Lange was introduced to new cultures, but “Hawaii was a whole new ballgame,” she said.
“Culturally, everything’s different. Of course, the Hawaiian culture is the host culture, but at the time I was there, 60% of all immigrants to the islands were from the Philippines. So I was learning two new cultures.”
At each place it was important for her to understand and respect their culture, then to find ways to incorporate their traditions into liturgy and celebrations of the church.
As much as Hawaii had a “special place in her heart,” Sister Lange returned to California to help her care for her aging mother and began a new ministry at St Patrick’s Seminary as its director of field education.
When asked how she adjusted from teaching 2-year-olds to teaching well-educated adults, Sister Lange said, “each ministry prepared me for the next one.”
Her final ministry was working with refugees through Catholic Charities, providing one-on-one counseling and help.
To all the people she worked with and served in the past, Sister Lange said, “Thank you for teaching me.”
Above: Photo courtesy Sisters of the Holy Family