Who are those masked men? Priests filled in for the regular volunteers who serve meals for the needy at St. Augustine Parish in Waikiki on April 6. From left, Sacred Hearts Father Lane Akiona, pastor of St. Augustine; Father EJ Resinto, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Punahou; Father Alfred Omar Guerrero, pastor of the Newman Center/Holy Spirit Parish, Manoa. (Courtesy photo)
By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
While many parishes have gone high tech in ministering to their people during this time of self-seclusion because of the coronavirus pandemic, some have found that old-fashioned ways work too.
Father Marlon Belmonte, administrator of the two southern-most parishes in the diocese, Sacred Heart, Naalehu, and Holy Rosary in Pahala on the Big Island, wants his people to know he is still present.
“I’m at a loss. As a drive from one parish to the other, I feel like crying for myself, for the parishioners and for the whole world,” he said April 2 in response to an informal survey of pastors by the Hawaii Catholic Herald.
“I let people, especially parishioners, see me doing grounds work here in Naalehu. There’s much to be done just maintaining the cleanliness of the grounds, since volunteers are not coming, some having passed away,” he said. “I hope that as they see me, that the young ones will come soon, maybe after this crisis.”
“I celebrate Mass daily,” Father Belmonte said. “On Sundays, I say Mass in each parish. The intentions are for parishioners and the end of this pandemic. I hear confession, maintaining distance, two meters away.”
Father EJ Resinto, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Punahou, also finds value in simply being seen.
“In the afternoon and evenings, I try to sit outside in my courtyard in front of the church to greet anyone walking by,” he said. “Many of my parishioners live in the close vicinity of the church. It offers a little social interaction which gives me some peace.”
He also personally calls parishioners to see how they are doing and if they need anything, especially the elderly.
“I’m usually in the office in the mornings. So while my staff is working from home, I’m still available, with social distancing, if someone drops in, and to answer calls,” he said.
Jeff Domdoma, a parishioner at Sacred Heart, Punahou, gave this example. “My mom wanted holy water so I met him one day (at a distance) to pick some up.”
He said Father Resinto is also available via Facebook messenger to parishioners who need groceries or medication picked up.
“He is a blessing to our parish and we all appreciate him,” he said.
For Palm Sunday, St. John Vianney Parish in Kailua left blessed palm fronds out on a chain link fence in the church driveway for those parishioners who didn’t have palm trees to pick from in their own yards. Pictured are St. John Vianney students Abram and Nolan Fortenberry. Father Peter Miti, pastor, livestreamed Palm Sunday Mass and asked those watching at home to raise their own palms up together for a blessing. (Courtesy photo)
A PHONE CALL AWAY
Many parishes are keeping in touch by phone.
Msgr. Terrence Watanabe, pastor of St. Theresa Parish in Kihei, Maui, reports that early in the lockdown his parish “printed out from our census list every parishioner who was 80 years of age and older and gave each one, about 75, a call to see how they were and if they had any concerns.”
A week later, the parish called 116 people 70-79 years old and then 235 parishioners ages 60-69.
“It was so good to make contact with all of these people,” Msgr. Watanabe said. “I’m not sure if we are going down to the 50s but we will see.”
In Waialua on Oahu’s north shore, Father Ernesto Juarez, administrator of St. Michael Parish and Sts. Peter and Paul Mission, said his parish also calls parishioners to check up on them and to “let them know they are remembered in Masses and prayers.”
“We are also attentive to phone calls” from people needing information and advice, said Father Diego Restrepo, administrator of St. John the Baptist Parish in Kalihi.
At St. Augustine Parish in nearly-empty Waikiki, pastor Sacred Hearts Father Lane Akiona has used this downtime to contact all registered parishioners “to check on their well-being and to update parishioner information we have on file.”
“We are still providing opportunities for the sacrament of reconciliation; emailing weekly parishioners who use email; continuing with our weekly bulletin and posting it on our website,” he said.
At St. Jude Parish in Kapolei, pastor Father Khanh Hoang and parochial vicar Father Vincent Vu “are taking turns answering the phone since our staff are not here,” Father Hoang said.
“Some have called for confessions while most of the calls are for outreach because ours is still open,” he said.
Sacred Heart, Pahoa, pastor Father John Timbreza Molina holds Laetare Sunday Mass in the sacristy of the church with one altar server during the temporary closure of churches. Father Molina also asked parishioners to hang “Easter lights” on their houses during Holy Week as a sign of faith and hope. (Courtesy photo)
FOOD PANTRIES OPEN
Most parishes are keeping their food outreach programs going.
On Maui, Kahului’s Christ the King Parish opens its food pantry once a week thanks to a supply of fresh foods from a local supplier. On Easter Sunday, the parish planned to give out 200 plate lunches donated by a local restaurant for parishioners, many of whom are laid off employees of the hotel industry.
St. Michael’s food pantry in Waialua also remains open.
Aunty Carmen’s Kitchen, St. Augustine Parish’s food service, continues to serve a hot meal for the needy Monday through Friday, Father Akiona said. “We have partnered with Revive and Refresh ministry in providing a shower and toilet van on Thursday afternoons.”
The Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa’s food pantry in Kalihi has bags of food ready anytime for anyone who asks, said pastor Father Manuel Hewe. The parish food bank for seniors also remains open but has reorganized to maintain social distancing.
In Waimea on the Big Island, Annunciation Parish’s food pantry is kept open by generous donations and the efforts of coordinator Ann Lum, volunteers and parishioners.
Each Tuesday morning, volunteers direct one vehicle at a time to helpers who place a pre-packaged bag of food in the trunk or truck bed. Walk-ins receive their bag and walk out the same way. Strict sanitation guidelines are followed.
VIDEO STREAMING MASSES
With closed churches and canceled Masses leaving the biggest void in parish life, live video Masses streamed over the internet — easily done with a smart phone and a bit of technical know-how — have filled in.
And priests are livestreaming more than the Mass.
Father Juarez of St. Michael’s livestreams Mass, lauds (morning prayer), vespers (evening prayer), the rosary, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and benediction.
Sacred Heart, Punahou, livestreams its Masses on Facebook and Instagram and uploads the video on the parish website. The pastor also sends out regular emails, homilies, reflections and updates to his parishioners.
Father Elias Escanilla, administrator of Sacred Heart Parish in Hawi on the Big Island, celebrates a private Mass and rosary daily. He livestreams Mass on Sunday, the Stations of the Cross every Friday, and a holy hour every first Friday.
Missionaries of Faith Father Joseph Pathiyil, pastor of Maria Lanakila in Lahaina, Maui, reports that his parish livestreams the daily 7 p.m. Mass and 6 p.m. vespers and adoration on Facebook and the parish website.
St. Ann Parish in Kaneohe also livestreams Masses and Stations of the Cross. Three members of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts are assigned there, including the pastor Father Richard McNally, so they celebrate Mass and pray as a community daily.
“The people are in our minds and hearts,” Father McNally said.
“A few times this week I’ve seen parishioners riding by the church or dropping in the office for something,” he said. “They call or send an email. I can’t believe how important just that bit of contact is.”
Daily internet devotions start early at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa with Facebook livestreaming of the rosary at 6:40 a.m. followed by Mass at 7 a.m. for the intentions of parishioners and for all, Father Hewe said.
After Mass is adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with recitation of the spiritual Communion prayer and the prayer to end the pandemic.
Holy Cross Parish, Kalaheo, Kauai, has also started livestreaming the Eucharist. In addition, the pastor, La Salette Father Danilo Galang, calls parishioners “to encourage them to remain steadfast in this trying times.”
He also keeps in touch with other priests to share ideas and resources.
Augustinian Father Norlito Concepcion, administrator of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Papaikou on the Big Island, keeps in touch by livestreaming Mass, phoning parishioners and updating the online parish bulletin.
St. Damien Parish and missions on topside Molokai have tried to respond in the spirit of Sts. Damien and Marianne, pastor Sacred Hearts Father Brian Guerrini said.
“Although our church, chapels and office are closed to the public, we are still communicating through social media,” he said. That includes daily email blasts to parishioners and supporters and Facebook and website postings.
“Each day, I put out a pastor’s message that contains inspiration, prayer, Scripture and some Molokai history,” he said.
He also planned to video all the Holy Week liturgies to post on the parish’s YouTube channel.
“Our social ministry remains available to those in need of food and emergency assistance,” he added.
Dr. Hugh Hazenfield, chairman of the pastoral council at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Wahiawa, scheduled a virtual meeting for April in lieu of canceling altogether.
He said attending a video Mass can be a challenge for his “77-year-old ears.”
“This is a trying time in many ways, but some of the worst is not being able to attend Mass, the services of the Triduum, or go to confession,” he said.
Food pantry volunteers at Christ the King Parish in Kahului gave out fresh produce in the parish’s drive-thru pantry. (Courtesy photo)
CONFESSIONS AT A DISTANCE
At St. Theresa Parish in Mountain View on the Big Island, the pastor Father Samuel Loterte texts parishioners with the daily Gospel reflection. He offers confession upon request, following social distancing guidelines.
Confessions at St. Rita Church in Nanakuli are heard at the rectory, reported pastor Father Alapaki Kim.
“There is a security screen door at the entrance. One person stands at the door and confesses while I stay six to seven feet away, inside my house,” he said. “If there is more than one person who wants to confess, they wait in their cars.”
Although the parish food pantry is officially closed because all the volunteers are “kupuna,” “we keep heaps of bags of food for people who knock on the office door and ask,” he said.
The outreach coordinator also delivers food to the homes of parishioners who are food pantry regulars or who call and ask for help. The pastor also texts and phones parishioners see how they are doing.
St. Rita’s Sunday Mass is celebrated at the house of one homebound parishioner a week. “All safety precautions are observed,” Father Kim said. Triduum services were planned to be livestreamed.
RADIO MASS
In addition to livestreaming the 9 a.m. Sunday Eucharist on the parish’s Facebook page, Christ the King Parish in Kahului celebrates a second Mass simultaneously at Maui’s radio station FM 105.5.
The radio Mass is broadcast in English with a homily in Ilocano and English, pastor La Salette Father Augustine Uthuppu explained, because most of the people who listen to the station are elderly Filipinos, some in nursing homes.
“So through radio we are reaching out to them in their own language for their spiritual nourishment,” he said.
The Mass is celebrated at the station because it “doesn’t have the equipment to broadcast from the church,” Father Uthuppu said
COLLECTIONS
While the lack of Sunday collections must be hurting, few parishes reporting to the Hawaii Catholic Herald made it an issue. But with no physical way to pass the basket, they have had to find other ways to receive offerings.
“Donations are still coming through on our website while others drop them in our mailbox and a few have dropped them off here at the office,” said St. Jude’s Father Hoang.
On Molokai, Father Guerrini is asking parishioners to mail in their offertory donations or drop them off in a safe in the back of church during certain hours.
At Sacred Heart, Punahou, Domdoma said that his pastor is encouraging online giving through the parish website.
Empty churches have provided some pastors with opportunities for parish care and upkeep.
“We are also taking this time to do some necessary maintenance around the church,” Father Hoang said. “Other than that, it has been quiet.”
At Annunciation Parish, Waimea, Vahan Chertavian and Linda Lewandowski direct one auto at a time to volunteers in back, from left, Leonard Baltz, Valerie Hageraats, Michelle Hageraats, and Jeannie Savage who place a bag of food in the trunk or truck bed. (Photo courtesy of Mary Erickson)
LOOKING AHEAD
The leadership at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Pearl City is already looking beyond the crisis. “I had a video message of support and reassurance of returning to the church after the coronavirus pandemic is over,” said the pastor, Sacred Hearts Father Santhosh Thottankara.
He posted an article on the parish website “offering our support, prayers and a positive message to boost parishioners’ moral and psychological wellbeing to get through this crisis.”
The family ministry director and the parish youth have been conducting online video classes and activities to keep the youth connected, hopeful and positive, he said. A daily 7 p.m. online rosary started on Easter Sunday.
Father Thottanara mailed his Easter message to parishioners via the U.S. Postal Service. In this era of cyber communication, it will be a physical presence to hold and save as a remembrance of the year the pandemic struck.
