From left, Sacred Hearts novices Jeremy Sabugo, Justin Carrigan and Michael Kamauoha stand at the sanctuary of St. Patrick Church in Kaimuki during their profession of first vows, Aug. 10. (HCH photo | Darlene Dela Cruz)
Three young men professed their first vows of chastity, poverty and obedience as brothers in the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary during a special Mass, Aug. 10 at St. Patrick Church in Kaimuki.
The recently professed are Michael Laakea Kamauoha, 29, of Honolulu; Justin R. Carrigan, 29, of Attelboro, Mass.; and Jeremy Basilio Sabugo, 24, of Waialua on the North Shore of Oahu.
These novices have been in formation for more than a year-and-a-half with the Sacred Hearts order. Their first, or temporary, vows are good for three years, after which time they will profess perpetual vows.
They are the first men in the congregation to advance to first vows since the congregation’s Hawaii province merged with the East Coast province in November 2011 to form the U.S. province which brought the novitiate program to Kaneohe.
Kamauoha, Carrigan and Sabugo made their profession before a congregation of more than 100 people. Among those in attendance were family members, friends, Sacred Hearts priests and sisters, and diocesan vicar general Father Gary Secor.
Sacred Hearts Father Johnathan Hurrell, head of the order’s U.S. province, celebrated the Mass. In his homily, Father Hurrell offered encouraging words to the three young men.
“As you begin and take this step, you are also joining a larger family,” Father Hurrell said. “We will stick by you.”
Kamauoha, Carrigan and Sabugo are now considered Sacred Hearts brothers. According to Sacred Hearts provincial secretary Margaret Uiagalelei, one will soon pursue studies for the priesthood. The other two brothers are still discerning their future ministries.
After first profession, the three will continue their formation in different places. Sabugo will head to San Antonio with Sacred Hearts Father Lusius Nimu; Carrigan will go to Massachusetts with Father Stan Kolasa; and Kamauoha will remain at St. Ann Church in Kaneohe.
