From left, Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP, Sister Irene Barboza, SSCC, and Sister Patty Chang, CSJ, meet for conversation over refreshing servings of shave ice. (Photo courtesy of Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP)
Three local sisters, contemporaries, come together over shave ice to reflect on their lives as religious
Sharing shave ice and conversation after a recent lunch together, three Oahu women with more than 40 years each lived as local members of religious orders talked about their experiences in professed religious life today and what comes next.
Sister Irene Barboza is a member of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary originally from St. George Parish in Waimanalo. She is now superior delegate of her congregation’s Pacific/USA-Asia Zone, which means she is the major superior for three Hawaii communities, a community in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, and seven communities in Asia.
Sister Patty Chang, a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet, is one of two healthcare contacts for her community in Hawaii, in addition to family and friend caregiving. She also serves on various committees for her Carondelet congregation and for religious congregations in Hawaii. She is originally from St. Elizabeth Parish in Aiea.
Sister Malia Dominica Wong, a Dominican Sister of the Most Holy Rosary is a professor at Chaminade University, a member of the Dominicans’ regional council and their regional secretary. She is originally from St. Anthony Parish in Kailua.
Sister Irene: Can you believe it has been over 40 years now that each of us has been in religious life? I used to feel young. My body now tells me otherwise. (laughs)
Sister Patty: I never imagined myself being 40 years in a religious community.
Sister Malia Dominica: I never thought about even turning 40 years of age!
SP: Imagine how religious life has taken us to many different places with many different connections that I would never have imagined as a young sister.
SI: That’s true. When I entered through the convent doors, I thought that the world would just be left behind me. But no, in terms of traveling and seeing places and having opportunities, it is more than I would have ever imagined.
SP: And that is what young women should know today. That, there are many opportunities before us. With fewer community members, we even have every opportunity for leadership thrown at us. This is a great way to learn. Taking the initiative, one can soar.
SMD: I remember when I went for my second master’s degree and wanted to drop out, one of my teachers encouraged me to change to the doctoral program. “No, I don’t want a doctorate,” I replied, thinking of theses I had seen that ended up gathering dust on shelves. Nevertheless, she gave me a full scholarship and right after graduation I went to Nepal to give an interfaith talk and to help with women’s healthcare. There have been so many more pathways open to serve since. I am so grateful for my teacher who took the time to brew me.
SP: I was the first in my family to obtain my master’s degree. As a religious, I learned to always respond to the needs of the community, or whatever the community asked. I was raised to look around and see what the world needed. If my gifts were compatible with the need, then it is up to me, after seeing and observing, to be willing to respond.
(After a period of long silence, everyone laughs.)
SP: We are not very good talkers, are we? We are doers.
SMD: So, what have you been doing?
SP: I started off in religious education, with my master’s in religious education. As I was doing parish work, I also did homebound ministry. At that time, I found there was a need to study gerontology. That took me to working in the Hawaii State Department of Health Executive Office on Aging. I learned a lot in that work which I could apply to my religious community. I also worked at Chaminade University directing the campus ministry. Now I am involved in healthcare giving for our sisters.
SI: I was at Sacred Hearts Academy for 37 years as a teacher. I am still at the Academy, helping out when I am not travelling. Since being asked by my congregation to serve as the superior delegate of the “zone” (our terminology for different areas where the sisters minister), I went from a classroom in a school in Hawaii to Massachusetts to India. I never thought of traveling so much. I just returned from the Philippines. I am now working on my visa to go to India in May. This is followed by Indonesia in September. I do love seeing my sisters in other parts of the world. Just being able to gather as community not only with our sisters, but as we are a congregation of brothers and sisters, to see everyone. It has been fruitful, humbling, and yet …
SP: Lifegiving.
SI: Lifegiving, yes. Not only for myself, but hopefully for those we serve.
SMD: I had never thought that I would become an itinerant preacher. I’m shy. But, the fall before last, I was asked to participate in four interfaith events. Due to the pandemic, I needed to videotape the talks which otherwise would have taken me to Korea, Philippines and Malaysia. I wondered, “Why me?” But, in being mindful that I wasn’t doing this for myself, but for our common humanity, God provided. I am humbled and grateful to be an instrument of peace in this way and to share our island aloha. Aside from teaching at Chaminade, I serve on our regional council and as regional secretary of the Dominicans.
SI: Yesterday, I met with Father Bert (Lock), Brother Richard (Kupo) and Sister Helene (Wood). We compose the jubilee committee for the Sacred Hearts. I realized however, that we have been the jubilee committee since I was a novice. It’s like, you know, we have been doing this for quite some time. The work is like clockwork now. I want to pass it on, but when I look behind, I ask, “Where?” There’s no one behind me. Celebrating religious jubilees are nice ways to recognize those that came before us.
SP: I think there will be other people coming after us. We don’t see it now, but maybe in different forms. For example, there are diocesan consecrated virgins, hermits, EPIC (young adult ministry) …
SMD: Pauline Cooperators and Dominican Lay Associates …
SI: We have the Sacred Hearts secular branch …
SP: In the St. Joseph Sisters, we have agrégée companions — a different form of vowed life. Members can be married and live in their own homes. They carry on the charism and mission of the sisters. Even when we look at the Carmelite nuns — they have a new local vocation. God calls in God’s time. We might not see someone standing in line to fill our shoes, but I believe there will be. Everyone’s path is a little different. But, as long as people are open to responding to God’s call and desire to share in our charism and mission, we are here and we welcome them.
