The newly ordained deacon Michael Jucutan of Hawaii stands second from left at a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron of Agana, Guam, Feb. 17 in the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Agana. (Photo courtesy of Tony C. Diaz | U Matuna Si Yu’is, Guam’s archdiocesan newspaper)
Michael Vincent Jucutan, a 1995 Pearl City High School graduate, formerly of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, will be ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Agana, Guam, Nov. 9 by Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron in the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagatna, Guam.
The oldest of three children of Joseph Agcaoli Jucutan and Genette Perreira of Pearl City followed his call to priesthood through participation in the Neocatechumenal Way, an organization that, working primarily in small parish-based comunities, provides faith education and formation for Catholic adults. The Neocatechumenal Way has diocesan seminaries throughout the world.
Born in Kalihi, Jucutan attended Kamehameha Elementary School and St. John the Baptist School. When his family moved to Pearl City, he went to Pearl City High and was an altar server at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church.
After graduation he joined the Army Reserves while continuing to volunteer in various parish ministries and work at the Pauline Book and Media Center run by the Daughters of St. Paul in downtown Honolulu.
While attending classes at Leeward Community College he was invited to join the seminary in Guam with the Neocatechumenal Way. He entered on May 5, 2002.
Jucatan’s mother, Genette Perreira, reflected on her son’s path to the priesthood in an email message to the Hawaii Catholic Herald.
“I recall his birth and my prayer of thanksgiving for allowing me to assist in bringing forth new life,” she said.
She is now “offering back to God our son if it be his will to serve as a priest.”
Jucutan, 36, was ordained transitional deacon in Guam on Feb. 16, 2013. He plans to be in Hawaii in mid-November to celebrate Mass at several locations.
“The Neocatechumenal Way has supported his ministry and vocation,” Perreira said. “His community in Pearl City as well as the community in Kalihi have prayed and encouraged him during this process.”
“We have been greatly blessed and look forward to his priestly ordination,” she said.
The Hawaii Catholic Herald interviewed Jucutan by email. Here are excerpts from that interview.
What were you studying at Leeward Community College?
Math being the only thing that I was good at in high school, I first thought of majoring in engineering. Then I tried psychology. But after discovering the richness of the faith through Scott Hahn’s conversion story, the works of (Archbishop) Fulton Sheen and other Catholic books, I chose religion, philosophy and whatever courses that fulfilled a liberal arts degree. But I still wanted to know more about the treasures of the faith outside of those classes.
What is your ethnic background?
I’m half Filipino from my father. And the rest is Chinese, Portuguese, Hawaiian and French from my mother.
Any particular interests, hobbies, talents?
Soccer, volleyball. I like to name songs and artists from the ‘80s and 90’s on the radio. And my favorite philosopher is Rene Girard.
Why Guam?
Well, I felt that God was calling me for a diocesan and missionary priestly life. The statutes of the Christian initiation for adults, approved by the Holy See in 2008, indicated that the Neocatechumenal Way, as an itinerary of catechesis, is as well a “means to foster vocations to the priesthood and of particular consecration to God in the different forms of religious and apostolic life and to enkindle in the heart of individuals their special missionary vocation.”
This is where I discovered my priestly vocation — in the Neocatechumenal community in Pearl City. The community sustained and shadowed my vocation all along. I was assigned to the diocesan missionary seminary “Redemptoris Mater” (Mother of the Redeemer) in Guam. Redemptoris Mater seminaries are erected by diocesan bishops in agreement with the International Responsible Team of the Way (the governing body of the Neocatechumenal Way). They are international, diocesan and missionary.
The statutes of the Neocatechumenal Way state: “In them the candidates for the priesthood find in participation in the Neocatechumenal Way a specific and basic element of their formative itinerary and, at the same time, are prepared for a “genuine presbyteral (priestly) choice of service to the people of God.” There are now a hundred of these seminaries around the world, seven or eight alone in the United States.
I studied all my philosophical and theological courses at the Blessed Diego Theological Institute in Guam. This institute is affiliated to the Lateran Pontifical University in Rome. It is the Lateran that confers the final degrees.
Did you consider priesthood for the Diocese of Honolulu?
I am ready to go anywhere. I remember thinking to myself, “Okay, yes Lord, I’m ready to go even to Congo.” I have been in the archdiocesan missionary seminary in Guam under Archbishop Anthony and I think my calling is to be here as of now. If the archbishop sees differently, I would gladly come to Hawaii. I do miss the lau lau and the poi!
What drew you to the priesthood?
Many elements. First it was the promptings of some relatives and peers who said “You’d make a good priest.” I don’t know and I still don’t know what they saw in me. I did not see myself as a priest as a youth.
Also, the fascination of how some converts entered the church; a few vocational meetings with Father Mike Owens at Our Lady of Good Counsel; working at Pauline Books and Media downtown; listening to the experiences of those who went to World Youth Day in Rome in 2000. Then listening to the Neocatechumenal catechesis in my parish of what it means to have faith and the post-baptismal catechumenate that generates faith in someone who needs an adult faith.
Listening to the kerygma (strong “preaching”) of Kiko Arguello (one of the founders of the Neocatechumenal Way) at the St. Paul Outside the Wall Basilica in Rome and the meeting the day after with all the Neocatechumenal Way communities and youth where they did this calling for the priesthood. But also the ecclesial community and the Christian formation that it gives, with the Word of God, to carry me in a way of becoming Christian.
As you approach your priestly ordination, what is going through your mind?
Wow! I never thought I would make it through all the classes, the final paper and exam. Really, it was the Lord who sustained me. I am excited that I can do “something beautiful for God” in my unworthiness.
What are you most looking forward to?
Seeing people meet Jesus Christ through the announcing of preaching (Romans 10:17) and the sacraments.
Any other thoughts?
Pray for me that I may cling to Christ, in all things turn to him, and be a holy priest. Thank you for helping me recall what the Lord has done in my life. Aloha.
