St. John Vianney parishioner Kamalani Rodrigues enjoys applying stewardship values to her life. She is currently the chair of the diocesan Stewardship Commission. (Courtesy Catholic Stewardship Consultants)
By Catholic Stewardship Consultants
www.CatholicSteward.com
For Kamalani Rodrigues, a parishioner at St. John Vianney Church in Kailua, many of the things she has learned through life directly translate to her stewardship journey.
Rodrigues currently serves as chair of the diocesan Stewardship Commission. Her term runs through June 2025. Being involved in stewardship aligns with her upbringing of “aloha aina”—love of the land.
“That means to care for the land so that the land, in turn, feeds and gives back to the people who inhabit it,” Rodrigues says.
Since becoming involved in stewardship committees, first at St. John Vianney and then for the diocese, Rodrigues has grown in her understanding of stewardship — particularly in the areas of hospitality, prayer, formation and service. She has grown in her own faith as well.
“I really realized that the pillars stand on the foundation of a relationship with God and in giving him the first fruits of everything,” Rodrigues says. “I changed by making him the priority of life versus fitting God in between my busyness of living life.”
If you haven’t found a way to get involved in your parish, what are you waiting for? Rodrigues encourages everyone to find an opportunity to get involved.
“We are all called to be willing participants in the greatest mission of the church, which is to make disciples and share the beauty, hope and promise of eternity as a baptized Christian,” Rodrigues says.
A pivotal moment for Rodrigues was when she started to read more about the saints and was inspired by their lives and their devotion to the Eucharist. She’s particularly inspired by a quote from St. John Vianney: “Not to go to Communion is like someone dying of thirst beside a spring.” Learning about the saints inspired her to start attending daily Mass.
Rodrigues and her husband, Chaz, were confirmed in 2014. They were so impacted by their experience in RCIA that they decided to join the team at St. John Vianney and eventually took over.
In addition, Rodrigues is involved in prison ministry at the Women’s Community Correctional Center, and she became a lector in 2020. When parish administrator Gail Browne passed away in 2022, Rodrigues took on her role.
“Reading the Scriptures both for RCIA discussion and lector preparation helps me to better understand the big picture of our salvation history,” Rodrigues says. “That, and I’ve always had a lifelong love of reading, so I am doing something I love.”
The prison ministry fell in Rodrigues’ lap, blessing her life in so many ways. She has enjoyed meeting and getting to know the women at the correctional center.
Rodrigues wants others to experience the fullness of the Catholic faith, just as she has. In turn, she offers some practical advice for her fellow Catholics.
“Pray, spend time in adoration before God, ask him to show you his will for your life, and then listen,” she says. “God speaks through family, friends, coworkers, strangers, through sacred Scripture and Mass.”
Rodrigues wants to thank the other members of the lay organization in which she’s involved, Basic Christian Community of Hawaii, for helping her grow in faith.
“The full-weekend retreat experiences, the small-group communities, the prayer support and the opportunity to serve and meet other people in service projects and gatherings have been immeasurable in my life of stewardship,” she says.
