Permanent deacon Misa Sewen, who energized the Chuukese Catholic community at his parish of Sacred Heart in Waianae, died Sept. 26 at Kuakini Hospital with his wife Finipa by his side. He had suffered ill health for several years. He was 68 and had been a deacon 27 years.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
“He was a loving person, very humble,” said Linda Jose, the secretary at Sacred Heart Church. “He always acted from the heart.”
From his arrival in Hawaii in 2005 until 2011 when a major stroke forced him to retire, Deacon Sewen brought together the Catholic immigrant community from his own Chuuk islands for religious education, baptism preparation and a monthly Mass in their own language.
He taught Micronesian kids Chuukese catechism lessons in a relaxed outdoor setting, making them feel welcome and a part of parish life.
He taught then-pastor Father Sebastian Chacko how to celebrate Mass in the Chuukese language, which he did every fourth Sunday of the month, filling the church with people from across leeward Oahu. Deacon Sewen would preach.
He also served as a eucharistic minister at regular Sunday Masses and brought Communion to leeward Oahu hospital patients.
Deacon Sewen was born in Chuuk on Feb. 14, 1947. After four years of training, he was ordained on Dec. 8, 1988, for the Diocese of the Caroline Islands. Chuuk, in the Caroline Islands, is one of the four Federated States of Micronesia.
As a deacon in Chuuk, according to his wife Finipa, Sewen conducted Communion services, taught catechism, engaged in baptism and marriage preparation, and gave homilies.
He came to Hawaii in 2005 for a bypass surgery and was told by his doctor to stay for a few years. He was employed here as a security guard.
Sewen was one of four Chuukese permanent deacons living in Hawaii whom Bishop Larry Silva in 2008 asked to serve the Islands’ growing immigrant population of Micronesian Catholics.
In an interview with the Hawaii Catholic Herald at the time, Deacon Sewen said, “I really appreciate and like [being part of the diocese]. I want to help my fellow Micronesians in Hawaii.”
Starting with eight families, Deacon Sewen organized the Micronesian Catholics in his home parish of Sacred Heart. The community grew to a monthly gathering of more than 100 people, according to Linda Jose.
“He was good about getting people to come out of their shell,” Jose told the Hawaii Catholic Herald in 2011, in a story about Micronesian Catholics.
Sewen is survived by his wife and seven children, Mary Ann, Mermaid, Ann Marie, Maxwell, Maximino, Marlene and Margie (Mary), plus an adopted daughter, Maximina. One son, Murphy, is deceased.
His two sons live on Guam, four daughters live in Hawaii and one daughter resides in Arizona.
The deacon is also survived by 20 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Sewen is the second Chuukese deacon to die in Hawaii this year. Deacon Julio Akapito of the Big Island died on Aug. 13. Three other Micronesian deacons remain serving in Hawaii.
