Viriditas2: Soul Greening Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP Hawaii Catholic Herald Growing up in Myanmar, I was surrounded by those of the Buddhist, Muslim, Protestant and Catholic faiths. Living in that diversity helped me learn how to listen, to respect and to adapt. It prepared me well for mission, even here in Hawaii. […]
Chrislyn Villena, St. Joseph School, Hilo: Be Christ, be light, be love
Viriditas2: Soul Greening Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP Hawaii Catholic Herald I have always seen my work as one of nurturing and sending forth. As a former director of religious education for over 20 years, I often think of our only Catholic school on Hawaii island as our very own loko ia (fishpond). […]
Pono Riddle and Lina Tagudin, parishioners, Resurrection of the Lord Church: A shared journey of faith
Viriditas2: Soul Greening Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP Hawaii Catholic Herald Lina: Ever since Pono was little, he always followed Papa, and we were always close. He is my only grandson. Papa was very active in church ministry, and Pono would copy him. When he saw Papa go up to lecture, he said, […]
Sacred Hearts Father Lomano Fifita, St. Ann Church, Kaneohe: Responding to God’s call
Viriditas2: Soul Greening Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP Hawaii Catholic Herald I made my final profession as a member of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in January 2024. In December of that year, I was ordained a priest. In January 2025, I was missioned to Hawaii. The life […]
Mary and Joseph Kau, parishioners, St. Ann Church, Kaneohe: A life of faith, music and trust
Viriditas2: Soul Greening Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP Hawaii Catholic Herald Sr. Malia: How long have you been at St. Ann’s? Joseph: We have been parishioners here since the time of Father O’Malley, Father Garcia, Father Clarence, Father Herman, Father Popish, Father McNally and many other Sacred Hearts priests. Before 1996, we belonged […]
Camillian Father Renato Maliwat, St. Elizabeth Church, Aiea: Seek the good, and follow Jesus
Viriditas2: Soul Greening Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP Hawaii Catholic Herald For many years, my ministry was rooted in hospital ministry and in guiding seminarians in their own vocational discernment. The Camillian spirit, caring for the sick with compassion, became the blueprint of my religious formation and shaped much of who I am […]
A Carmelite nun, Carmel of the Holy Trinity Hawaii: ‘A life attuned to presence’
Viriditas2: Soul Greening Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OPHawaii Catholic Herald There is a line written about our Blessed Mother that has always touched me: “It was as if all purity had breathed a crystal air for her to come in; sweetest virtue, sweetest prayer, to keep awareness of a presence there.” This is […]
Sister An Mei Lam, Daughters of St. Paul: A faith that sustains
Viriditas2: Soul Greening Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OPHawaii Catholic Herald Once a year, I have the blessing of returning home to visit my parents. Every day, for the past 20 years of my religious profession, and even five years before that, I pray for them, entrusting them to God’s loving care. It is […]
The Burgess ohana, St. Anthony Church, Laupahoehoe: A family of faith and song
Viriditas2: Soul Greening Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OPHawaii Catholic Herald For Silvia Burgess, faith and music have always gone hand in hand. Originally from Guam, Silvia and her family spent years in West Virginia before settling in Ookala, Hawaii island, where they have been parishioners at St. Anthony Church in Laupahoehoe (about five […]
Maile Aiu Domingo and Patricia Huse, St. Rita Church: The quiet joy of catechesis
Viriditas2: Soul Greening Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OPHawaii Catholic Herald Maile and Patricia are parishioners at St. Rita Church in Nanakuli. Maile has seven children; Patricia has three children still living. Both are instructors in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd educational program. “What keeps you inspired?” I asked Patricia and Maile, mothers […]