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 […]
Sister Leonarda Montealto, Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of the Philippines: Learning to listen and trust
Viriditas2: Soul Greening Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OPHawaii Catholic Herald Lead me, Lord, lead me, LordBy the light of truthTo seek and to find the narrow wayBe my way, be my truthBe my life, my LordAnd lead me, Lord, today. These words, taken from the song “Lead Me, Lord,” by John Becker, have […]
Joji, Camden and Remi Tokunaga: Devoted to faith, missions
Viriditas2: Soul Greening Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OPHawaii Catholic Herald The late Dr. Stephen Tokunaga and his wife, Dr. Joji Tokunaga, raised eight children in a household rooted in faith, service and Catholic education. All the children were taught by Dominican Sisters — starting at Rosary Preschool in Waipio Gentry, then at St. […]
Sister Merle Lebaquin and Sister Merced Gumban, Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary: Mission and grace
Viriditas2: Soul Greening Interviewed by Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OPHawaii Catholic Herald Sisters Merced Gumban, above right, and Merle Lebaquin both entered the Dominican Sisters of the Most Holy Rosary of the Philippines in 1978 and have been professed for 44 years. They recently volunteered at a special medical mission in Molo, Iloilo, Philippines. Sr. […]