By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Father Khanh Hoang came to Hawaii three years ago from the Diocese of Colorado Springs to find relief from his allergies. He found the climate agreeable and the people welcoming. He has decided to stay.
The administrator of the 3,300-family St. Jude Parish in Kapolei will be incardinated in the Diocese of Honolulu on Sept. 17, during the 6 p.m. Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace. At the same liturgy, three seminarians will also be accepted as candidates for the diocesan priesthood. (See accompanying story.)
Father Hoang came to the United States in 1980 after fleeing his birthplace of Danang, Vietnam, in 1978 at age 10 as a refugee.
He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Colorado Springs in 1994 where he served in a poor inner-city parish.
Health problems led his bishop to send him for a year to the Diocese of San Diego. When that didn’t help he came to Hawaii in June of 2003. His first assignment here was at St. Joseph Parish in Hilo.
According to Father Hoang, 38, a priest must reside in a diocese for at least three years before he can be considered for incardination. Last November, he wrote a letter to Bishop Larry Silva asking for acceptance into the diocese.
Father Hoang said he was also required to obtain letters of recommendation from his parishioners and undergo both physical and psychological evaluations.
He loves Hawaii, he said, especially working with the variety of ethnic backgrounds found in his parishioners.
The priest said he has his “heart in missionary work” and Hawaii offers the “best situation” in that regard.
Hawaii also provides him with the White Plains surfing spot to practice his longboarding and open roads to ride his Honda CVR-1000 motorbike, his two spare time pursuits.
He has no family in Hawaii. His parents, three sisters and one brother are spread across the mainland.
The bishop has also appointed Father Hoang as assistant vicar for clergy, under vicar for clergy Father Gary Secor, which will bring him to the downtown chancery one day a week.
The last priest to be incardinated into the Diocese of Honolulu was Father Sebastian Chacko, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Waianae and the coordinator of Samoan Ministry in the diocese.
The native of India came to Hawaii in July 1999. He was incardinated this past May 30.