In a statement released the day a Maui deacon was sentenced to jail for his sex abuse crimes, Bishop Larry Silva asked Hawaii Catholics to pray for his victim, for all victims of sexual abuse, and for “secondary victims” — family and friends of both the abused and abuser. He also sought prayers for the perpetrator.

Deacon James “Ron” Gonsalves, the former administrator of St. Ann Parish in Waihee, Maui, was sentenced on July 20 to one year in jail and 20 years probation for sexually abusing a minor.

Gonsalves pleaded guilty in a Wailuku circuit court in May to 62 counts of sexual assault which took place at his home and at St. Ann Church from 2002 and 2005.

After he is released from jail, he is required to spend three more years under house arrest.

The diocese placed the deacon on administrative leave when the allegations surfaced more than a year ago. He is no longer permitted to serve as a deacon or in any other public church ministry in Hawaii.

The following is a statement by Bishop Larry Silva on the sentencing of Gonsalves:

“As Deacon James “Ron” Gonsalves was sentenced today on Maui after pleading guilty to sexually abusing a minor, we reiterate our support for the young person who had the courage to report this crime. I ask all the people of the Diocese of Honolulu to lift this person up in prayer, that there may be healing from the Lord, who is the Great Healer of our souls. As we pray for this young person, let us pray for all the victims of sexual abuse, whether they were abused by a member of the clergy, a family member or some other trusted person. At the same time, we pray for all who are secondary victims of these acts of abuse, including the family and friends of the young person abused, the family and friends of Ron Gonsalves, the deacon community, and the parish community of St. Ann, Waihee, which deacon Gonsalves served. We also pray for Ron Gonsalves himself.

“We in the Diocese of Honolulu are doing all we humanly can to prevent any other child or young person from being abused, and we commit ourselves to Victim Assistance and to Safe Environment training for all our clergy and church workers.

“Deacon Gonsalves no longer has the faculties to function as a deacon or in any other ministerial capacity in the Diocese of Honolulu.”