By Patrick Downes | Hawaii Catholic Herald
The Catholic Church in Hawaii will baptize 192 new Catholics in parishes across the state during the Easter Vigil, April 11, according to figures collected by the diocesan Office of Worship.
The total is seven more than last year and 35 more than the year before.
The number includes 34 from Oahu’s Korean Catholic Community, which in recent years has always had several times more converts than any other Hawaii parish. After the Koreans, the largest parish group belongs to St. Joseph in Waipahu at 12. The overall total also includes four from the Hickam military base chapel.
The catechumens, those in preparation for baptism, will be welcomed and acknowledged in Rites of Election on Oahu, Maui, the Big Island and Kauai, Feb. 28 and March 1. Rites of Election are supposed to be held on the first Sunday in Lent.
At each rite, candidates who have been preparing for baptism over the past year through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, or RCIA, will sign their names in the Book of the Elect, signifying their desire to be received into the church at Easter.
Bishop Larry Silva will preside at the Rite of Election at St. Catherine Church in Kapaa on Kauai at 5 p.m. on Feb. 28, and at 2 p.m. on March 1 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa in Honolulu.
The slight increase in catechumens over last year continues an upward trend started last year. Prior to 2008, the numbers of new Hawaii Catholics had been dropping. Since 2000, the highpoint year in the number of converts in Hawaii was 2002 with 258.
Here are the figures since 2000:
- 2000 193
- 2001 246
- 2002 258
- 2003 218
- 2004 235
- 2005 195
- 2006 188
- 2007 157
- 2008 185
One third of Hawaii’s parishes — 22 of 66 — have no converts this year.
List of the Elect
Here is the list of catechumens who will be baptized during Easter Vigil ceremonies at each of their parishes.
WEST HONOLULU VICARIATE
Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace
- Tom Boyle
- Derek Soma
- Jao Sun
- Karen Ulep
- Rowen Sherlock
- Nari Skyba
- Michelle Torres
- Shelby Torres
- Kuuipolani Sherlock
- Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa
- Grace Dolor
- Christopher Leong
- Arnold Nicolas Luna Jr.
- Melina-Ana Tailo
- Dalmas Keoki Jones Nardin
St. Anthony, Kalihi
- Romel Mendoza
- Angelica Ragasa
- Chanelle Dela Cruz
- Jessica Dela Cruz
- Sierra Acoba
St. John the Baptist, Kalihi
St. Philomena/Holy Family
St. Stephen, Nuuanu
Vietnamese Holy Martyrs, Kalihi
- Tim Do
- Cuong Tang
- Nick Nguyen
- Tuyet Thanh Tong
- Lan Thuc Mai
- Hung Tong
- Alan Tong
EAST HONOLULU VICARIATE
Holy Trinity, Kuliouou
- Irvin Chang
- Kian Juliano
- Niah Juliano
- Ryder Juliano
- Fernando Garcia-Wang
Mystical Rose Oratory, St. Louis/Chaminade
Newman Center/Holy Spirit, Manoa
Sacred Heart, Punahou
- Kimberly Elizabeth Sung
- Thomas B.S. Chun
- Brittany Antenorcruz
St. Augustine, Waikiki
- James Doyle
- Stuart Fishel
St. Patrick, Kaimuki
- Elisa Furtado-Fischer
- Luke Caires
Sts. Peter and Paul, Honolulu
- Melissa Koughn
- Tina Phan
- Kahele Porter
- Paul Tacci
- Malig Williams
Star of the Sea, Waialae-Kahala
- Stephanie Gorham
- Paul Gorham
- Lilinoe Von Wiegandt
- Donna Bryan
- Catherine Yee
- Eileen Zerez
- Kandyce Woods
Korean Catholic Community, Manoa
- Ho Patrick Kim
- Lorre Lee
- Oksun Kim
- Naomi Ching
- Kihwa Kwon
- Min Joo Kim
- Min Ji Kim
- Sun Young Kim
- Bong Up Pak
- Sang Im Han
- Steven Kim
- Gina Kim
- Young Ja Kim
- Young Ok Chung
- Han Sun Kim
- Shin Ae Kim
- Jung Nam Na
- Woong Seop Shim
- Chong Chu Chong
- Chung Chang Seo
- Sun Ae Na
- Keun Boom Bae
- Min Sung Bae
- Evan Cabillo
- Jay Kyung Chang
- Yon Ogie Kim
- Hye Joo Song
- Sae Hyun Song
- Kyong Hee Chang
- Andrea Ha
- Tai Hyoung Kim
- Young A Kim
- Hyung Jin Kim
- Masaku Matsumura
CENTRAL OAHU VICARIATE
St. Elizabeth, Aiea
- Stanley Manoa
- May Won
- Amy Pataray
- Brassie Anderson
- Sekai Samuelu Jr.
- Dallas Brady
- Justin Brady
- Marenda Tama’alemalo
Our Lady of Sorrows, Wahiawa
- Keller Alex
- Brittni Dilwith
- Wade Higaki
Resurrection of the Lord, Waipio
- Raymond Kawaguchi
- Dana Yamaguchi
St. John Apostle and Evangelist, Mililani
- Abigail Bourne
- Darryl Corpuz
- Wayne Lockhart
- Letecia Pononcillo
Our Lady of Good Counsel, Pearl City
- Sarah Shiraishi
- Stanley Suehiro
LEEWARD OAHU VICARIATE
Immaculate Conception, Ewa
- Sandra I. Strong
- Rylan R. Mains
- Andrew J. D. Agpaoa
- Armando Castro, Jr.
- Courtney A.D. Magaoa
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Ewa Beach
- Erin Giaretto
- Jasmine Acosta
- Andrew Purdy
- Joleen Costa
- Daniel Momosea
- Diamond Momosea
- Alyssa Smith
St. Joseph, Waipahu
- Mark Anthony Dacuycuy
- Jonathan Madamba
- Russell Doane Jr.
- Lynel Hermano
- Emelie Pascual
- Ariel Parado
- Christopher Petty
- Courtney Schirner
- Evelyn Vergara
- David Pajarillo
- Jackylyn Plan
- Jerome Faasu
Sacred Heart, Waianae
- Allison Mahealani Lenchanko
- Lisa Ann Mikie Kukaulua
St. Jude, Kapolei
- Howard Horiuchi
- Simon Nikolao
- Samuel Nikolao
- Jaena Campos
WINDWARD OAHU VICARIATE
St. Ann, Kaneohe
St. John Vianney, Kailua
- Alexander Ching
- Andrew Dellinger
- Pedro Nieto
- Tyler Record
- Mary Sauvageau
- Darrah Mae Lee
- Haley Miya Yamanaka
St. George, Waimanalo
BIG ISLAND
Our Lady of Lourdes, Honokaa
Sacred Heart, Pahoa
- Joshua Flynn
- Jacob Neere
- Desiree Subica
- Hazel Tadeo
- Kevin Tadeo
- Robert Yarnell
- Tammie Joy Higgins
St. Joseph, Hilo
- Jan Allan Agbigay
- Amber Leon
- Keri Kimura
- Alane Moniz
- Christian Pua
- Phillip Williams
- Roy Okabayoshi
St. Benedict, Captain Cook
St. Michael, Kailua-Kona
- Melissa Pond
- Sierra Gray
- Allison Felix
- Elise Felix
- Curtis Pond
- Janelle Pond
- Jordan Pond
- Jasmine Wamil
- Jordan Bartholomew
KAUAI
Immaculate Conception, Lihue
St. Catherine, Kapaa
MAUI
Christ the King, Kahului
Maria Lanakila, Lahaina
- Hoang Bui
- Daniel O. Kauvaka
St. Ann, Waihee
- Sue Dennison
- Michelle Ikeda
St. Anthony, Wailuku
- Hillory Zablan
- Russell Caires
- Filipinas G. Rodriguez
- Solomon A Rodriguez
- Angielline G. Rodriguez
MILITARY CATHOLIC COMMUNITIES
Prince of Peace, Hickam
- Deborah Geary
- Christine James
- Elizabeth Kallstrom
- Kimberly Lawrence
- Adam Rains