By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
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Father Benny Kosasih |
Hawaii’s Sacred Hearts Fathers welcomed their congregation’s first Indonesian priest to the islands last month. On Dec. 1, Bishop Larry Silva announced his approval of the appointment of Father Benny Kosasih as associate pastor of St. Ann Church in Kaneohe.
According to Hawaii Sacred Hearts provincial Father Christopher Keahi, Father Kosasih is here as a result of a request for “personnel help” from the Sacred Hearts province in Indonesia. He had been assigned previously to India but was unable to obtain a visa. The appointment was made with the approval of the superior general in Rome.
Father Kosasih, 35, grew up Catholic in Indonesia, a country that is 88 percent Muslim. He worked at a bank for a few years before entering the University of Parahyangan in Bandung where he completed his philosophy and theology courses.
A bout with cancer interrupted his preparations for priesthood, but surgery and chemotherapy put him back on track. He was ordained in 2002 at the Sacred Hearts Fathers’ St. Gabriel Church in Bandung, Indonesia, and was assigned there as an associate pastor. He has also been involved in the training of Sacred Hearts seminarians.
According to Father Keahi, the Indonesian province of the Sacred Hearts Fathers — with 80 priests and brothers and about 70 candidates at various levels of formation — is among the fastest growing in the worldwide congregation.
The Indonesia province has sent three priests to the Philippines, two to Japan and one each to French Polynesia, Singapore, Belgium and now Hawaii.
Father Kosasih will be in Hawaii for two years studying English and working in Sacred Hearts parishes.