By Patrick Downes | Hawaii Catholic herald

Oahu’s Annual Conference of Catholic Educators is a celebration of Catholic schools, Catholic school teachers, Catholic school administrators, Catholic school careers and Catholic school values. It also means a day off for all the island’s Catholic school students as their teachers gather for a Mass, an assembly and a class of their own.

This year’s conference brought hundreds of educators onto the floor of the Neal Blaisdell Arena in the morning of Feb. 2 for a Mass and homily with Bishop Larry Silva, the recognition of special teachers, and a conference by a visiting lecturer.

The liturgy started with the dimming of lights and a procession of 40 lit candles carried by teachers and administrators. Feb. 2 was the feast of the Presentation of the Baby Jesus in the Temple, also called Candlemas, a traditional day for blessing candles.

After the Gospel reading, the bishop, in white vestments and a double cigar flower and mock orange leaf lei, preached without notes.

“The role of a teacher is much more than conveying information,” he said. “It is being a presence to the students, being a witness to the students, believing what you teach.”

“That is why our presence here is so important,” he said.

“We have Catholic schools so that our children can encounter Jesus,” Bishop Silva said, “to encounter this living Lord who loves them so much.”

The bishop told the educators that he is “amazed” to meet people who had the same Catholic education as he did but who “never encountered Jesus” in the process.

“That is a great judgment against our Catholic education,” he said.

“The Word of God is not just something to study but something to encounter,” he asserted. “We want our students to see and touch and taste the living Lord.”

He urged the teachers to be “so excited about knowing him that you want them to know him too.”

Joining the bishop to celebrate Mass on the 5-foot high stage were nine priests, three deacons, and three altar servers.

The arena sanctuary was decorated with large arrangements of pink ginger, heliconia and sprays of yellow orchids.

A rich complement of liturgical music was lead by a combo and choir from the all-girls St. Francis School.

After Communion, Catholic schools superintendent Carmen Himenes went on stage to help Bishop Silva congratulate 18 teachers and administrators celebrating 20, 30 and 50 years of service to Hawaii’s Catholic schools.

Laden with leis, the honorees climbed the nine steps to the top of the stage one at a time to receive an etched glass plaque and the applause of their peers.

Recognized for 20 years were Tim Cantley and Bea Lockwood of Sacred Hearts Academy, Janet Martin and Caren Sato of St. Ann’s Model Schools, Kathleen Botelho of Star of the Sea School, Lai Yi Ng of St. Philomena Early Learning Center, and Grace Tokuda of St. Joseph School in Waipahu.

Honored for 30 years were Mary Roy of Sacred Hearts Academy, Audrey Tim of St. Ann’s Model Schools Early Learning Center, Carol Goldstein and Juliann Borges of Maryknoll Elementary School, Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet Tomasa Marcos of Holy Trinity School, Lester Moniz of St. Anthony Jr./Sr. High School in Wailuku, Betsy Park of Star of the Sea Early Learning Center, Alma Carter of Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Mary Ann Lopes of Cathedral Catholic Academy and Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet Sarah Bernard Talite of St. Patrick School.

Celebrating 50 years was Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet James Therese Joseph of St. Theresa School in Honolulu.

After Mass, the educators listened to an entertaining but informative presentation by Robert Brooks PhD, an expert on educational topics relating to motivation, resilience, self-esteem, family relationships and effective leadership.

He described for the teachers ways to help children and adolescents deal with stress and pressure.