HCH photo by Anna Weaver

The Diocese of Honolulu’s sixth class of permanent deacons and their wives pose with Bishop Larry Silva after the final ordination Mass Feb. 10 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa.

 
Ceremony for five concludes ‘marathon’ of deacon ordinations

By Anna Weaver | Hawaii Catholic Herald

In the last ceremony in a “marathon” month of ordinations, the final five of the new class of 17 permanent deacons received the “laying on of hands” by Bishop Larry Silva at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa on Feb. 10. All of their previously ordained classmates were present.

Ordained were Richard Abel, Andres Calunod, Henry Miner, Jerry Tokars and Billy Whitfield.

The earlier permanent diaconate ordinations were as follows:

Thomas Contrades, William Farias, Sr., and Manuel Pascua, Jan. 13, St. Catherine Church, Kapaa:

Kenneth Bissen Jr., Jan. 20, Christ the King Church, Kahului

Michael Shizuma, Jan. 27, New Hope Center, Kaunakakai

Jerry Nunogawa, Feb. 3, St. Joseph Church, Hilo

Wayne Archer, Joaquin Borja, Frederico Carahasen, Jr., Modesto Cordero, John Coughlin and Keith Galang, Feb. 9, Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa

In a show of solidarity, all 17 deacon candidates and their wives attended each of the six ceremonies on five islands.

The deacons’ wives were also honored at the Masses. The bishop presented each with a rose and a certificate stating they had gone through the same program as their husbands and were now certified to teach religious education.

The new deacons, who range in age from 44 to 67, bring the total number of active permanent deacons in Hawaii to 61. They comprise the sixth class of deacons for the Diocese of Honolulu. The first class celebrated its 25th anniversary this past December.