While professing her final vows on March 25, Sister Celeste “CC” Cabral is silhouetted by light streaming into Hale Malia at the Benedictine Monastery in Waialua. Below, Sister CC takes pictures with well-wishers.
Sister Celeste Cabral ‘still flying high’ from final profession of vows
By Anna Weaver | Hawaii Catholic Herald
Surrounded by more than 250 family members and friends, Sister Celeste Cabral made her final vows as a Benedictine sister at a Mass on March 25 at the Benedictine Monastery of Hawaii in Waialua.
“I’m still flying high on the Holy Spirit from that day,” said Sister CC, as she is known, a few days later. “It was just filled with joy and love and the holy presence of the Lord.”
The 10 a.m. Mass at Hale Malia, a multipurpose room and chapel with stained glass windows that face the ocean, was packed. Chairs set up on the outside lanai were also full.
Sister CC processed into Mass with flowers scattered before her. Her uncle, Franciscan Father Gene Wegner from South Bend, Ind., was one of the six priests concelebrating the Mass.
Following the Liturgy of the Word, Sister CC went through the Rite of Final Monastic Profession that included a declaration of intent, questioning, a solemn blessing and consecration, the blessing and reception of her religious ring, and a sign of peace with her fellow Benedictines.
Emotions overwhelmed her as she embraced community members.
Benedictine Father Michael Sawyer’s hug was particularly moving. He told her she’d done a beautiful job intoning her vows.
“That’s when I started crying,” Sister CC said, “because he’s almost like a father figure and my dad’s deceased. So that was kind of a real special moment for me.”
In his homily, community superior Father David Barfknecht said that just like a family is not perfect, the Benedictine family is also flawed. However, he added, people should not have to feel they “have to run away from that reality.”
“We don’t eliminate the imperfect in our lives,” Father Barfknecht said. “We’re left to respond to the human condition with faith.”
After Mass, Sister CC greeted well-wishers bearing leis, cards and flowers for a half hour. Her adopted dog Joicie, who had slept behind her chair during the Mass, hovered about her feet.
The celebration continued for the rest of the afternoon at St. Michael Parish Hall in Waialua with food, music, and entertainment. About 200 more people showed up there who were not able to attend the Mass due to limited space.
Sister CC said that, by the end of the reception, she had lei piled up so high that she could barely see. After she danced a hula “for my husband” Jesus, Sister CC gave away her lei as she went around thanking everyone.
The Benedictine said she is so grateful to everyone who helped with music, food, decorations, favors, entertainment, and airline passes for Mainland and neighbor island relatives.
Sister CC is one of five sisters, three priests and one brother in Hawaii’s Benedictine community. There are also about 30 active oblates, or lay members.