Photo courtesy of Lauren Wong
From left, Gwen Mitsui, Kathy Phillips, Wally Mitsui, Albert Phillips, Lauren Wong, Hazel Wong, Bishop Larry Silva, Bill McPeek, Flo McPeek, Clarence DeCaires and Violet DeCaires in St. John Vianney Church.
Two decades of ‘deaconing’ recalled with food, liturgy and camaraderie
By Lauren Wong | Special to the Herald
Five permanent deacons and their wives from the third diaconate class of the Diocese of Honolulu celebrated their 20th anniversary of ordination last month with four days of merriment that included lots of eating, socializing, historical activities, reminiscing and, of course, the celebration of the Mass.
Wally and Gwen Mitsui, Lauren and Hazel Wong, Bill and Flo McPeek, Clarence and Violet DeCaires, and Albert and Kathy Phillips began the reunion on July 26 with Mass at St. John Vianney Church in Kailua followed by breakfast and a Pearl Harbor tour of the Arizona Memorial, the Bowfin and the Missouri. A relaxed and genial seven-course meal at PahKe’s in Kaneohe ended day one.
The next couple of days included an Iolani Palace tour, the crab and prime rib buffet at Shogun’s, and a dinner cruise aboard the Star of Honolulu followed by a Zippy’s stop.
The celebration ended with Mass on Sunday, July 29, at St. John Vianney Church celebrated by Bishop Larry Silva and the pastor Father Thomas Gross. Lunch followed with pupus and wine, and remembrances of two members of the class who have died. The original class, ordained on June 15, 1987, had 13 deacons. Some were unable to attend the reunion, others have moved away.
The extended weekend of camaraderie ended with the question, “When is our next celebration, which was either a good sign of people wanting more, or a perception that the years are not getting any longer.