Sacred Hearts Father Johnathan Hurrell, 43, was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He and his younger two sisters and two brothers grew up there and in Tonga and Belgium. Hurrell got his college degree in organizational management and then worked in sales management at Telecom New Zealand. He met Hawaii Sacred Hearts Father Marisi Palepale in Tonga and he accepted his invitation to Hawaii in 1994 to continue his priesthood discernment. After getting a bachelor’s in religious studies from Chaminade in 1997, Hurrell completed the Sacred Hearts novitiate and graduated from Washington Theological Seminary. In 2005 he became the first priest ordained by Bishop Larry Silva. Father Hurrell served at St. Patrick Parish in Kaimuki before coming to his current parish of St. Michael Waialua in March 2007.

1. Who are your role models?

My Tongan grandparents, who had 13 children. I have memories of fishing with my grandfather and walking with my grandmother along dusty roads to morning Mass. My grandmother would tell me stories about saints like St. Teresa (her favorite) and St. Peter Chanel, and about Father Damien. I also admire my mom, who had a great love for children, was a teacher, a principal and a really hard worker.

2. What would you be if you weren’t a priest?

A pilot. I’ve always had a fascination with planes and still love watching them take off and land.

3. What’s your biggest challenge as a priest?

Tough superiors, who challenge you but in a good way. It’s recognizing that they are challenging you to be a better and more true religious.

4. Do you have a favorite book?

“The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, which I read when I was 12. The books are complex and fascinating, about how the persistent integrity of good overcomes the subtle evil lurking in human nature. I thought the recent movies were also brilliant.

5. How about TV shows?

I like “Hardball with Chris Matthews.” I just like the interaction and I think he’s fair, intelligent and it’s not just all sensationalism. I also like the National Geographic and History channels.

6. What do you like about your parish?

The school is great and it’s also a challenge because they don’t tell you how to be part of running one at seminary. I enjoy youth and young adult ministry. We just went on a three-day pilgrimage to Molokai, hiked down to Kalaupapa. I especially like doing homeless ministry with them. I enjoy being in the background at St. Michael’s, encouraging people in different ministries so they feel they can use their own gifts and talents in the wider community.

7. Why does homeless outreach appeal to you?

In Tonga, there’s no homeless because people live with extended families. It has its own challenges, but everyone is cared for. To see homelessness in Hawaii, which has a similar ohana feel as Tonga, it just seems wrong especially for children. You see the pain in the parents’ faces who want to care for their kids and it just gets to your heart. To heed Bishop’s “witness to Jesus” call, we need to see these people not just as statistics but as humans.

8. Do you have any hobbies?

I enjoy playing the piano, guitar,  tennis and golf, though I’m not very good at golf and it’s expensive. I played rugby in school but I busted up my knee.