Priest returns to ministry after 10 years
Father Stephen Macedo, a Catholic Diocese of Honolulu priest who left the ministry 10 years ago, was accepted back into the ranks of active clergy by Bishop Larry Silva this month, says a story in the Hawaii Catholic Herald.
Macedo, 51, will be the parochial vicar of Annunciation Parish in Waimea on Hawaii island beginning July 1. After a year of mentoring by Father Robert Schwarzhaupt, pastor of Annunciation and Sacred Heart Church in Hawi, Macedo will be elevated to pastor, though Schwarzhaupt will remain pastor of the Waimea Parish, the Herald said.
After moving to Hawaii in 1989 from California, Macedo was ordained in 1993 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa. His first assignment was as an associate pastor at St. John Apostle and Evangelist Parish in Mililani. He was pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Naalehu and of Holy Rosary Parish in Pahala when he resigned in early 2003.
Macedo said he left the priesthood because he felt lonely and alone after most of the priests in his "support group" had been assigned to Oahu, the Herald article said. He also said he was also "demoralized" by the clergy sex abuse scandal that had erupted on the mainland.
For the past 10 years, Macedo lived mostly in Kau and was assigned as a firefighter or emergency medical technician at fire stations in Honokaa, Hilo, Pahoa and Ocean View.
He said he spoke to Silva about a year ago about returning to the priesthood. There were no canonical impediments blocking him from coming back, and he had never married.
"I missed preaching, being part of sharing the good news," Macedo said. "I missed celebrating the Eucharist and sacraments. I missed most of all being part of a parish community."
He added, "My aunt, my godmother and a cousin died while I was gone, and it pained me not to be able to preside at their funeral liturgies and was hard on my family. I think I kind of knew all along I would come back some day."
1,400 expected at Obon at Pali temple
Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin expects more than 1,400 people at its annual Obon festival Friday and June 29 from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. The temple is at 1727 Pali Highway.
Obon is a Buddhist festival that honors departed loved ones and is a time for expressing gratitude for their influence on their descendants’ lives, a news release said.
"Obon is a time for awakening to the interconnectedness of all life and for appreciating the love and compassion our loved ones gave to us in order to make our lives possible in the present. For these profound gifts, we celebrate our loved ones and dance in joy," said the Rev. Tatsuo Muneto, the Hongwanji’s head minister.
There will be chili, waffle hot dogs, stew and andagi (Japanese doughnuts), among other favorites; live music; children’s kimono dressing and picture taking; a "Bontique" thrift store of all things Japanese; and traditional minyo dances in which everyone may participate.
The festival will showcase youth taiko drumming, with the Hawaii Betsuin Dharma School Taiko opening the festivities at 6 p.m. A short service will follow and dancing begins at 6:30 p.m. The Honolulu Fukushima Bon Dance Club, Iwakuni Bon Dance Club and Hawaii Eisa Shinyukai will also perform.
