Postscript …
Here are some additional thoughts on recent stories in the Hawaii Catholic Herald.
HOPE Services delivers
This is by Carol Ignacio, the Big Island’s founding director, now retired, of the diocesan Office for Social Ministry, on the Oct. 16 story “A decade inspiring hope,” about HOPE Services Hawaii’s 10th anniversary. The church-affiliated non-profit battles homelessness on Hawaii Island.
What has impressed me the most about HOPE Services Hawaii is that its leadership has not fallen into mission drift — away from its commitment to care for the most vulnerable in our communities. Many organizations chase money and stray from the mission. HOPE Services has stayed true to the mission. When times are hard and money is tight, this is a challenge. But as its 10th anniversary is upon us — its true mission lives on.
Another important thing is HOPE’s leadership with Brandee Menino. She is a strong, smart, committed, dedicated leader who has always been able to surround herself with a team that shares the organization’s values (and hers). From day one when I hired her for the Office for Social Ministry, one of her strongest qualities has been that she never forgets why we exist and who we serve. She is as comfortable with those in the trenches as she is with national and local top guns. This is rare for leaders in my opinion.
HOPE is successful because Brandee delivers. She walks the talk. People recognize this very quickly and hold HOPE and its team with the highest esteem and respect. HOPE is credible because Brandee is credible. She lives and maintains a “can-do attitude” that is contagious. She is tough, fair and empathic and one can quickly recognize a team that resonates with these qualities.
HOPE is recognized nationally and locally as the homeless provider that the government, other nonprofits and the community “go to” — without exception and without question — as making a difference with the population it serves.
It is with much gratitude and blessings to have the privilege and honor to be part of HOPE since its inception and throughout these 10 years. Our Lord continues to bless this work and will continue to for the next 10 years … or beyond. That’s for sure.
Grateful for former years
This is by retired diocesan priest Father Dennis Koshko commenting on the article, “Diocese’s retired priests are a diverse group,” that appeared in the Hawaii Catholic Herald’s Oct. 30 issue.
Great article about us retired priests. Yes, we have had a lot of varied experiences. Like Father Pat Freitas, I have found much of my retirement limited because of my Parkinson’s disease. Now I seem to concentrate my prayers for those who suffer the same.
But I am grateful for the former years I spent in active ministry as a parish priest at St. John’s in Mililani while serving as a part-time chaplain at St. Francis Hospital and as a chaplain with the Honolulu Police Department. I served at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in the capacity of a parish priest, as a teacher at Damien High School, and a chaplain for Queen’s Hospital.
It was during my four years at the cathedral, that Bishop John J. Scanlan offered me yet another opportunity, that of serving as a chaplain in the U.S. Naval Reserve, which developed into a full-time role for the next 10 years.
After some very careful discernment, I returned to Hawaii to serve as a parish priest at Our Lady of Lourdes in Honokaa. I stayed there for the next six years. My next assignment, St. Anthony of Padua in Kailua, was to last for 14 years. From there, I was transferred to Holy Trinity in East Honolulu for the next six years. For medical reasons, I retired to One Archer Lane when I reached 70.
It has been a wonderful adventure.