By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Deacon Modesto Cordero, who as director of the diocesan Office of Worship led Hawaii’s clergy and lay worshippers through the complexities of pandemic-safe liturgical protocols, is leaving the islands with his wife Nydia Aileen at the end of May for a new home and new job in southern California.
“It is with a lot of mixed feelings that we decided to take this step,” Deacon Cordero told the Hawaii Catholic Herald.
“We do have great friendships and wonderful jobs in Hawaii, but the opportunity came to us and I couldn’t say no,” he said. “It’s been our dream to be closer to our daughters and grandson and it seems that the Lord is clearing our path at this time.”
The deacon has accepted the position of director of the Office of Worship in the Diocese of Orange.
“We will miss Deacon Modesto very much,” said Bishop Larry Silva in his announcement of the deacon’s resignation Feb. 25. “He has done an outstanding job in directing the episcopal liturgies in our diocese and assisting the parishes in their liturgical needs.”
“He has been particularly helpful during the pandemic, spending many hours researching how we can continue to worship while observing necessary protocols of hygiene,” he said. “We are most grateful for his faithful and dedicated service.”
The Cordero family — Modesto and Nydia Aileen plus daughters Frances, Natalia and Cristina and cocker spaniel Brandy — arrived in Hawaii on Jan. 6, 1992. (The Epiphany, noted the liturgist.)
He was in the U.S. Army and assigned to the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks. He left the Army in March 1995 and remained in the islands, taking a federal civilian job at Schofield. During that time, he trained for the permanent diaconate. Bishop Silva ordained him a deacon on Feb. 9, 2007. He currently is assigned to St. John Apostle and Evangelist Church, Mililani.
Deacon Cordero was already working part-time for the diocese as the diocesan faith formation coordinator when the bishop named him director of the Office of Worship on Sept. 15, 2012.
“It has been my desire to move to California to be closer to my family,” the deacon said. “We have been ‘empty nesters’ for over 13 years.”
He put the word out that he was looking for a similar job in California. When one opened up in the Diocese of Orange, he applied and was hired.
Leaving will be hard.
“Hawaii is home for us,” he said. “We fell in love with the islands because it reminded us so much of our beloved Puerto Rico, where we are from. Our children grew up here and we have great memories. I will miss the relationships, friendships and family I gained.”
“And it is here where I nourished my desire to follow the vocation of the diaconate and to serve the people of God in a different capacity,” he said. “I will be forever grateful to the leadership, mentoring, care and love of our bishop. He has been truly a shepherd to me.”
Bishop Silva said he will soon begin the process of seeking Deacon Cordero’s successor.