On Friday afternoon, Oct. 6, Brother John Haster and I drove to the Vallombrosa Conference Center in nearby Menlo Park for the weekend meeting of the Directors of Marianist Communities. This was the first time I had attended one of these meetings since moving to Maui, but this is also the first time that we Marianists on Maui are considered an official community, that is, one with three or more Marianists. The great value of these meetings, I believe, is the interaction of all the Directors among themselves and with the members of the Provincial Council. After the meeting I stayed on to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar on Oct. 12 with the Villa Saint Joseph Community and make more visits.

When I returned to Maui on the Oct. 13, I was once again the only priest at Saint Anthony’s until Father Ray Malley returned on the afternoon of Oct. 18. At 5:30 as we gathered for evening prayer, I experienced my first TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack). These “mini-strokes” were common occurrences among the Brothers during my years at Villa Saint Joseph, but this was a surprise attack for me – and hardly the kind of “Welcome Home” party that we had planned for Father Ray! Brother Jim Vorndran promptly donned his “Health Center Director” hat, took my blood pressure and insisted that we go to the hospital. So the three of us went to Maui Memorial Medical Center and for the first time I was a patient instead of a visiting chaplain. I was impressed by the service both in the Emergency Room and later upstairs where I was taken for overnight observation.

After many tests I was released the following day with the usual directives. My blood pressure is stabilized now but the medication to regulate this makes me less alert than usual.

I consider the TIA a great gift. I have now definitely entered a new phase in my life where I find the gospel passages about being prepared for the final call so much more meaningful! I feel fine and I continue my morning walks and take care of the usual calls for consultations, blessings and the sacraments. Since I am still going through tests, the doctor asked me to forego the meeting of the Province Committee on Peace and Justice that is scheduled for early November in San Antonio.

On Oct. 21, two deacons from Georgia, Robert Herrmann and Edward Ensley, arrived to conduct our parish mission. They gave the homilies for the weekend masses preceding the mission. Since I had the Saturday evening mass and the first mass of Sunday morning I was able to hear the same homily given first by Deacon Edward and then by Deacon Robert. It was fascinating to hear the same presentation in two entirely different styles! The mission began in earnest Monday evening and continued Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, culminating in a reconciliation service for which we had engaged a number of priests from neighboring parishes to help us. The mission was certainly a special time of grace for many in our parish community. And, as always, Nona Iwata and the members of her committee handled all the details smoothly.

The Diocese of Honolulu requires a Mass Count during the month of October. Our ushers meticulously counted the number of adults and children at all the masses each weekend and reported that an average of 1,312 attends the four masses: Saturday at 5 p.m., Sunday at 7 a.m., 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. This number is almost the same as the count the past two years – proof of the stability Father Ray has established here.

Earlier in the month Brother John Campbell came over from Honolulu to attend a meeting of the Saint Anthony High School board. He was able to spend some time with us as well and enjoyed preparing dinner for us before returning to Oahu. Meanwhile, the Maui News reported that once again Maui was voted by the Conde Nast Traveler magazine as the “Best Island in the World.” Besides keeping a watchful eye on me, Brother Jim Vorndran continues to explore “Maui Revealed” – making more discoveries daily – and, more importantly, becoming more and more knowledgeable of the schools and parish.

Be assured I am with you in thought and prayer, with a special remembrance for our departed as we go through the month of November.

ST