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2019 Hawaii Catholic Teacher of the Year

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Ernest Mendoza notoriously puts his students first.

In his 27-year tenure for St. Anthony School in Maui, one of our sister Marianist institutions, he has impacted the lives of countless students. Whether it’s staying late to help a student on an assignment, inspiring students to find their faith in God or coming in on a weekend to fix things around campus, his legacy runs deep.

He was a natural choice for this year’s Teacher of the Year award, presented by Chaminade University and Hawaii Catholic Schools. 

Ernest Mendoza accepting his check for Hawaii Catholic Schools teacher of the year

“When we looked at Mr. Mendoza’s commitment to his students and service to his school, and the incredible testimonials we received from his students, alumni and colleagues, it was clear he deserved this award,” says Dale Fryxell, dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Chaminade University and member of the selection committee. “Mr. Mendoza exemplifies everything that this award stands for—a celebration of the effect teachers have on the lives of their students.”

Mendoza received the $1,000 award, made possible by the generous support of John and Mary Lou Brogan, at the annual Hawaii Catholic Schools Recognition Luncheon on May 22. 

Our own Dr. Helen Turner, dean of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and vice president of innovation at Chaminade University, was the event’s keynote speaker. She addressed the audience about innovation in Catholic schools.

A sincere thank you to Hawaii Catholic Schools for making these accolades possible. We look forward to our continued collaboration and partnership.

From Student to Servant: Chaminade Graduates Commit to a Year of Service in Ohio

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In May, Chaminade University celebrated the graduating class of 2019. Degree in hand, most graduates will go on to secure jobs and begin their careers. Others will continue to pursue higher education through graduate school. And a few will put their professional endeavors on hold and dedicate their post-graduate life to service.

Claire Riggan and Andrew Ines, 2019 Chaminade graduates, are part of the few.

Claire Riggan and Andrew Ines

At the end of July, Riggan and Ines will say goodbye to friends and family for a year of unknown challenges and transformative experiences in Dayton, Ohio, as volunteers in the Marianist Partners in Urban Leadership, Service and Education (PULSE) program.

PULSE is a post-graduate initiative geared toward graduates with a desire to grow as servant leaders, learn about social justice issues and positively impact an urban community. Volunteers commit to one or two years of service to a local Dayton nonprofit organization where they gain real-world experience in their field of study while being immersed in the community they’re aiding.

“To be able to serve the community, it’s best if you live in the community,” Ines said.

This is the first time the 22-year-old Kalihi native will be living away from home and he couldn’t be more excited. Ines and Riggan will be living in intentional community with 8-12 other PULSE volunteers, most of whom they don’t yet know from the two other Marianist universities, St. Mary’s University and University of Dayton.

Ines first heard about PULSE through Campus Ministry in 2017 when two of his friends from Chaminade were participating in the program. After hearing about the impact that they were making on the Dayton community and gaining first-hand insight into the program, Ines knew that when his senior year came along, he would apply.

“I’m most excited to learn about other people and social issues that are being dealt with in Dayton, just to broaden my perspective on the world,” Ines said.

The business administration major and computer information sciences minor will be putting his degrees to good use at his nonprofit assignment, Brigid’s Path, where he will be volunteering full-time as a communications and marketing intern. Brigid’s Path is a recovery center for newborns suffering from opioid addiction, which is a common issue in Dayton. Ines’ primary roles will be to connect with donors and spread the word about Brigid’s Path through its website and social media.

In addition to working at their assigned nonprofits, Ines and the other PULSE volunteers are expected to share meals and meet for prayer, live in solidarity with the marginalized Dayton community, participate in a Marianist formation program held every week and share their experience with a spiritual mentor.

Ines hopes to walk away from his year in Dayton with a refined ability to empathize with others without any biases. He expects that his time at Brigid’s Path will help to solidify his future career goals, and is currently considering using his degree for community outreach once his year of service comes to a close.“When I bring the spirit of aloha from Hawaii to Ohio, I hope that people will get the chance to have their voices heard and people will get the chance to receive opportunities that they probably never thought they could,” Ines said.

St. John’s Bible Encourages Chaminade to Reimagine Faith

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The Saint John’s Bible is a theological and artistic masterpiece commissioned in 1998 by a group of Benedictine monks in Minnesota and led by renowned calligrapher Donald Jackson. Imitating the grand manuscripts produced in Medieval times, the St. John’s Bible was hand-written and hand-illuminated by a team of six scribes and six illuminators, using vellum (calfskin), quills and ink from minerals and plants.

People viewing the St. John's Bible

The project was estimated to take three to four years and cost a few million dollars to complete. But only after 12 years and approximately $13-15 million was the bible finished.

Currently, there are 299 sets of 7 volumes of the St. John’s Bible in existence. Through the generosity of Joanna Sullivan, a loyal benefactor of Chaminade University, one of these copies has been on display in the Sullivan Family Library since June 2010.

Although the St. John’s Bible, based on the New Revised Standard Version, has been accessible to the Chaminade community for the last nine years, no one at Chaminade has had the training to explain it or teach on it. But during the week of March 11, Chaminade welcomed Bob O’Connor, Ph.D., from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, whose roles are project director of the St. John’s Bible Heritage Edition and university ombudsman.

Throughout his visit, O’Connor led three sessions in which he helped attendees understand how the sacred art found in the St. John’s Bible can transform lives. O’Connor began each session with a lecture-style presentation and concluded by allowing attendees to ask questions while they viewed the bible. The on-campus sessions were open to the entire Chaminade community.

O’Connor explained that the ultimate goal of the St. John’s Bible is to “ignite the spiritual imagination of the world,” which he believes occurs when people look at the volumes.

One of the unique aspects of the St. John’s Bible is that the illuminations include modern-day events, technologies and discoveries in a way that celebrates science and connects it to religion.

For example, weaved throughout the Psalms Frontispiece are oscillograms, recorded lines of sound, taken from ancient chants of cultures from around the world. O’Connor noted that Jackson chose to do this because the Psalms are intended to be sung, not read.

Sower and the Seed from St. John's Bible

In addition to the Psalms, other illuminations that O’Connor touched upon in his presentation included Creation, Garden of Eden, Sower and the Seed, Eucharist, The Life of Paul, Anthology of Luke and Genealogy of Jesus.

A theme that remains constant throughout the entire bible is flecks of gold scattered across the illuminations and texts. According to O’Connor, gold—which doesn’t oxidize—signifies the presence of the divine, meaning the presence of God.

Brother Edward Brink, vice president for mission and rector, hopes that by inviting O’Connor to Chaminade to teach about the St. John’s Bible will help members of the Chaminade community become more imaginative about their faith.

“[The St. John’s Bible] has the possibility of capturing imagination and making a link for both our students, our faculty and staff to the basis of this university,” says Bro. Ed. “I think it could open doors and windows for people to think about and imagine our faith in a different way.”

This reimagining of faith already seems to be happening on campus. Bro. Ed says that roughly 40 people attended the first session of the week, many of which were students participating in Campus Ministry’s Awakening Retreat. According to Bro. Ed, two of those students were intrigued to learn more and were among the 20-25 people who attended the second session.

In addition to the three public sessions, O’Connor also visited two Chaminade classes during his trip—Christian Prayer and Gospel of John and Poetry and Drama. He also presented at six religion classes at St. Louis School and ended his week on Friday with a private presentation for Bishop Larry Silva and a presentation to the young adults from EPIC Ministry.

Bro. Ed hopes that now, people at Chaminade will be inspired to become trained on the St. John’s Bible or that the university can continue to bring people like O’Connor in so that informational sessions like these can happen on a regular basis.

“It can be a very creative way of helping people to understand their faith,” Bro. Ed said. “I’m a big believer that part of what God wants us to do is to imagine. He wants us to think beautifully, He wants us to use the creation that He’s given us to understand who He is more, and I think that the artwork is part of that.”

2019 Heritage Awards

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Three members of the Chaminade ‘ohana were honored at a special mass on January 23, 2019 as part of the annual Heritage Awards. Each year, Chaminade University recognizes three individuals who exemplify the Marianist tradition on campus and live and share Marianist ideals. This year’s award winners were Sister Malia Wong, O.P, Riu Jiang Huang and Savannah Delos Santos.

Dr. Babingtong with Sr. Malia WongThe Chaminade Award is given each year to a faculty or staff member who exhibits a continuous commitment to Marianist values. This year’s recipient, Sr. Malia Wong, is a Chaminade alumna and has been a senior lecturer in religious studies at Chaminade University for over 18 years. In addition to teaching classes, Sr. Malia also creates an All Things Marianist video series, documents plants and trees on campus and their natural medicinal properties and makes regular visits to individuals in the hospital—to name just a few.

Dr. Babington with Riu Jiang HuangRiu Jiang Huang, this year’s recipient of the Marianist Award, has been an electrician at Chaminade for over 20 years. There is no obstacle too big for Riu. He constantly finds creative solutions to problems, approaches every individual with a smile and communicates the spirit of faith, service and commitment in all that he does. Riu is known for his ability to bring laughter and joy and expressing his kindness through actions.

Dr. Babington with Savannah Delos SantosThe Founder’s Award is presented each year to a student who has exhibited a spirit of faith, demonstrated a commitment to Marianist values and served as a role model for the Chaminade community. Savannah Delos Santos was the well-deserved recipient this year. She is an active participant in Campus Ministry, was a member of the university’s strategic planning task force, is a participant in the Hogan Entrepreneurial Program, interned for a fashion designer and helped plan a national conference. Her enthusiastic willingness to embrace every opportunity that is presented to her indicates both her faith and her response to God’s call.

 

 

Congratulations and mahalo to our three award-winners! We are blessed and honored to have your unique gifts as part of our campus community.

Cardinal Turkson Visits Campus

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Cardinal Peter TurksonOn January 15, Chaminade University was pleased to welcome Cardinal Peter Turkson at Mystical Rose Oratory as part of his larger Hawaii visit. Cardinal Peter Turkson is a top Vatican official and advisor to Pope Francis. He has been appointed by Pope Francis as the first Prefect of the new Dicastery for promoting Integral Human Development.

The Cardinal spoke to Chaminade students, faculty and staff about climate change, labor and education in light of Catholic social teaching.

Cardinal Turkson grew up in Ghana in West Africa. His father was a carpenter and his mother grew vegetables. From a young age, his family instilled in him a deep relationship with the environment. We are all made from the earth’s elements, teaches Cardinal Turkson. God intended us to be co-creators of this earth, but somewhere along the way with consumerism and economic growth, we have become irresponsible co-creators.

Cardinal Peter TurksonCardinal Turkson advocated for a return to a tender relationship with creation. Our concept of labor and work need to be reviewed. Labor, he said, refers to the way we exercise our talents and creativity. It is an expression of our dignity. It is through tender, peaceful, creative work that we can create transformation and truly become God’s co-creators.

“The future of the world is not just in the hands of the politicians,” says Cardinal Turkson. “Change can come from each of us.”

The event was live-streamed on Chaminade University’s Facebook page. To watch Cardinal Turkson’s full talk, visit facebook.com/ChaminadeUniversity.

Putting Faith Into Action

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This past summer, Chaminade students Andrew Ancheta ‘21 and Edward Adachi ‘21 attended the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Student Ambassador Leaders Together (SALT) Summit 2018 Conference from July 15-18. Both students are currently CRS Student Ambassadors at Chaminade University of Honolulu through Campus Ministry.

Andrew AnchetaAt the CRS SALT Summit Andrew and Edward, along with students from 60 other colleges and universities, gathered in Baltimore, Maryland to meet other CRS Student Ambassadors, advisors and CRS staff and experts to build leadership skills rooted in CRS values and characteristics. The conference included advocacy training and preparation for advocacy meetings on Capitol Hill with the offices of Hawaii’s Senators and Representatives.

“My favorite part was when we actually went to talk to our senators and representatives of Hawaii,” says Andrew. “That really made me feel like I was putting my faith into action.”

Growing up Catholic, Andrew says the hardest part is incorporating his faith into everyday life. Through this conference he was able to exercise his faith by giving a voice to the people who do not have one. Advocacy is an important part of Catholicism that others do not realize.

“Anyone can help, regardless of their religion,” says Edward. “It’s about gathering everybody together and being aware of the issues happening around the world. Half of the problem is people not knowing.”

Newly baptised into Catholicism this past Easter season at Mystical Rose Oratory, Edward says that you can be whatever you are—Catholic, non-religious, etc.—and still contribute to the solution of current issues our world is facing. Sometimes that solution can be as small as educating people and bringing awareness to issues like climate change, homelessness or world hunger. Because, as people become more aware of the problem, they become a part of the solution.

“Eddie and I were so shocked to see how many students were passionate about making a difference,” says Andrew. “All of these people were so excited to speak on behalf of their state to continue supporting this organization that is making a huge difference in the lives of many different people.”

Brian Schatz, Maize Hirono and Colleen Hanabusa’s offices were all in favor of continuing to support what Catholic Relief Services provides to our global issues. CRS is most famous for their Lenten Rice Bowls. These rice bowls raise money for third-world countries to provide food and other services. “Andrew and I learned that CRS does more than just raising donations,” Edward says. “CRS provides the services and volunteers to be relief aids for countries affected by natural disasters, local disasters, wars and more.”

“A lot of people think that CRS just provides food for those in need,” says Andrew. “But CRS focuses more on eliminating the need for emergency services.” CRS helps people maintain their independence and stand on their own two feet.

Andrew Ancheta“Being from Hawaii, it was cool to get to see different perspectives from other students,” says Edward. “One student we met from Missouri is an environmental studies major, and the issues she hears about in Missouri are completely different from the issues we have in Hawaii.”

A big issue for the Pacific Islands is climate change and a big contributor is the pollution of plastic goods. Andrew and Edward’s friend from Missouri now sees that her actions in Missouri, like using and discarding plastic goods, contribute to the larger problem of climate change that may affect her friends in the Pacific. Andrew and Eddie also learned that the same goes for those of us who live in the Pacific—our actions could affect our friends on the U.S. mainland.

“The whole point of being a human is to help other humans,” says Andrew. “It doesn’t matter if you are Catholic. We are human and it is our duty to help other humans.”

As CRS Student Ambassadors at Chaminade University, Andrew and Edward want to start holding events on the Chaminade campus. “In a community, everyone has different roles,” says Andrew. They are both starting at the bottom first and planting the seeds for a bigger change in the future. Andrew says, “You cannot expect a tree to just grow out of nowhere without planting a seed first.”

One last thing that Andrew and Edward took away from the conference was the application of the Characteristics of Marianist Universities. At the CRS SALT Summit Conference, all the CRS Student Ambassadors worked for service, justice and peace. Andrew and Eddie brought their integral, quality education from Chaminade University and together worked with their fellow Ambassadors as one community to reach one goal in family spirit advocating to their state representatives for the Catholic Church to support Catholic Relief Services.

“The world is constantly changing,” Andrew says, “We were taught to keep up with changes in the world and to be aware of what is going on.” As CRS Student Ambassadors, Andrew and Edward have to adapt themselves to ensure people are constantly learning about our current world problems through whatever means necessary.
Finally, the four Marianist values above that Andrew and Edward exercised at the conference helped them in the fifth Marianist value: formation in faith. Edward says that, “This was a great experience and opportunity to get to see that what I learned here at Chaminade can be applied in a real-world situation.”