Chaminade University of Honolulu

Catholic

Students Mark Confirmation Ceremony

On the Sunday following Easter, members of the University community gathered to celebrate the spiritual journeys of six Catholic Chaminade students as they received the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Fr. Christopher Wittmann, S.M., director of Campus Ministry at Chaminade, said the six students started meeting weekly in October with faculty members and staff who served as their catechists. They then received Confirmation at a Mass on April 27 at the Mystical Rose Oratory.

The six are: Lance Carlo, AJ Dahlk, Theresa Fabian, Soso Hayes, Mimi Smith and Brenna White.

A seventh student, Dilubech Hideyos, received Confirmation at a separate Mass on Kauai.

Never miss a post! Follow Chaminade University on Facebook and Instagram.

Confirmation, which with Baptism and First Communion is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation into the Catholic Church, “calls upon the Holy Spirit to fill the person with the gifts of the spirit; to seal and strengthen them in their journey of Christian discipleship,” Wittmann explained, adding that Honolulu Bishop Larry Silva delegates administration of Confirmation to priest pastors during the liturgical Season of Easter.

Wittmann said the students, working with their catechists, “studied the core beliefs and practices of the Catholic faith, prayed together and discussed church teaching and their own faith journeys.”

Hideyos went through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults process, receiving all three Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil Mass at Immaculate Conception Parish Confirmation on Kauai.

Connor Torres, a young adult member of the Mystical Rose Oratory worshipping community, also received Confirmation with the six Chaminade students.

Brenna White, set to graduate in 2028 with a bachelor’s degree in Nursing, said receiving Confirmation at the Mystical Rose Oratory represented a significant rite of passage in her life.

“When I was a little girl, I went to church back home on Maui, getting baptized as a baby and attending Sunday classes to prepare for my First Communion,” she said. “Life got busy, and we became preoccupied with other things so we stopped going to church regularly. Participating in Confirmation now feels important to me because it reconnects me with my faith foundation.”

She added, “Even though I drifted away from it for a while, it’s always been a part of me. It represents a fresh commitment and a personal decision to grow in my relationship with God.”

White said after graduation she hopes to return to Maui to begin her career as a nurse.

“Through my time at Chaminade and my involvement in the Church, I’ve come to recognize that caring for others is the gift God has given me,” she said. “I hope to continue growing both professionally and personally, leaning on the values of faith and community.”

“I’m excited to give back to my community and use my gift to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Being involved in the church while at Chaminade has really taught me to take things one day at a time. College can feel overwhelming sometimes with everything going on, but my faith has reminded me that it’s OK to slow down, breathe and trust that things will work out.”

Chaminade Mourns Passing of Pope Francis

A message from Chaminade President Lynn Babington, Ph.D.:


Chaminade University of Honolulu joins with communities around the islands and the globe in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis on Easter Monday.

Pope Francis was a defender of the marginalized, an inspirational advocate for our Earth, and a beacon of hope to people from all walks of life. He will be greatly missed.

Pope Francis also challenged us to give of ourselves to ease the suffering of our neighbors and underscored the responsibility we all have to use our skills to make the world a better place for everyone. He believed fiercely in the transformative power of education to lift communities, and leaves us with a legacy of service and selflessness.

Prayers for Pope Francis will be offered at various events on campus this week, and we invite you to join us.

In his writings, addresses, and homilies, Pope Francis encouraged us to be people of hope, reconciliation and mercy. Those attributes are needed in our world at this time. We are grateful for his guidance, wisdom and compassion, and know he will continue to serve as an inspiration.

Newest Diaconate Formation Cohort Welcomed

Thirty-six Chaminade students received a warm welcome on campus recently as they prepare to embark on a journey that is as much spiritual as it is scholarly.

The students are part of the newest diaconate formation cohort at Chaminade.

Together, they’ll pursue a Permanent Diaconate Education Certificate—designed to provide the academic preparation required to serve as a deacon or deacon’s wife in the Catholic Church.

Fifteen members of the cohort are simultaneously pursuing bachelor’s degrees in Religious Studies while 12 are seeking a Master’s in Pastoral Theology from Chaminade.

A special orientation event March 15 on Chaminade’s campus offered cohort members an opportunity to learn from one another as they also learn about the program—and the academic pathway they’ll take as they build a strong foundation in Scripture studies and theology.

Attendees included Allan and May Kuaana, who are seeking the diaconate certificate.

Never miss a post! Follow Chaminade University on Facebook and Instagram.

“I am attending the Diaconate Program because, yes, it is a requirement for formation. But more importantly, it’s part of a deeper response to a greater calling,” Allan Kuaana said.

“This is where I believe God is asking me to be at this very moment.”

May Kuaana added, “I am here to walk with and support my husband in this journey of faith. This is not just his calling, it’s something we are living together—each day, one step at a time.”

Cohort members Brandon and Katherine Perea are also pursuing the master’s in Pastoral Theology. The couple said the orientation offered them new insight into the Marianists and their work to serve marginalized communities. “In this way, Chaminade’s spirituality embodies what it means to be a deacon—so it’s fitting our diocese facilitates our formation here,” they said.

The couple said they are looking to help others and expand their service to the community.

“I think I speak for everyone in the formation program when I say we are filled with a restless love for our Church and our community,” Brandon Perea said.


“Growing in relationship with Christ has resulted in this sensitivity to suffering around us. After the Mass, nothing makes us feel closer to Christ than helping others overcome physical, emotional, or spiritual barriers between them and God.”

Dustyn Ragasa, Ph.D., director of the master’s in Pastoral Theology program, said the cohort is among the biggest in recent memory. “Participants come from all walks of life,” he said. “Some are older and some are younger. Some are longtime residents and some are in the military.”

He noted the orientation, which included introductions from Chaminade President Lynn Babington and Marianist leaders, offered an opportunity for cohort members to feel like they’re a part of the Chaminade ‘ohana. It also gave them tools they’ll need as they embark on their studies.

For example, participants learned about the library resources available at Chaminade.

Ragasa said he was heartened to see the latest diaconate formation so full—including with younger parents. “It’s a full house,” he said. “I think the pandemic and everything that’s happened since has really encouraged people to slow down a little and ask, ‘What does it mean to live a flourishing life?’ People want to give to others in meaningful sorts of ways,” he said.

He said while the cohort members will be learning together, the graduate students will take leadership roles as part of their academic work. And ultimately, he added, all of them will serve in leadership roles in their parishes. “Seeing a new cohort come in, especially one with so many younger participants, gives me a sense of hope in the best of our faith tradition,” he said.

“At the end of the day, somebody who graduates from our program might be ministering to someone I know, comforting someone I care about. They’re going to be there for people in our community.”

New Executive Director Appointed For Marianist Universities Association

Allison Leigh, director of Marianist strategies at the University of Dayton in Ohio, has been appointed the new executive director of the Association of Marianist Universities.

Her term begins July 1.

She will be the first woman and first lay Marianist woman to serve as executive director.

Because the AMU executive director position was expanded to full-time, Leigh will leave her current role but remain on the University of Dayton’s campus.

She will succeed Bro. Tom Giardino, S.M., who is stepping down after nine years to pursue other Marianist priorities.

As director of Marianist strategies at the University of Dayton, Leigh built strong relationships across the three Marianist universities—Chaminade, St. Mary’s in Texas and UD—including through her work with the Marianist Educational Associates program.

She also previously served as the University of Dayton’s campus minister for retreats and assistant director for retreats and faith communities.

Leigh received her master’s degree in pastoral ministry and doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Dayton, with her research focusing on how students experience the Catholic and Marianist mission.

Never miss a post! Follow Chaminade University on Facebook and Instagram.

Leigh earned her bachelor’s degree at Xavier University and then spent a year of service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. Her experience led her to consider a career in campus ministry.

Leigh said she’s thrilled to continue being part of a mission that has inspired her to live her faith more deeply.

“Since first meeting the Marianists at UD in 2003, I have known Catholic and Marianist higher education offers a contribution to our society the world desperately needs,” Leigh said.

“It is a profound honor to take on this new role and collaborate with faculty, staff, and students who embody this mission in their work, every day, across all three Marianist universities. I have been blessed and deeply formed in my own faith and values by those who have done this important work, and am thrilled to carry it forward.”

The Association of Marianist Universities is a ministry of the Marianist Province of the United States to support, promote and advance Marianist higher education through cooperation among the three universities.

Chaminade President Lynn Babington said, “We’re thrilled Allison has accepted this leadership role with AMU. Her passion for empowering faculty, staff and students and students to animate and embody the mission through their individual and collective roles and her love for facilitating programs that help people grow in their formation are so important in our university communities.”

Photo Gallery: Father Chaminade Lei Draping Ceremony

A lei draping ceremony and prayer service Friday at the Father Chaminade statue on Chaminade’s Front Lawn officially kicked off Founders’ Week.

The week celebrates the founders of the Marianist Family, Father Chaminade, Mother Adele, and Marie-Thérèse de Lamourous.


Chaminade students, faculty and staff came together for the special ceremony, aimed at honoring not only the founders themselves but their important message of social justice and educational growth.

Founders’ Week events continue next week with a Founders’ Day Mass and ceremony to celebrate this year’s Heritage Award honorees, recognized for their contributions to fostering the Marianist spirit on campus. The event is set for Wednesday, starting at 11:30 a.m., and will be followed by a lunch. For more details, click here.

Never miss a post! Follow Chaminade University on Facebook and Instagram.

Chaminade Rector Prepares for New Adventure

Bro. Edward Brink, S.M. is the Vice President for Mission and Rector at Chaminade, but he prefers a simpler title: Teacher. These days, while he spends less time in the classroom, he still looks for every opportunity to counsel and advise students on campus or in the community.

So it is of little surprise that Brink says what he’ll miss the most about Chaminade when he takes on a new role with the Marianist Province of the US this summer is mentoring students at all stages of their academic careers, from freshman year to graduation day.

“I really like being able to introduce myself to young people and try to help them make connections about what they’re doing and why they’re doing it,” Brink said. “It will be that regular contact with students that I will miss the most. That ability to guide and inspire.”

Brink has been selected to serve as Director of Novices for the Marianist Province of the United States, a role that requires him to relocate to Dayton, Ohio. He plans to wrap up his work at Chaminade by June 2025. And while he is looking forward to his next adventure, he is also sad to be leaving a place and a university ’ohana that has meant so much to him.

Brink joined Chaminade in July 2016, after previously serving on the Board of Regents.

Never miss a post! Follow Chaminade University on Facebook and Instagram.

He recalls that when he first started, his office was undergoing renovations so he was temporarily located in what is now the tutoring center, known as Kokua Ike. The placement gave Brink an early advantage—a chance to meet students throughout the day and hear directly from them.

“It was a great way to ease into it,” Brink said.

But before long, Brink was hitting the ground running, including as part of the welcoming committee for the University’s 10th president, Dr. Lynn Babington. She officially took on the role in August 2017, and Brink helped organize a tour for her to visit O’ahu sites that are important to Marianist and Chaminade history. Stops included ’Iolani Palace and the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, plus the original home along Nu’uanu Stream of Saint Louis School.

Bro. Edward Brink, SM

Babington so enjoyed the tour that she encouraged Brink to make it available to new faculty.

And so he did—and even got interest from longtime employees.

“Many people who have lived in Hawai’i for years told me that it was their first time visiting ’Iolani Palace”—and learning about the important history of Marianists in the islands, Brink said. “It really is about helping history come alive, just getting a bigger sense of everything.”

Brink said the tours are designed to help participants reflect on Chaminade’s mission, connecting important dots, including the importance of ensuring access for all students.

Before joining Chaminade, Brink served as Assistant for Education for the Marianist Province of the US, assisting Marianist universities and high schools nationwide. He began his career in education in 1985, teaching at Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School in Dayton.

At Chaminade, despite his busy schedule, Brink couldn’t stay out of the classroom. He has taught several sections of CUH100, Chaminade’s First Year Experience Seminar. He also led the Chaminade Scholars Program. The scholars are students chosen because of their strong academic background, their commitment to service to the community and their desire to continue to grow in their faith while attending Chaminade University.

And he has spearheaded the Marianist Educational Associate program at Chaminade, which seeks to inspire members of the faculty and staff to become stewards of Marianist values and the University’s mission.

Brink says while he’ll be leaving Chaminade, he will remain in the Silversword ’ohana and expects to maintain many of the relationships he has formed while in the islands. And he is also looking forward to his new role, which requires him to once again put on his teaching hat as he seeks to lead novices through a rigorous journey of reflection and spiritual development.

“There are people who are coming up to me and saying, ‘You can’t go!’” Brink said.

“It’s not that I want to go but I remember very clearly that part of my exploration of Marianist life was hearing stories about brothers who got to do really cool jobs and multiple cool jobs. Some brothers stay and do the same job, but the ones who caught my attention were people who did different things in different places. So I feel this is God’s way of reminding me of one of the things that made me want to be a Marianist.”