Chaminade University of Honolulu

Catholic

Scholar: Catholic Bioethics Must Evolve

Dr. Therese Lysaught is an influential voice in Catholic healthcare

Dr. Therese Lysaught, professor at the Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics and Health Care Leadership at Loyola University Chicago, argues Catholic bioethics must embrace the fullness of the Catholic social tradition and pay more attention to ethical dimensions of healing that are relevant to people’s lives.

Addressing attendees at the latest Marianist Lecture, which was held Oct. 13 at the Mystical Rose Oratory, Lysaught also said a broadened Catholic bioethics has the ability to play a critical role in society.

In an introduction before the lecture, Chaminade’s Dr. Dustyn Ragasa applauded Lysaught’s encyclopedic knowledge of Catholic bioethics and the healthcare system while also praising her for a “big heart and unwavering compassion and commitment” to help patients.

Dr. Dustyn Ragasa praised Dr. Therese Lysault for her unwavering commitment to help the poor and ill.
Dr. Dustyn Ragasa praised Dr. Therese Lysault for her unwavering commitment to help the poor and ill.

“In her work, she holds theology, medicine, ethics and bioethics in profound dialogue,” said Ragasa, director of the Pastoral Theology master’s degree program.

“She’s addressed such issues as the anointing of the sick, gene therapy, genetics, human embryonic cell research, end of life, neuroscience, global health, bioethics and social justice.”

In her lecture, titled “Catholic Bioethics: Catholic Social Tradition and Human Flourishing,” Lysaught detailed three different healthcare scenarios: One involved a Guatemalan man with kidney failure, the second was an elderly Black suffering from end-stage congestive heart failure, and the third involved an 8-year-old gunshot victim.

“Open up any textbook or journal on Catholic bioethics and you will find no mention of such scenarios or of a myriad of similar issues,” Lysault said. “They don’t count as topics for Catholic bioethical analysis.”

Yet they need to be, she said.

Lysault added Catholic bioethics must incorporate a broader analysis of poverty, race and ethnicity.

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She also argued that the Catholic social tradition could help expand and re-orient Catholic bioethics around a foundation of caring for the sick and approaching the moral dimensions of health and medicine.

Lysault asserted the COVID pandemic exposed many bioethical questions like: How should few effective treatments, such as ventilators, be allocated to patients? How should scarce protective equipment be allocated among frontline healthcare workers? Could patients’ advance directives be overridden?

Dr. Therese Lysault was presented with a lei after Dr. Dustyn Ragasa introduced her to the audience.
Dr. Therese Lysault was presented with a lei from Emmalee Bugado after Dr. Dustyn Ragasa introduced her to attendees.

According to Lysault, there was nothing in the literature of Catholic bioethics to address these questions.

And four years later, she added, while secular bioethics has begun to attend to these questions, you’ll still find almost nothing in the Catholic bioethics literature about these issues.

Tackling questions such as these “will require the theoretical and practical tools of social analysis in the Catholic social tradition,” she concluded.

In her address, Lysaught also touched on a 2022 study in which researchers interviewed 10 kupuna from rural Hawaii communities about their experiences with healthcare barriers. When asked what advice they had for providers about how to improve healthcare for Native Hawaiians, the elders did not list the standard bioethical principles or any of the principles of Catholic bioethics, Lysault said.

“Rather, they appreciated providers who, to quote, ‘took the time to talk story and to get to know them as people and community members,’” Lysault said.

“They appreciated providers who shared information about themselves.”

At the end of her lecture, Lysault was presented with the Mackey Award for Catholic Thought, which honors scholarly, community and faith leaders whose body of work advances the spirit and educational mission of the Society of Mary and the Marianist Family.

Presenting her with an ‘umeke, Chaminade Student Engagement Coordinator Andrew Ancheta told Lysault the significance of the koa bowl in Hawaiian culture and remarked, “Today, you filled it with spiritual and intellectual food.”

Chaminade Convenes for Spiritual Convocation

The tradition celebrates ‘religious and spiritual roots’ of Chaminade life

One of the pillars that characterize a Marianist education is to educate for formation in faith. And there is perhaps no better example of this than during the Fall Spiritual Convocation.

A longstanding tradition at Chaminade, the Spiritual Convocation marks the beginning of the academic year, formally welcoming students, faculty and staff to the University community.

“It also affords the opportunity to ask for God’s blessing on our Chaminade ‘ohana as we come together as a community to live and learn,” said University President Lynn Babington.

“During this celebration, we take the time to pause and be mindful of each other.”

This sentiment of family spirit aligns with the Marianist approach to education, which seeks to nurture students’ unique talents and fosters a lifelong commitment to learning.

“Last Friday we took part in the Academic Convocation for this new academic year, emphasizing the hopes and aspirations, and taking our A‘a Pledge,” said Fr. Martin Solma S.M., during his sermon. “Today, fittingly, we touch upon the religious and spiritual roots of our University life.”

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During the Convocation, Bro. Ed Brink, Chaminade’s vice president of mission and rector, outlined the origins of the Marianist Educational Associates program. In 2005, representatives from Chaminade, the University of Dayton, and St. Mary’s University of San Antonio responded to a call from the Association of Marianist Universities Board to form a special partnership.

“This initiative invited lay collaborators to help sustain and renew the mission and identity of the universities, rooted in the Catholic and Marianist educational tradition,” Brink said.

“For students, faculty and staff who are new members of our community, it will give you another opportunity to learn about the rich traditions of the University.”

This past summer, seven Chaminade faculty and staff members participated in the MEA Formation in Dayton; the seven-day program involving readings, reflections and shared insights.

The MEA cohort includes:

  • Andrew Ancheta ’21, student engagement coordinator
  • Dr. Rylan Chong ’10, Data Science director and assistant professor
  • Dr. Cheryl Edelson, School of Humanities, Arts and Design dean
  • Dr. Abby Halston, MS ’05, Marriage and Family Counseling clinical director
  • Kahala Kabalis Hoke ’05, MS ’07, women’s volleyball head coach
  • Pono Riddle ’18, MEd’ 21, Student Success associate director
  • Dr. Gail Grabowsky, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics dean

“These individuals are part of a community committed to strengthening and developing the Catholic and Marianist identity of this University,” Brink said, after calling the cohort’s names.

“I now ask you to affirm your commitment as Marianist Educational Associates.”

Brink also recognized the 23 Chaminade staff members and faculty who made their first commitment in previous years, asking them to stand and renew their commitment as Marianist Educational Associates.

In unison, the MEAs pledged to uphold and advance the Catholic and Marianist mission and identity of Chaminade University. They committed to ongoing reflection, collaboration, and the continuation of programs that reinforce Chaminade’s identity as a Catholic and Marianist University.

They also promised to support others in growing in their understanding and appreciation of the Catholic and Marianist traditions, aiming to embody and witness these traditions for the benefit of the world.

By offering a quality education and searching for truth through human wisdom and faith, Solma said students are able to expand their minds and hearts, and helps them become servant-leaders.

“And, all of this within our Chaminade ‘ohana, where respect, acceptance, appreciation and encouragement are palpable,” Solma added. “As Fr. Chaminade wanted—a genuine family spirit.”

Golden Pine ‘apple’ Award

Teacher and Administrator of the Year Announced

In April, Sacred Hearts School Principal Tonata Lolesio received the coveted 2024 National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) Lead, Learn and Proclaim Award, only one of 11 recipients chosen nationwide for their work upholding Catholic Education and Faith formation to the highest standards. A month later, the longtime Valley Isle educator was named Hawaii Catholic Schools’ Teacher of the Year, bestowing upon her the Golden Pine”apple” Award during a special Recognition Ceremony at Natsunoya Tea House on Oahu.

“Her dedication to teaching the whole student has profoundly impacted both Sacred Hearts School and the broader Lahaina community,” said Dr. Dale Fryxell, Dean of School of Education and Behavioral Sciences, when announcing Lolesio’s name. “One standout example of her commitment occurred in the aftermath of the devastating Lahaina fire, where she established a pop-up school at Sacred Hearts Mission Church in Kapalua, providing continuity of education and emotional support for her students and welcoming displaced children from the wider community.”

“We came together during a time of crisis to help students and families,” Lolesio told the Hawaii Catholic Herald. “It is our Catholic calling and mission. These experiences, especially my first two years as principal, have taught me much about entrusting my work and plans to God for his guidance and protection. It is ultimately his school, I am his servant in providing for its needs.”

Llewellyn Young, Ph.D., superintendent of Hawaii Catholic Schools, left, and Chaminade's School of Business and Behavioral Sciences Dean, Dr. Dale Fryxell, present $1,000 check to Hawaii Catholic Schools’ Teacher of the Year winner Tonata Lolesio
Chaminade School of Education and Behavioral Sciences Dean Dr. Dale Fryxell says a few congratulatory words to Sacred Hearts School Principal Tonata Lolesio after she received her Pineapple Award, as Llewellyn Young, Ph.D., superintendent of Hawaii Catholic Schools listened in.
St. Anthony School Head of School Maui David Kenney, center, accepted the prize money for preschool teacher Kathleen DeLima from Llewellyn Young, Ph.D., right, superintendent of Hawaii Catholic Schools and Chaminade School of Education and Behavioral Sciences Dean Dr. Dale Fryxell.

With the support of John C. and Mary Lou Brogan, The Augustine Educational Foundation, Hawaii Catholic Schools and Chaminade, the Teacher of the Year and the Administrator of the Year awards recognize excellence in outstanding teachers/specialists and administrators within the Catholic Schools in the State of Hawaii.

“The Golden Pine’apple’ celebrates the best of Catholic education by recognizing talented, service-oriented and faith-filled professionals within the ranks of our Catholic schools,” said Llewellyn Young, Ph.D., superintendent of Hawaii Catholic Schools. “The apple has long been associated with education and wisdom. For our Catholic schools, we use the Pine’apple” to place a cultural spin on the uniqueness of Hawaii and the special roles of our teachers and administrators.”

For the past four decades, St. Anthony School on Maui preschool teacher Kathleen DeLima has demonstrated her dedication to the spiritual development of her students through her incorporation of prayer, song and storytelling into her lessons, nurturing their faith and understanding.

“She is such a great person who has passed on so much wisdom to me, and has really shared so much of the Catholic Faith with all of our staff,” said St. Anthony School Preschool Director Kim Smith. “She is a pillar to St. Anthony Church and School. Not only has she made a significant impact academically but also spiritually. An award like this 100 percent boosts our moral and pride in being recognized for the dedication and work put into the children.”

The Golden Pine”apple” Award—otherwise known as the Golden Apple Award on the mainland—holds significant prestige in the field of Catholic education in Hawaii, serving as a symbol of excellence and dedication among educators. It’s designed to honor outstanding teachers who exhibit exemplary performance in their field. Recipients are recognized for their commitment to teaching, innovative methods and positive impact on students.

“Each year, a panel of distinguished professors reviews each nominee,” Young explained. “Scores are tallied by Chaminade’s School of Education and Behavioral Sciences under the leadership of Dr. Dale Fryxell, and the winners are selected to be presented with the awards at the Hawaii Catholic Schools End-of-the-Year Recognition Luncheon.”

Teachers who receive the Golden Pineapple Award are often those who have made a substantial impact on their students’ learning experiences. This recognition highlights the importance of student-centered teaching and the positive outcomes of effective education. The award also brings attention to the critical role that teachers play in shaping future generations. It further raises public awareness about the importance of quality education, and the need to support and invest in educators.

Baccalaureate Mass

As a Catholic, Marianist University, a vital part of graduation weekend is the celebration of the Baccalaureate Mass. This year’s Mass for the Class of 2024 will take place on Friday, May 3, at 6 p.m. at the Mystical Rose Oratory.

“This celebration is an opportunity for our Chaminade ‘ohana to come together in thanksgiving and prayer to honor and thank God for the blessings given to the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 graduating students and to their families,” says Fr. Chris Wittman, S.M. “It’s a way to celebrate our graduates in context of faith, and acknowledging that God has been part of this experience.”

The Baccalaureate Mass holds a special significance in the culmination of a student’s academic journey. It’s a time for reflection, gratitude and spiritual connection as graduates prepare to embark on the next chapter of their lives. Chaminade’s tradition of hosting this Mass underscores the importance of faith and community in the educational experience. It’s a meaningful way to honor the achievements of the graduating class, and to acknowledge the support of their families and loved ones.

Graduating students are honored during the Baccalaureate Mass at Mystical Rose Oratory.
Graduating students are honored during the Baccalaureate Mass at Mystical Rose Oratory.

Steeped in history within Catholic education, the Baccalaureate Mass date back centuries, and its origins can be traced to medieval universities in Europe, where it served as a religious ceremony for graduating students. The term “baccalaureate” itself is derived from the Latin “baccalaureatus,” which originally referred to the laurel berries (baccalaureus) worn by graduates in ancient times.

The Baccalaureate Mass serves several purposes:

  • Spiritual Reflection: It allows graduates to reflect on their academic journey within the framework of their faith. The Mass provides a moment of prayerful contemplation, giving thanks for the gifts of knowledge, growth and community experienced during their time at the institution.
  • Blessing and Sending Forth: The Mass invokes God’s blessings upon the graduating class as they prepare to enter the next phase of their lives. It serves as a formal commissioning, sending forth graduates with the support and encouragement of their faith community.
  • Celebration of Achievement: In addition to its religious significance, the Baccalaureate Mass is a celebration of academic accomplishment. It honors the hard work, dedication, and perseverance of students who have successfully completed their studies.
  • Community Gathering: The Mass brings together students, faculty, staff, families, and alumni in a spirit of unity and fellowship. It reinforces the sense of belonging and connection within the school community, fostering bonds that extend beyond graduation.
  • While the format and traditions associated with the Baccalaureate Mass may vary from one Catholic institution to another, its fundamental purpose remains consistent—to recognize the holistic development of students, encompassing both intellectual and spiritual growth, as they transition to the next stage of their lives.

Spiritual Convocation

Academic year opens with ‘Red Mass’

Faculty, students and staff filled the seats at the Mystical Rose Oratory to pray for guidance and wisdom at the Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit that traditionally marks the beginning of the academic year.

Presiding over the Fall Spiritual Convocation, Fr. Chris Wittmann S.M. explained the significance of the Mass, also known as “Red Mass,” which is celebrated annually in the Catholic Church for all members of the legal profession, regardless of religious affiliation: judges, lawyers, law school professors, law students and government officials, marking the opening of the judicial year.  

“At the beginning of an academic, legislation or judicial year, it is a longstanding tradition to call upon the Holy Spirit’s guidance, blessing and grace that will be needed for the year ahead,” Wittmann preached. “At a university like Chaminade, we are blessed with an abundance of resources and avenues to knowledge and skills, practical wisdom and application. But even at a university, we don’t have all the answers; and we never will.”  

Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington welcomed faculty, staff and students back to campus.

Such is the nature of a Marianist education, which cultivates students’ personal talents, nourishing the desire and acquiring the skills that will equip them to be learners all their lives. “Our faculty and staff already embrace and appreciate the values of providing a quality education, and an education for service, justice, peace, adaptation and change,” said Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington. “These are values that define my leadership, and they are consistent with the five pillars of the Marianist charism: faith, Mary, community, mission and inclusivity. We believe in an equal and just society, which is what we impart to our students.”  

During the Convocation, Chaminade’s Vice President of Mission and Rector, Bro. Ed Brink, outlined the genesis of the Marianist Educational Associates program. “In 2005, members from Chaminade University, University of Dayton and St. Mary’s University of San Antonio responded to a call from the Association of Marianist Universities (AMU) Board to build a partnership among members of the Society of Mary, the sponsoring religious body of the three universities,” he said. “It would invite a cadre of lay collaborators, who would together sustain and renew the mission and identity that was Catholic, and that embodied the Marianist educational tradition.”  

This past summer, seven Chaminade faculty and staff members participated in the MEA Formation, a seven-day program consisting of readings, reflections and sharing of insights. Asking them to stand in front of the congregation as he called out their names, Brink invited Drs. Darren Iwamoto, David Carter, Dustyn Ragasa, Frederique Kandel, Janet Davidson and Jennifer Creech, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success, to come forward. (Dr. Tom Buning was unable to attend.)  

“These men and women are members of a community that is intentionally committed to strengthening and developing the Catholic and Marianist identity of this University,” Brink said. “I now ask you to make your commitment as a Marianist Educational Associate.”  

Afterwards, Brink acknowledged the 21 Chaminade staff members and faculty who made their first commitment in previous years, asking them to stand and renew their commitment as Marianist Educational Associates.  

In unison, the 21 MEAs pledged to strengthen, sustain and develop the Catholic and Marianist mission and identity of Chaminade University of Honolulu. They will continue to read, reflect, and collaborate with others to insure the continuation of the programs, processes and behaviors that make Chaminade a Catholic and Marianist University. And they promise to support others in growing in the knowledge and appreciation of the Catholic and Marianist traditions in order to embody and witness to these traditions and their benefit to the world.  

“So to students and other members of the faculty and staff, please, if you have questions about our charism, about the Marianist educational tradition, these people have given some time and energy to studying that,” Brink concluded. “They have thought deeply about how to incorporate that into their work. We’re all, as Fr. Chris said, still learning.”

Staff, Faculty Attend MEA Formation

Attendees pledge to uphold Marianist-Catholic mission

After 19 years of working at Catholic higher education institutions, Jennifer Creech felt she was finally ready to commit. Her eyes lighting up as she spoke about her recent formation as a Marianist Educational Associate (MEA), the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success was eager to share her experience.

MEA Formation participants included, from left, Frederique Kandel, Ph.D., Father Martin Solma, Jennifer Creech, and Drs. Janet Davidson, Darren Iwamoto, Dustyn Ragasa, and David Carter. Missing is Dr. Tom Buning.
MEA Formation participants included, from left, Frederique Kandel, Ph.D., Father Martin Solma, Jennifer Creech, and Drs. Janet Davidson, Darren Iwamoto, Dustyn Ragasa, and David Carter. Missing is Dr. Tom Buning.

“Selfishly, this was for me,” Creech said of the formation retreat. “I often attend conferences for professional reasons, but going through the formation was personal. I wanted to learn how to be a better person to my team and our students, and the meaning and value of our Marianist mission.”

In 2005, members from Chaminade University, University of Dayton and St. Mary’s University of San Antonio responded to a call from the Association of Marianist Universities (AMU) Board to build a partnership among members of the Society of Mary, the sponsoring religious body. It would invite a cadre of lay collaborators, who would together sustain and renew the mission and identity that was Catholic, and that embodied the Marianist educational tradition. 

Since then, faculty, staff and administrators have been invited each year to deepen their understanding of and their commitment to the traditions and beliefs that make each respective university a Catholic and Marianist community.

“I’ve always believed in our mission,” said Darren Iwamoto, who also attended the formation at the University of Dayton. “The formation experience helped me to focus in what I do and not work blindly.”

The seven-day formation program consisted of readings, reflections and sharing of insights. Each participant received a binder that was divided by presentations, which covered a variety of topics, from Vocational Stories and the Catholic Story to the Marianist Story and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition.

Opening her binder, Creech flipped through the colored tabs before stumbling upon a note card that contained some of her thoughts, writing down such key words as “living and working with intention, love, grace, transparency, access, persistence, empathy and understanding.”

“We are privileged in our roles, which are not self-serving,” Creech asserted. “Our mission is to empower others, to be part of a team and to advocate for our students.”

Following the initial retreat, the MEAs will then meet once a month from September to May to continue their formation by developing, strengthening and advancing the Catholic and Marianist philosophy of education.  At the end of the academic year during a special service, the MEAs will make a public commitment to sustain and enrich the University’s Catholic and Marianist character. 

Staff and faculty from Chaminade and University of Dayton gather for dinner at an outdoor patio.
Staff and faculty from Chaminade University, University of Dayton and St. Mary’s gather for an early-evening dinner at an outdoor patio.

“The Marianist Charism is a combination of faith, following Mary, community, mission and inclusivity,” Iwamoto explained. “The Charism informs how, as educators, we inspire our students and how we collaborate with our peers.”

Other Chaminade participants included Drs. Janet Davidson, David Carter, Frederique Kandel and Tom Buning.  

To ensure that Marianist universities sustain a strong Catholic and Marianist mission and identity, three vital tasks need to be accomplished, according to the Association of Marianists Universities (AMU).  First, there must be a significant number of people who are employed at the universities, and who are steeped in and appreciate the Catholic and Marianist traditions of education.  Second, these individuals must have the capacity and willingness to work together to incorporate these traditions into the culture of Marianist universities. Third, these persons would be committed to adapt and transform the traditions so that Marianist universities forge an engaging response to the challenges facing American higher education while contributing to the task of working toward global justice, so integral to the Marianist charism.

MEAs are lay persons who are, first of all, employees of the campus community who are hired to perform in a professional role in the work of Marianist higher education. Associates make an intentional choice to use that professional role to partner with the Marianist vowed religious on campus to strengthen the Catholic and Marianist mission and identity.  All MEAs are committed to using their sphere of influence to strengthen the Catholic and Marianist mission and identity in ways that are effective and appropriate. MEAs are committed to a journey of personal and professional growth in understanding and embracing the gift of the Marianist charism.

“The whole week I had what I call ‘God sightings,’” Creech said. “I don’t know how to describe it. It’s like love, you know it’s there, but it’s difficult to explain. The more you trust it, the more you hear it.”