20 October 2014 - In an effort to enhance the Philippine Consulate General’s partnership with the Filipino religious community in Hawaii, Philippine Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin hosted a reception on October 07 at Consulate General’s premises for around 30 Filipino Catholic priests and nuns representing different parishes in the island of Hawaii, and coming from the various geographic regions of the Philippines.

The reception, which was also held on the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary, kicked off with a celebration of the Holy Mass officiated by Fr. Mario Raquepo, parish priest of St. Stephen Catholic Church. The mass was followed by a blessing of the Philippine Consulate General building and its premises by Fr. Raquepo and Fr. Edmundo Barut, President of the Filipino Catholic Priests of Hawaii.

In his remarks during the program, Fr. Barut expressed appreciation to the Consul General for organizing the reception, which, according to him, was the first time that the Filipino religious community in Hawaii was invited at the Consulate General for a formal meet and greet. He also conveyed that the reception enabled the priests and nuns to “feel as if we are in the Philippines which we miss so much”.

Consul General Jamoralin responded that reaching out to the religious community in Hawaii is one of her advocacies as Philippine Consul General. She said that she organized the gathering to establish relationships, interaction and networks with the Catholic priests and nuns in the state. She also enlisted the assistance of the priests and nuns in the Consulate General’s activities and projects such as overseas voters registration, tourism campaigns  and efforts to assist Filipinos in distress, or those who are in need of spiritual counsel and guidance.

The Catholic priests and nuns interacted with the officers and staff of the Consulate General and partook of the Filipino-style salu-salo prepared by the Consulate General for the event.  END