Banished Maui pastor said to be in good spirits

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Rev. Joseph Bukoski III has not been cowering in shame since allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor more than 20 years ago led to his banishment more than two weeks ago to the Sacred Hearts Center in Kane'ohe.

The Rev. Joseph Bukoski will be evaluated by psychiatrists in Seattle. Advertiser library photo

"He's been digging in the dirt, doing whatever needs to be done," said Jan Pasamonte, the financial officer at Maria Lanakila, who keeps in touch with the man nearly every day.

Those who know the Kaua'i-born priest say Bukoski was never afraid of getting his hands dirty in the course of trying to get things accomplished, despite an education and career steeped in the intellectual skills of administration and church law.

At Maria Lanakila, the father was known for his take-charge attitude, for climbing to the top of the steeple to string Christmas lights himself, for painting stripes in the parking lot, for climbing onto the roof to adjust church lighting.

While his aggressiveness annoyed some people early on, members say their parish has been invigorated since Bukoski's arrival four years ago. Today, they say, Maria Lanakila is more vibrant and active than it has been in years.

So it's no surprise that Lahaina's Catholic community has rallied around their "Father Joe" since news of his removal was announced two weeks ago. Parishioners are circulating petitions, writing letters, wearing buttons, making signs, holding vigils and prayer services and plotting other ways to support the ousted priest.

"I'm not going to let this go," said Pasamonte, who is among those leading the charge to get Bukoski reinstated. "We're very optimistic. We know he's coming back. It's just the kind of mind frame we have to keep."

Bukoski, 49, is scheduled to be evaluated by psychiatrists June 12 in Seattle, nearly a month after Honolulu Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo removed him from the parish and placed him on administrative leave.

DiLorenzo relied on the expertise of the Diocesan Standing Committee for Sexual Misconduct, which interviewed both the accuser and the accused, before recommending that Bukoski be removed from his position and evaluated for treatment.

No details about the alleged misconduct have been released, and the accuser — now an adult — has not come forward. Bukoski has denied the charges.

While church officials aren't saying whether Bukoski might get his job back, the Very Rev. Clyde Guerreiro, provincial of the Sacred Hearts Order, said he believes it's possible, pending a good evaluation, and especially with all the support he's receiving from his parish.

"They want him back, and they want him back quickly," Guerreiro said outside an emotional meeting with parishioners last week.

Bukoski was born Dec. 28, 1952, on Kaua'i. His seminary training began in high school at the Sacred Hearts Seminary on O'ahu. He went on to Chaminade University, where he graduated in 1974, and then attended Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, where he obtained master's degrees in theology and canon law.

He returned to Hawai'i to be ordained at St. Patrick's Church in Kaimuki in 1979. He served as associate pastor there until 1985, then left to become superior of Sacred Hearts Center. He later worked in the diocese canon law office and, after obtaining a license to practice church law, was named the judicial vicar of the Honolulu Diocese.

In 1990, he was elected provincial head of the Order of Sacred Hearts, serving two three-year terms, during which he oversaw the local beatification ceremonies of Father Damien and led a Hawai'i delegation to the festivities in Belgium.

The king of Belgium later knighted him for his work on behalf of the Belgian native who helped Hansen's disease patients on Moloka'i more than 100 years ago.

After years of working in the church bureaucracy, Bukoski finally received his first pastoralship in 1998. His assignment: Maria Lanikila Church.

Maui County Councilwoman Joanne Johnson recalled that Bukoski's head-strong attitude "ruffled some feathers" when he took over at the church, which also includes overseeing Sacred Hearts School and Sacred Hearts Mission in Kapalua.

"He had a strong personality and a style that got him into trouble sometimes," she said. "But he always seemed like a regular guy and a hard worker, and I would have never thought he could do something like this."

Parishioners say that under Bukoski's leadership, attendance has grown, giving is up and activity at the parish, in general, has increased.

One reason, according to Joe Gallagher, chairman of the Sacred Hearts School Advisory Council, is that he reached out to a growing West Maui immigrant population, swelling church membership with Tongan, Filipino and Spanish-speaking folks.

Before Bukoski arrived, for example, there was one Spanish-language Mass a month. Now there's one every Sunday, with an average attendance of almost 180 people. He learned to speak Spanish to help out in the Mass.

Bukoski also started a preschool that opened last year with 24 children with plans to boost attendance to 40 this year.

Parishioners said Bukoski's sense of humor and charisma add a compelling touch to his Masses, a fact reflected in the growing number of part-time residents and visitors returning year after year.

Patrick J. Guth, chairman of the church's pastoral council, said Bukoski not only brought new people into the church but helped bring many Catholics back into the fold — including he and his family.

Guth said his initial impression of Bukoski, while making arrangements for his mother's funeral, was that he was "rather academic."

"But in the final months of my mother's life, Father Joe demonstrated the love and support of an awesome pastor," he said.

Since then, Guth, his wife and six children were baptized Catholic, and both he and his wife have risen to leadership roles in the parish.

Guth said a holiday occasion is not complete now without having Bukoski at his house for dinner. Recently, his son had a birthday and he asked him who he wanted to invite to the party. He mentioned four or five friends and then said, "and of course Father Joe."

"He didn't know that our pastor and very good friend is not here," he said.

Patrick Downes, diocese spokes-man and editor of the Hawai'i Catholic Herald, said news of Bukoski's troubles hit him hard, because he has known Bukoski since high school.

"He's always been a popular all-around nice guy," Downes said. "He's a very dedicated churchman, very committed to the parish and to the order."

Reach Timothy Hurley at thurley@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 244-4880.