WHERE WE WORSHIP
No such thing as strangers at Pauoa Catholic church

By Mary Kaye Ritz
Advertiser Faith Editor

The Rev. Mark Consalvi is pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church, 2124 Pauoa Road, in Pauoa Valley. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

Our denomination: Roman Catholic

Where we are: 2124 Pauoa Road, in Pauoa Valley

Our numbers: 500 families are registered; about 200 people attend the four weekend Masses.

Our pastor: The Rev. Mark Consalvi; the administrator is Deacon Ron Choo.

What we believe: Like other Catholic parishes, "we believe the pope is the vicar of Christ on earth, we listen to him as he leads us in this journey of faith," said Consalvi.

Our history: Built by the Sacred Heart Fathers in 1938, the church was previously a mission church. It even was built in the style of the Southern Californian missions.

In the mid-1940s, it became a parish of the Diocese of Honolulu.

A priest for almost 55 years, Consalvi has been at Blessed Sacrament since 1985. He came as a missionary from upstate New York in 1947, and worked here until he retired — or so he thought. He then joined the Honolulu Fire Department as a chaplain but returned ("I was resurrected," he says with a laugh) to the church to serve in the 1990s until the present.

Last year, he was chosen as outstanding senior citizen of the year by the Fire Department.

What we're excited about: Trying to change the configuration of this parish, by breaking it down into faith-sharing groups, Consalvi said.

These groups get together, read Scriptures, he said. One group meets every Saturday, to look over the readings for the weekend.

"We think this is going to make a stronger type of Catholic, and bring more vitality to the parish," said Consalvi. "People who belong to a small faith community own their faith."

Some congregants come from big parishes, and feel more at home in a smaller community, he added.

The parish advisory board helps the priest and deacon on issues, such as the faith-sharing groups. The religious education program is strong for the size of the parish, he said.

What's special about us: "We have a welcoming community," Consalvi said.

His definition of a welcoming community: "If you notice a stranger, you don't let him be a stranger."

You make him feel welcomed right away, and he's encouraged to come back, he added.

Contact: 531-6980

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