150 attend healing service

To celebrate Father Damien De Veuster’s arrival at Kalaupapa 135 years ago, Father Clyde Guerreiro of St. Sophia Catholic Church and longtime associate Dr. Don Pachuta held a healing seminar and service Saturday at St. Sophia.

“The first time we ever did it was a celebration of Father Damien, so we continue the tradition,” said Father Guerreiro, who has been conducting healing seminars with Pachuta since they first met on Kauai in 1994. “The basic idea behind a physician and the clergy would be: all healing is spiritual.”

In the seminar, attended by about 60 parishioners, Father Guerreiro and Pachuta examined four elements of healing, which they call the “Four Magic Bullets.”

“In the medical profession, whenever they’re looking for a cure … they’re always calling it the magic bullet,” explained Father Guerreiro.

“Faith that something can happen … Love [of] God, neighbors, self … Forgiveness, for forgiveness is a decision … Gratitude being the key that healing has taken place,” said Guerreiro, outlining the Four Magic bullets.

Miracles were also discussed in the seminar.

“It’s a good combination because I come from a doctor who has a spiritual orientation and, of course, he’s a priest,” said Pachuta, speaking of the spiritual chemistry between Father Guerreiro and himself. “Sometimes we say we have a similar job description.”

“Actually we don’t really differ, what we do is bring different perspectives, we kind of complement each other,” agreed Father Guerreiro.

“It was fantastic,” said Illone Honig, an 18-year member of the church, who attended the seminar. “Dr. Pachuta is very analytical in his teachings, he brings a lot of spirit and love to everything he says.”

The all-day seminar, which began at 8:30 a.m., was followed by a healing service at 4 p.m. and the Feast of Father Damien at 5 p.m.

“Father Clyde presided at the healing service and both of us laid hands on people — him on one side, me on another — so in that sense we both did the same thing,” said Pachuta. “People came up with specific requests and we lay hands on them and say a prayer for that specific request.”

The evening ended with music provided by local musicians who played from the church steps.

“With all the festivities that were going on, a lot of the musicians … ended up going to Kalaupapa,” said Honig, referring to the 100th birthday of St. Francis Church in Kalaupapa, which coincides with Father Damien Day observed every May 10. As a result, the music was performed in an informal manner, with musicians joining in to play at leisure.

“I think it’s nicer, it’s more like backyard, down-to-earth feeling,” added Holig, who accompanied the music with hula.