North Shore NewsFather Sebastian Kumar Soosai was welcomed as the new pastor at St. Roch and St. Joachim on July 1, 2020. Father Sebastian previously served 4 years as pastor in Maui at Maria Lanakila in Lahaina and Kihei at Saint Theresa. Born and raised in India, he knew from age 8 years old that he wanted to be a priest from his upbringing in St. Thomas church and has since been a principal, teacher, associate pastor, and administrator. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and master’s degree in English. Father Sebastian arrived in the middle of COVID19 during suspended services without the opportunity for face-to-face contact. He described this time as difficult for his parishioners, but he was able to overcome this adversity by meeting with people in their homes, visiting congregants in the hospital, and through interfaith homebound food distribution in collaboration with BYU–H to anyone in need regardless of religious affiliation. When state protocols allowed, St. Roch reopened limited in person services. Father Sebastian has seen that the outdoor grotto galvanizes the elderly to sit and pray, yoga classes every Tuesday at 6 pm draw many to exercise, and excited that the youth ministry for children grades 1 – 8 reopened limited in person classes with continued online classes. St. Roch weekday mass schedule is at 9 am, Sunday mass at 7:30 am and 9:30 am. St. Joachim mass is Saturday at 5 pm and the beautiful beachside church also offers destination weddings and funerals, for more information please contact Kay Yumoto-Wagner at 808-293-5026.
