On Sunday, Oct. 10, the Episcopal Church on West Kaua‘i will install the Rev. Mary Lindquist as their new vicar. Lindquist, her husband Kurt Johnson, their two dogs and a cat, moved to Kaua‘i last February to begin ministry on
On Sunday, Oct. 10, the Episcopal Church on West Kaua‘i will install the Rev. Mary Lindquist as their new vicar. Lindquist, her husband Kurt Johnson, their two dogs and a cat, moved to Kaua‘i last February to begin ministry on the West Side.
They have since added baby Jonah Johnson to their family, who will be baptized at the same service.
The family moved to Kaua‘i from Wilmington, Del., where “Pastor Mary” served for three years. She was the director of Christian formation at St.
David’s Episcopal Church, as well as a chaplain for St.
David’s School.
Lindquist received a bachelor’s degree in religious studies at Brown University in Rhode Island, and a master’s degree in divinity from Princeton Seminary.
“My husband and I have both spent time living in different parts of the world, including Asia,” Lindquist said.
“When the position became open in West Kaua‘i, we both were attracted to living in a place with such deep and diverse cultural heritage.
But it wasn’t until we visited that I had a sense that West Kaua‘i was where God was calling me to serve.
Fortunately, Kurt felt the same way.” Kurt Johnson now teaches social studies at Island School.
Lindquist said her passions are education, children’s ministry and outreach.
“I think when you grow up in a family that values faith, well, it made me really curious about what I believe and what other people believe.
That’s why I spent some time in Asia and Nepal — I was interested in Buddhism,” she said.
“For me, faith was such a big part of my world that I was really curious to find out what other people believe and whether it affected how people acted.” Originally from upstate New York, Lindquist’s father is a minister.
“Faith does bring out the best in people if it’s well-guided. It depends how integrated it is to your daily life,” she added.
The Episcopal Church is the American wing of the Anglican Church of England, and was formed after the American Revolution, Lindquist said.
The worship is what is called “liturgical and sacramental,” very similar to Roman Catholic services, she said.
“Liturgical churches, like our church, are much more centered around the mystery of the divine, with prayer and silence and contemplation, than extroverted expressions of faith,” Lindquist said.
“Not everyone wears the same kind of clothes or listens to the same kind of music, and the same is true for worship styles.
For some people, it’s through a band, hula or music.
For other people it’s through more silent prayer.
For others it’s through silent contemplation.” The last permanent pastor of the Episcopal Church on West Kaua‘i was Frank Cowell, who left in 2001 to lead a church in Nevada.
An interim minister, who served until recently, was John Connell of O‘ahu.
There are about 60 members of both churches.
Upcoming events include an early-bird pancake breakfast at ‘Ele‘ele School on Sunday, Nov. 7.
Also, children’s church services (ages 3 through third or fourth grade) will be starting in Kekaha on the first Sunday of the month. It will include more songs, activities and actual participation, Lindquist said.
The Episcopal Church on West Kauai also offers services in Ilocano at St. John’s Church in ‘Ele‘ele at 8 a.m. on the second Sunday of each month — the Episcopal Church is very similar to the Filipino Independent Church in the Philippines, she said.
The Episcopal Church on West Kaua‘i is made up of two churches, St. Paul’s in Kekaha and St. John’s in ‘Ele‘ele.
Sunday services are held at 8 a.m. at St. Paul’s and 10 a.m. at St. John’s.
All from the community are welcome to attend the Celebration of New Ministry on Sunday, Oct. 10 at 4 p.m. at St.
Paul’s in Kekaha.
For more information or driving directions, please call the church office at 335-5533.
