Meet Our Pastors
Reverend Father Edgar B. Brillantes
Pastor
Fr. Edgar B. Brillantes was born in Trinidad, Davao del Sur, Mindanao, Philippines on October 30, 1954. He is the eldest of 8 children, 6 boys & 2 girls, to parents Augusto Brillantes & Tita Bueno, who were both teachers and now deceased.
He started his seminary formation at the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. He enrolled at the St. Louis University, Baguio City, as college freshman but completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at the Immaculate Conception Major Seminary in Vigan. He pursued his Theology degree at the ICST Regional Seminary of Northern Luzon. He was ordained to the Priesthood on April 14, 1980 in San Juan Bautista Parish, San Juan, Ilocos Sur, his hometown, for the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia by the Archbishop Juan Sison.
In 1983, he was sent by Cardinal Jose T. Sanchez for further studies at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, Italy, where he earned his Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL).
His pastoral assignments in the Philippines included: Parochial Vicar at St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral, Vigan City; Administrator of San Ildefonso Parish, San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur; Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Sevilla, Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur; Pastor of San Juan de Sahagun Parish, Candon City; Spiritual Director & Professor at the Immaculate Conception School of Theology (ICST), Vigan City.
Fr. Edgar arrived in Hawai’i from the Philippines on August 6, 1999 to serve with the Filipino Ethnic Ministry in the Diocese of Honolulu. At the same time, Bishop Francis DiLorenzo appointed him as Administrator of St. John the Baptist Parish in Kalihi Uka, Honolulu. On July 1, 2006, Bishop Larry Silva assigned him as Administrator of St. Joseph and Malia Puka O Kalani Parishes in Hilo, Hawai’i. On July 1, 2007, he was Appointed Administrator of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Wahiawa. He eventually became Pastor upon his incardination into the Diocese of Honolulu in April 2008. On July 1, 2012, he was installed Pastor of Saints Peter & Paul Parish in the Ala Moana District. He is currently serving as Pastor of Our Lady of the Mount Church in Kalihi Valley since July 1, 2014.
Aside from his parochial positions in the Honolulu Diocese, Fr. Edgar has served as member of the Presbyteral Council; Spiritual Director for Knights of Columbus; Spiritual Director for Diocesan Congress of Filipino Catholic Clubs; Spiritual Advisor for Cursillos of Hawaii; and President of the Filipino Priests Association of Hawaii.
Reverend Father Adrian R. Gervacio
Pastor-Emeritus
Fr. Adrian R. Gervacio was born on September 8, 1939 in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. He arrived in Hawaii in August 1975.
For five years, Father ministered to the Filipino communities in the diocese. He traveled to parishes and mission churches, working in each parish for a month, visiting families and preaching a mission for seven nights. This was very meaningful and fulfilling. He went to a radio station in Honolulu and gave a talk. On the neighbor islands, Father recorded talks to be played on the radio. Father was associate pastor at Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa for two years. In June 1977, Father was incarnated into the Diocese of Honolulu by the late Bishop John J. Scanlan. He was then the pastor at St. Anthony Parish in Kalihi for four years. In 1982, Fr. Adrian was appointed pastor of St. Anthony on Puuhale Road.
In 1986, Father requested of the late Bishop Joseph Ferrario to be endorsed for the Archdiocese for Military Services. The request was granted and Father was commissioned as a U. S. Navy chaplain in September of 1986. Father served with the Marine Corps in Okinawa; rode ships while stationed in Subic Bay, Philippines; went on to Guam; then to Guantanamo Bay; Charleston, South Carolina; Port Hueneme, California; and retired with the rank of Lt. Commander when he was stationed at Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake, California. The varied ministries and going to different places enriched him as a priest. The many varied assignments contributed to a very meaningful priesthood.
After retiring from the Navy in 2006, Father was sent to St. John Apostle and Evangelist Church in Mililani where he served as interim administrator. In June 2007, Father took an assignment as pastor of Our Lady of the Mount in Kalihi Valley. Father retired from active ministry in June 2014.
On March 18, 2017, Fr. Adrian celebrated the 50th Anniversary of his ordination into the priesthood. In the Hawaii Catholic Herald on April 20, 2017, Hawaii’s 2017 Jubilarians, Fr. Adrian, other priests, clergy and religious members were honored. A Mass of gratitude was celebrated by Bishop Larry Silva at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa on May 6, 2017. Fr. Adrian remains at Our Lady of the Mount Parish as Pastor-Emeritus.
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