Meet Parishioner Karin Camilli: Finding Great Joy in Parish Life

Sit down for a chat with Karin Camilli about our parish and her faith, and the same word will keep making its way into the conversation — joy. Karin has been a parishioner at St. Theresa since she moved to Maui over 20 years ago and has participated in countless ministries, activities, and events around the parish. The connections she has made with fellow parishioners and the closeness she has experienced with the Lord through an active faith life have brought Karin abundant blessings and great joy.

Karin grew up on a farm near Santa Rosa, Calif. Her family owned one car, and her father was a doctor, which meant she could only attend church on the Sundays that his medical rounds at the hospital coincided with the Mass time. She still chuckles today remembering the Sundays that her father became so engrossed in treating patients that he would forget to pick her up on his way home. By the time he returned to the farm and realized his mistake, another round trip into town was required to retrieve her!

In contrast to her childhood, when trips to church were necessarily infrequent, Karin has spent many days and hours on our parish campus in recent years.

“In a way, I’m kind of making up for lost time,” she says. “I didn’t get to go to church very often as a kid. And now I’m learning so much about the Church and Jesus and Mary that I didn’t really grasp before.”

Karin serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, volunteers with our Hale Kau Kau Ministry and the Aloha Committee, participates in ENDOW, a women’s group led by Karen Powers, and performs Sacred Gesture, to name just a few of her activities at St. Theresa. In every way she serves, she feels blessed by the connections she has forged with her fellow parishioners and visitors.

“I’ve helped with the Aloha Committee for about five years before it was discontinued in March due to COVID-19,” Karin says. “It’s fun because I get to know everybody, and I can greet them by name and ask how their kids are doing. I started as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion about five or six years ago as well. Again, I know the people coming up for the Host. There is one gentleman who always touches my hand and says ‘thank you,’ and the children who come up for a blessing. There are very special things like that. I kind of feel like the Lord is going through me to them in the Host.”

Throughout their 56 years of marriage, Karin and her husband, Bruce, made their Catholic faith a priority, sending their daughters to Catholic schools and summer camps and teaching them to give back to the community. This same faith also helped Karin through the tougher times in life, including the passing of her husband and one of her daughters. Through it all, she has remained thankful for all the Lord has given her over the years.

“There has been blessing upon blessing, just constantly,” she says. “The sad things have been the losses in my life, but you keep on going. Again and again, I’ve been able to say ‘thank you.’”

Not least among the many blessings and joys Karin has found in life is our very own faith community at St. Theresa.

“Everyone here is positive and friendly, and they are all very supportive,” she says. “If I needed something, all I would have to do is ask. It’s a great community — you come in and feel welcomed, and you are given a job. That’s what happened to me — I was given a job!”

From that one “job” — her “thank you” to the Lord — Karin has gone on to find many ways to give back to God for the countless blessings received. In the end, it all leads back to one thing — pure joy.

“Sacred Gesture is my favorite ministry,” Karin says. “I often feel like the little drummer boy. He said, ‘I have nothing to give the King, but can I play for you?’ I have nothing to give to Jesus but the talent He gave me to dance, so that is something I can do for Him. I’m dancing for the Lord, I’m into the mele itself, and afterward, people are just pleased. They are joyful.”

Karin Camilli loves participating in Sacred Gesture at St. Theresa.