Benedictine Father David Barfknecht grew up in Rhinelander, Wis., the oldest of seven. He took his first vows as a Benedictine brother in 1972 at St. Benedict’s Abbey at Benet Lake, Wis. Seven years later he transferred to Pecos, N.M. In 1984, he came to Hawaii to start a Benedictine community with five others and was ordained here on June 10, 1989. He has been the superior of the Hawaii Benedictines at their monastery in Waialua, Oahu, since 1991.
1. What are you reading now?
Around Lent, I finished “The Purpose-Driven Life” by Rick Warren. It’s kind of a Protestant approach to things, with a self-help angle. It has some wonderful stuff about Christian discipleship and evangelization. I also read recently “From Wild Man to Wise Man” by Richard Rohr. He was here for a clergy workshop and I could listen to him speak all day.
2. Do you have any pets?
The monastery has two dogs. After our black lab died, a friend brought us a stray Jack Russell-mix puppy. We named her Rejoice, or Joicy. For the first six months, she slept in my room. But then I went on a trip and she went in Sister CC’s room and has made her the favorite now. Joicy loves riding in our golf cart around the monastery grounds. About a month after we got her, another friend gave us Brindle, a stray hound-mix. Now he watches the place. The two dogs get along very well and they’re part of the monastery family for better or worse.
3. Do you have any hobbies?
I like to fix electronic things. I have a lot of patience so I’ll stick with something until I either fix it or break it for good. They often give me broken flashlights or tape players to try to fix. I also enjoy spending time between supper and night prayers doing lawn care and organizing stuff outside. You don’t have to think too hard and it’s more physical.
4. What is your favorite television show/movie?
We mostly watch the news at the monastery. We’ll watch a movie maybe every two weeks, mostly comedies and something that everyone will watch. We saw “Bella” as a group and really liked that. About once or twice a year we’ll go and see a movie together, usually for someone’s birthday.
5. What is your favorite childhood memory?
I loved camping out with my five sisters and one brother. When I was a little older, my grandparents got a place out on the Wisconsin River and we’d go out there. To this day, I try and take my vacation every two years to coincide with my family’s camp-out.
6. Name someone you’ve admired in your life.
Hawaii Benedictine Father Michael Sawyer, who's actually my uncle. His being a monk had a significant bearing on my becoming one. He came back from World War II and surprised my family by entering the monastery. We'd visit him at Benet Lake over the years. The times I spent there as a kid were awesome since they had a bunch of young monks who would play sports with us and had a farm. In high school I spent 10 weeks there for a summer workshop.
7. If you weren't a priest, what would you be?
I might’ve been a heavy-equipment operator. I love machinery and like to use the Bobcat and other equipment at the monastery. I also love babies, and when people come up here with them, that’s where you’ll find me. The idea of being a dad would've appealed to me. But a monastery is also like a family.
8. What's the Church’s biggest challenge today?
It’s really important for the church to be able to articulate its vision in a positive, credible way. One of today’s moral dilemmas is between the way the church presents its case on issues and the way the world does. I think the church has a lot of truth and wisdom in protecting our deposit of faith, and we’re called to carry and protect it. It’s exciting that the diocese has this new “Road Map” to say where we stand.