Sr. Joan Roddy and Rochelle Liu pose for a photo at their 50th jubilee celebration in 2010.

With a desire to help people in their efforts to be healthy in mind and body, Sr. Rochelle Liu’s ministries have included teaching, leadership training, counseling, advocacy, hospital and prison ministry, caregiving, and therapeutic massage. Now Sr. Rochelle focuses on dismantling racism and being a Franciscan presence with those she encounters.

Odelian Rochelle MewLan Leioia Liu was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her father, Walter, was born in Hawaii to Chinese Christians. As a teenager, he chose to study at St. Louis College, a Catholic high school. Under the influence of the Marianist brothers, Walter converted to Catholicism, much to the dismay of his parents. Sr. Rochelle’s mother, Odelian, came from a long line of Catholic Christians and was of Chinese, Hawaiian, and Spanish descent. Sr. Rochelle was the youngest of five children—Paul Everett, Henrietta, Lorna, and Walter. Rochelle and her four siblings all attended Catholic elementary and high schools. Rochelle shared, “I had influential people in my life who taught me that God was a loving God and would provide for us and our every need if we would trust completely. My mother, my sister Henrietta, and many others along the way shared their faith journey with me and inspired me to use my gifts and allow God to use me in whatever way needed.” Rochelle does not remember talking to her father about her faith, but she does remember hours of just “talking story.” Sr. Rochelle said, “Dad’s encouragement and enthusiasm for life were a real blessing and a powerful influence in my spiritual journey. He was known for looking out for those in need in our neighborhood. He loved people.” Sadly, Rochelle’s father passed away when she was a junior in high school. After graduating from high school, Rochelle received a scholarship to Holy Names College in Spokane, Washington, and Rochelle moved to the mainland for the first time.

Sr. Rochelle serves as a candle bearer during her jubilee celebration.

It was during her first year at Holy Names College that Rochelle heard the call to religious life. Her sister Henrietta was already a student at Holy Names, and Rochelle moved into Henrietta’s dorm room. Henrietta’s previous roommate, Agnes, moved into the room next door. Agnes’ new roommate was none other than Sr. Joan Roddy, who was also in her first year. It was only natural that Rochelle and Joan would start to spend time together. One day Rochelle was looking out a window and saw an older brick building not too far away. She asked what the building was and discovered it was an orphanage—St. Joseph’s Children’s Home. Rochelle had always wanted to visit the orphanage run by the Maryknoll sisters in Oahu, but her mother had stringent rules about coming straight home after school. Now that Rochelle was on her own for the first time, she decided to visit St. Joseph’s. A sister met her at the door and took her to the parlor to talk with her. Rochelle felt something that day that she couldn’t find words for but knew she was somehow different.

Rochelle returned to her dorm room and eventually talked to Henrietta about it. Henrietta had felt her own call to religious life and had even entered the Maryknoll sisters, but during her formation, it was discovered that Henrietta had lupus, so she was sent home. Henrietta was a quiet, supportive presence for Rochelle as she began to explore her call. Then one day, Rochelle walked into Joan Roddy’s room and discovered her reading a book about religious congregations. Rochelle asked Joan if she was interested in religious life and invited her to visit St. Joseph’s Children’s Home with her. At St. Joseph’s, Rochelle and Joan met Sr. Geralda Meskill, who was ministering there. They began spending a lot of time at the orphanage and with Sr. Geralda. Rochelle and Joan entered the congregation the following September. It was Rochelle’s sister Henrietta who drove her to Portland to enter.

Sr. Rochelle (far right) joins several other sisters in the West for a Miracle Makers Breakfast, an annual fundraiser for St. Francis House in Puyallup, Washington.

Soon after, Henrietta learned about a religious community that would accept her despite her lupus diagnosis. The Benedictine Sisters of Jesus Crucified is a congregation of contemplative Benedictine Sisters that make monastic life possible for women who might be excluded from religious life due to their health or physical disability. Henrietta was a Benedictine for over 50 years before dying from heart complications.

While her sister Henrietta vowed stability, Sr. Rochelle lived and worked in many places. Her early ministry experiences were in education, receiving her BS in Biology and English from Marylhurst College in Oregon. She taught third grade through high school in San Diego, California; Pendleton and Klamath Falls, Oregon; and Tacoma, Washington. She loved being creative and interacting with both students and their families. Sr. Rochelle was also the formation director in the West for a few years.

Sr. Rochelle Liu helps immigrants leaving a detention center in Washington, State.

Upon receiving her MA in Pastoral Counseling from Holy Names, Sr. Rochelle returned to Oahu. This move allowed Rochelle to spend time with her mother, who was in poor health. Rochelle would go on to spend 26 years in ministry on Oahu. She first ministered as a pastoral associate, then as a director of religious education, before becoming an outreach coordinator for individuals and families in crisis. Speaking of her outreach ministry at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Honolulu, Sr. Rochelle said, “I worked with a vital team of volunteers, ages 15 to 85 years, developing a means to respond to some of Oahu’s people in need.” During this time, Sr. Frances Calhoun came to Hawaii to live with Sr. Rochelle, who was beginning an Amerasian Guest House for the Catholic Charities Social Services department. Srs. Rochelle and Frances lived with families being sponsored and helped them with their transition to the United States. Sharing meals, tutoring, and “talking story,” Srs. Rochelle and Frances shared their Franciscan presence with the families. Speaking of these three years, Sr. Rochelle once wrote, “Both of us will remember the hours spent with these families and the love and gratitude that we all shared.”

Sr. Joan Roddy, companion Brenda Fincher, Sr. Rochelle Liu, and Sr. Dolores Herbeck enjoy some time together at the 2023 Gathering Day.

After six years of outreach ministry, Sr. Rochelle felt called to prison ministry. The director of the state prisons appointed her to be the facility chaplain for the women’s prison in Kailua. She was the first woman facility chaplain and Catholic sister to serve in this role. Sr. Rochelle explained, “I worked with the facility chaplains across the state of Hawaii and was called to help in the training of volunteers and to visit incarcerated men who requested a woman chaplain. This period of working with the incarcerated was a time to get in touch with humanity in every respect.” She worked as a prison chaplain for about three years.

Following a brief sabbatical on the mainland, Sr. Rochelle returned to Oahu to minister to her mother, who had suffered several strokes. In addition to caring for her mother, Rochelle studied and became certified as a hospital chaplain and began working as a hospital chaplain at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children. During this time, Sr. Rochelle lived on the Syracuse Sister’s grounds, supervising the international students from the University of Hawaii who rented rooms from the school’s dormitories. Sr. Rochelle’s hospital chaplaincy work ended when she developed acute rheumatoid arthritis. Wanting to keep active in every way possible, Sr. Rochelle began studying to become a licensed massage therapist while continuing to care for her mother, who was now confined to her bed. Rochelle lost her mother, brother-in-law, and several other close relatives in the same year, but she weathered the storm. With her rheumatoid arthritis in remission, she became a practicing licensed massage therapist at St. Francis Healthcare Systems of Hawaii.

When Sr. Joan Roddy retired from active ministry in Tacoma, she moved to Hawaii to live with Rochelle and volunteer at the hospital as a chaplain. Sr. Rochelle’s ministry at St. Francis was a ministry of presence where she combined her chaplaincy background and her bodywork. Sr. Rochelle would offer a listening ear to the staff while giving them a healing back massage. Her ministry evolved to include providing massage to hospice patients. Sr. Joan Roddy shared, “Rochelle was well-loved by the staff at St. Francis. If we ever needed help with anything, a group of nurses would come to lend a hand.” Sr. Joan Roddy continued, “When I was in Hawaii, I learned that people like to ‘talk story.’ On the mainland, we might go out for dinner to catch up, but they talk story. That is what Rochelle enjoys. She opens her heart to others.”

Sr. Rochelle laughs with Sr. Elaine Thaden during their jubilee celebration.

After five years on the island, Srs. Joan and Rochelle agreed they both wanted to be geographically closer to other Sisters of St. Francis. They moved to St. Ann’s in Tacoma to live in Olympus House, one of the cottages there. Unfortunately, when St. Ann’s was sold, Rochelle and Joan had to make another move. They moved East and now reside Sr. Colette Gerry, a member of their set, in Wilmington, Delaware.

Reflecting on her Golden Jubilee, Sr. Rochelle once wrote, “I am truly grateful for the life that I have lived throughout these many years. Our congregation has been an instrument of many blessings. I have been encouraged to grow and become a wiser woman in the Lord. There are many ups and downs to my life, but I consider these to be sacred happenings to be recalled with reverence and respect.”

When asked about her work with the Dismantling Racial Discrimination committee, Sr. Rochelle said, “Being from a mixed culture, I feel I have something to offer. In addition to my family history, I have had the opportunity to share faith and interact with people from many backgrounds.” Sr. Rochelle continues to educate herself about racism and has looked for ways to engage in advocacy. She also enjoys reading and music and can play the guitar and ukulele.

Asked to describe herself, Sr. Rochelle said, “I would like to be seen as trustworthy, kind, and encouraging. Hopefully, my friends appreciate me for those traits as well. I love doing grassroots work. I love people.” Sr. Rochelle’s love shines through for those privileged to know her, and her gentle presence is a welcome gift.

When news of the latest devastation in Hawaii reached Rochelle, she immediately contacted her family, who luckily were all safe. While she is happy that her relatives are safe, she feels a deep sadness over the loss of the people of Maui and is keeping them in prayer.

Colleen Collins