Deacon Joaquin "kin" muna borja

Deacon Joaquin "Kin" Muna Borja, Although known as Kin, Joaquin is one of 14 siblings and the third oldest in the family. Kin was born on February 2, 1949 in Chalan Kanoa, Saipan to Fernando Santos Borja and Rosalia Concepcion Muna. His family is known mostly as residents of where the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes is located at "As Teo."

At the age of 1, his parents along with 3 other siblings moved to Guam where Fernando was seeking better employment for his family. They stayed in Maite, Mongmong where Kin completed his sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation at Nuestra Senora de las Aguas. From there, when the family grew to 8 siblings, they moved to Piti where Kin and his older siblings attended the Piti Elementary school and religious education at Our Lady of Assumption parish. A few years later, they moved to Agat and his parents operated the Santa Rosa Market near Our Lady of Mount Carmel. He served as an Altar Boy at Our Lady of Mount Carmel where he had to learn to respond in Latin.

Kin graduated with Honors from the George Washington High School in Mangilao, Guam on May 31, 1967. He was a member of the National Honor Society. In fact, they were the first graduating class since the building of the campus and they graduated without their caps and gowns as they got lost in the mails. After high school, he attended the College of Guam.

In 1972, Kin met and married Alicia Chow and relocated to San Jose, California with their daughter, Mei Elizabeth. He attended the California State University, San Jose and in 1975, they moved to Long Beach, California where he continued his education at the California State University, Long Beach and in 1977, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science with a minor in personnel management.

While working for the Long Beach Naval Shipyard as the Employee Services Manager, he continued his graduate degree at the California State University, Long Beach while raising 3 daughters, Mei Elizabeth, Katherine and Rosie. On May 31, 1984, he earned his Master of Public Administration degree with emphasis in personnel management.

In 1985, Kin joined the Knights of Columbus, Judge Walter Desmond Council 3449 in Long Beach, California. He joined because he and Alicia appreciated what the Knights were doing with Family and Youth issues. As a family, they immediately got involved as the Respect Life Chair for the council.

In 1989, Kin and Alicia moved his family to Corona, San Bernardino Inland Empire to get away from the busy city life, only to find that Corona was also growing by leaps and bounds. It was in Corona when Kin helped with the building of the Corpus Christi Parish that he felt his calling to the Diaconate. With the encouragement of Father Gerry Deluney, pastor, and the congregation, Kin applied and was accepted as an Aspirant with the Diaconate Class in San Bernardino in 1997. In 1998, Kin was reassigned from the El Toro Marine Corp Station to the Defense Commissary Agency, Hawaii where he manages all human resources programs for the commissaries in Hawaii, Guam, Alaska and State of Washington.

Kin attributed his faith maturity to the Knights of Columbus and Farther Gerry Deluney. He rose in ranks through the offices and in 1987, he was elected as the Grand Knight of Council 3449. In 1989, he was appointed as the District Deputy No. 67. He and his daughters participated in pro-life marches in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, activist on Respect Life issues, and worked with young men and women on issues that were challenging to them. He was subsequently elected to the position of State Deputy for the Hawaii Jurisdiction from 2004-2006. In May 2009, he was appointed as the District Master for the State of Hawaii in charge of the 4th Degree of the Knights.

When he moved to Hawaii, Kin continued his membership with the Knights and looked at joining the diaconate class in Honolulu; however, he needed to establish residency requirements with the Diocese. In 2003, he was accepted as an Aspirant with the Diaconate Class with the Diocese of Honolulu. On February 9, 2007, Kin was ordained by Bishop Larry Silva along with 16 men into the Order of Permanent Deacons for the Diocese of Honolulu.

Before Christmas (2006), Kin and his fellow deacon candidates were informed by the Core Committee that Bishop Larry has decided that they will all be assigned to our respective home parishes after ordination. He is currently serving at the Saint Elizabeth Parish with Father Mike Dalton, OFM, Cap., pastor and Father Gordon Combs, OFM, Cap., associate pastor along with Deacon Fred Carahasan. Kin has served as the Director of Religious Education for the Barbers Point Catholic Community, Catechists, Eucharistic Minister, Prison and Hospital Ministries.

He resides in Pearl City with Alicia, his son, Joaquin-John.