Food. Family. Friends. Life. These things may be at the top of your gratitude list this year as Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, approaches. But what about the many blessings of being part of a unique Island Catholic community? From rich liturgies to spiritual camaraderie to God’s beautiful works of nature, Hawaii Catholics have dozens of […]
Archives for November 2013
Msgr. Owen F. Campion: Feast of Christ the King
The embodiment of God’s endless love 2 Samuel 5:1-3 Colossians 1:12-20 Luke 23:35-43 The Second Book of Samuel furnishes the first biblical reading for this feast, marking the close of the church’s year. Once the two books of Samuel composed a single volume. In time, editors divided the volume into the two books now seen […]
Kathleen T. Choi: Spotting the blessings
A few years ago, I added a new element to my evening prayers. I now begin by thanking God for five blessings. The rule I made up is that the blessing must be something that happened that day. For example, I only thank God for my husband if he did something particularly thoughtful that day. […]
Dear Pope Francis, ‘Were you a Boy Scout?’
“Do you like garlic bread?” was one of the things the inquiring minds in teacher Ann Medeiros’ third grade catechism class at St. John Vianney Church, Kailua, wanted to know about their new Pope Francis. It was Medeiros’ idea that each of her students write a letter. Some had questions: “What do you like to […]
Prayers at the Advent wreath
FIRST SUNDAY On the first Sunday of Advent, the family gathers to bless the wreath. The Leader, usually the father, sprinkles the wreath with holy water. Leader: Our help is in the name of the Lord. All: Who made heaven and earth. Leader: Let us pray. O God, all things are made holy by your […]
Move to pass same-sex marriage bill provokes thousands to fight back
The special state legislative session, called by Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Oct. 28 to add Hawaii to the list of 14 Mainland states that have legalized same-sex marriage, awakened a giant of populist opposition. Organized mostly by churches but moved by their own personal convictions, thousands of Hawaii citizens opposing same-sex marriage have showed up […]
Bishop Silva forms a task force to promote the spirituality of stewardship
Members of the new Stewardship Task Force held a meeting at the diocesan chancery Oct. 26. In front from left to right are diocesan finance systems manager Diane Lamosao, task force co-chair Brandon Elefante, Sam Knepper, Office of Stewardship and Development coordinator Gloria Romuar, Father Stephen Macedo and Dale Webster. In the back row are […]
Legacy of a saint: 130 years of the Sisters of St. Francis in Hawaii
One hundred thirty years ago, in 1883, St. Marianne Cope arrived with six sisters from Syracuse, N.Y., to the shores of the Sandwich Islands responding to a call to care for the kingdom’s poor abandoned natives. Since then, and without interruption, hundreds of Sisters of St. Francis have followed in the saint’s footsteps to serve […]
Sisters of St. Francis in Hawaii
The Sisters of St. Francis who came to the Islands The first seven to arrive in 1883 Mother Marianne Cope Sister M Bonaventure Caraher Sister Crescentia Eilers Sister Ludovica Gibbons Sister M Rosalia McLaughlin Sister Renata Nash Sister Mary Antonella Murphy Sister Leopoldina Burns, 1885 Sister Carolina Hoffmann, 1885 Sister Martha Kaiser, 1885 Sister […]
Aloha! Namaste! Visitors embody the Hawaii-India-Damien link
Seven Indian Sacred Hearts priests visit St. Damien’s grave in Kalawao, Molokai, last month with their congregation’s U.S. provincial Father Jonathan Hurrell, far right. (Photo courtesy off the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts) Traveling over 7,400 miles, nearly the same distance that St. Damien de Veuster crossed on his journey from Belgium to Hawaii, seven […]